La Hercules, società produttrice di schede video, ha annunciato la chiusura della commercializzazione delle schede video e dei monitor LCD. La notizia shock di Hercules era comunque prevedibile visti i limiti che i fornitori di chipset video imponevano nella costruzione del prodotto finale. La società era obbligata a utilizzare i reference sample senza poter modificare i bios o senza poter alzare le frequenze.
Hercules interromperà anche la produzione dei monitor LCD, causa i profitti troppo bassi e le spese di produzione troppo alte. La società ha rilasciato il seguente comunicato ufficiale:
Carentoir, February 25, 2004
In view of the success of the new Hercules music lines (DJ Console, Muse Pocket) and the sizeable demand for its Thrustmaster gaming and mobile accessories, Guillemot Corporation has decided to focus on these product ranges with high added value.
The Group has therefore elected to progressively withdraw from the graphics board and monitor markets, which have been producing very weak gross margins, in order to mobilize all of its resources towards the development of markets with strong potential.
Guillemot Corporation will thus re-center its activities on new growth markets which will allow the company to best respond to users' new expectations. The Group has begun adapting its teams and business structures to this new configuration with a view towards profitability.
Moreover, the Group's Research and Development department is currently at work fine-tuning a range of products employing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies in order to provide a complete solution combining the potential and comfort of use of wireless connections with the quality and ergonomics of Hercules and Thrustmaster.