USA Today............................................
usatoday.com
11/19/97- Updated 09:21 AM ET
Versatility of DVD key to developments
A key to the convergence of PCs and home entertainment is DVD, the new, high-density disc system that holds seven or more times as much data as a CD on the same-size platter.
DVD first meant digital video disc, and later became digital versatile disc to reflect its multiple uses. Hollywood uses DVDs for movies; Silicon Valley is just starting to release software on them.
DVD is "a migration path down the road of home entertainment for computers and video," Panasonic's Gary Bailer says. "It's a format that will be seen in your camcorder and even car navigation devices."
Panasonic promises to deliver the first recordable DVD drives for PCs, expected as add-ons in stores in January ($799) and in desktop systems next spring.
The recorders will write a format called DVD-RAM, which holds 2.6 gigabytes on a single-sided disc (blanks are expected to cost $25-$39). The machines will play all DVDs and CDs.
DVD represents a logical step in convergence, says Computer Gaming World's Johnny Wilson. But both the stand-alone DVD home player for movie discs and the DVD drives for PCs will require several years to reach mass market acceptance, he says.
Wilson foresees that someday Jeopardy! viewers might decide that "I could do that well, and maybe try (via the Net) to earn their way onto the show," he says. Should the player succeed, a DVD-ROM game version of Jeopardy! might show special "reward" video sequences. "Those kinds of things are being experimented with now."
Looking to make the most of convergence at Comdex, Dolby Labs is demonstrating home theater systems with a 100-inch projection screen, using PC-TV products from Gateway 2000, Compaq and Philips. Besides Dolby Digital soundtracks on DVD movies, many CD-ROM games have Dolby surround sound, and new DVD games will include Dolby Digital effects.
"This is all about a battle for eyeballs," says Dolby's Larry Poor.
"The concept of playing movies and controlling what's on the PC, including games, all on one screen, that's what we see the marriage coming to," he says.
By USA TODAY |
