DVD Makers: Size Is Important
widebandmag.com
Is smaller better? Sharp, Samsung and Toshiba are readying compact or portable DVD players for the U.S. and Japanese markets next year. Company execs say consumers want smaller, less obtrusive home theater components. "We had lengthy discussions about DVD," says Bob Scaglione, director of product planning for audio and video at Sharp. Recently returned from Japan, Scaglione says his company understands that a component's size and appearance, not just performance, is important to consumers. "A lot of people just don't have much space in their home-entertainment systems," he notes. "This new DVD player-a 270 mm machine-works with our mini-systems. It matches nicely with our televisions as well."
Is the timing right for compact DVD players? Warner Home Video president Warren Lieberfarb thinks so. "Inevitably, the notebook version of these machines will be coming to America," he says. So why did Sharp wait? Scaglione explains that his company held off on this type of machine, which it will debut at CES and distribute to retailers in late spring, because it wanted to be sure the product was right for consumers. "We aim to give retailers a good reason to put the product on their shelves."
Steve Nickerson, marketing vice president for Toshiba, agrees that consumers may find smaller players appealing. He also says Toshiba will wait before introducing Americans to these machines. "Our player is designed for the Japanese," he explains. "There are differences in the markets. For example, we don't have the same interest in karaoke as they do. This new compact player fits well with that need." The player-smaller than a notebook computer-is available in Japan Nov. 16. However, Nickerson expects to see smaller players in the U.S. market soon. "Americans are now interested in home theatre. The market will grow beyond that. When it does, smaller size is a benefit that can be exploited."
Samsung's compact player is small, of course. It's also portable. The dimensions are 7.9 by 6.3 by 2.2 inches-about the size of a hardcover book. The player is in the prototype stage but, Samsung says, a commercial model will be available in the second half of next year. Unlike other DVD players made for home theater systems, this one also connects to a computer as an external DVD-ROM drive. Toshiba's Nickerson says this kind of versatility is one of the best aspects of DVD. "That's really the excitement of the category," he says. "It has the potential to change a lot of products that we thought were pretty advanced up to this point." What are Toshiba's plans? "When we think it's viable, we'll build the product to fit." |
