LCD market worth $46 billion by 2005

And of that $46 billion, 21 per cent will represent screens for notebooks, while desktops will climb to 40%, up from 21% in 2000.

Other projections made by iSuppli analyst Sweta Dash, director of LCD and projector research, estimate that in 2005 to 2006, the weight of a 15-inch TFT LCD panel for notebooks will fall from its current 550-650 grams, to less than 450 grams, while the thickness of screens will drop from between 6-7mm to less than 5mm, and power consumption to less than four watts.

By 2005/2006, the mainstream pixel format for notebooks will be UXGA.

Desktop monitors will deliver 450 nits, with viewing angles of over 170 degrees, much like today's CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors.

The rapidly growing LCD TV market will also show developments by 2005/2006, with the contrast ratio rising to 1,000:1 from its current figure of 500:1 and response time falling from 15ms to less than 7ms, while the colour gamut will rise from 70% now to 90% then.

Dash also showed the supply demand balance for large size TFT-LCDs between now and quarter three of next year:

By 2006, the LCD market value will be around $52 billion, amounting to unit shipments of 3.1 billion a year - desktop monitors and notebook/portable use will carry on being the dominant force, but by then we'll see many more LCD TVs. µ