Judging by early sales, the investment seems to be paying off.

Many of those early sales are expected to be to home computer users, the market's fastest-growing segment.

"There was much more broad-based institutional business than earlier sales," he said.

And that could hurt the record's chances to sustain its solid early sales.

"Well, we knew they didn't expect many early sales," he said.

Whether early sales are good or bad for the catalogue companies depends on the perspective.

The state had sought an injunction to end the early sales and a $10,000 fine for each incidence.

They are satisfied with early sales of the fall collection, although many deem it too safe.

Alcoa said the price was $250 to $350 a ton, which is in the same range as the earlier sales.

Next year, business could double if early sales of the new edition are any indication.