The US market for MS-DOS-based CAD/CAM software was worth some $346m in 1991, according to Cambridge, Massachusetts-based market researcher Daratech. That’s up 12% on l990, though down on the previous year’s 23% growth – a downturn attributed to the increased popularity of Sausalito, California-based Autodesk Inc’s Unix version of its Autocad package. Autodesk took a 71% $248m – share of the MS-DOS market, though its business is slowing as more of its users switch to the Autocad under Unix. Daratech believes Autodesk’s Unix revenues could reach $16m this year – more than the MS-DOS revenues of every other player with the exception of Intergraph Corp. However, Autodesk shares plunged recently after the company warned that fourth quarter profits for the period to January 31 would be down on last year’s figures, on sales that are only slightly higher than the $62.3m it recorded a year ago.
