DVRs............................................
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Industry News Posted: June 14, 1999
Digital video recorders to hit the market with a bang this fall
HONG KONG — Based in part on the number of preliminary orders and the buzz they created at recent trade shows, digital video recorders (DVRs) will be hugely popular when they debut in the fall, International Data Corp. says in its latest study.
"Consumers are very excited about these products," said Kevin Hause, a consumer devices analyst at IDC. The firm projects that about 1 million DVR-enabled products will be shipped in 2000. Shipments are expected to reach 10 million by 2004. Its idiot-proof design and ability to integrate with other devices such as set-top boxes and DTV converters will guarantee that the DVR scores big among end-users, according to IDC.
DVRs, an enhanced alternative to VCRs and DVD players, feature individualized programming and memory capabilities, and save data on a hard drive instead of tape. Depending on the storage capacity, they retail between $499 and $999, but IDC expects prices to drop significantly once models hit the market.
Replay Networks, TiVo and Microsoft all have developed DVR technology. Microsoft is shipping its EchoStar dish player this summer, featuring set-top and DVR functions. Other big names are hot on their heels. Matsushita has just licensed ReplayTV's technology for the Panasonic brand, and Philips Consumer Electronics also said it will be using TiVo technology.
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