Tomorrow, Nvidia launches the GeForce 4 GPU, of surprise to anyone interested in computer hardware, only if they've kept their head in a bucket in recent weeks.

The GeForce 4 will occupy the top of Nvidia's product line, with GeForce 3 boards now taking the middle ranking. GeForce 2 products occupy the low-end, while the TNT GPU is now end of life.

Usually, Nvidia is tight-lipped pre-launch, and it keeps good discipline among the troops. However this time around it has been entirely unable to stop its associates, partners and NDA'd journos from springing more leaks than a leaky sieve. Pictures here, leaked press releases there -all very entertaining.

The reviews flood in thick and fast tomorrow: in the meantime we note that Jon Peddie, the most famous analyst for the graphics chip and computer display industries, has named Nvidia as his "Segment Leader" of 2001, for its technology leadership.

"NVIDIA had an exceptional year and is a sterling example of a technology leader," he writes in his Techwatch newsletter. "The company has a solid road map, impressive product lines, incredible customer loyalty and the combined experience of many industry veterans that will keep it from repeating the troubled history of past performers. "

The same quote appears in Nvidia's press release, except for the bit in italics. In its place, the quote ends: "allowed it to grow and prosper."

Jon Peddie names IBM as his industry leader of 2001. You can read this issue of Techwatch (in PDF) here .