I would think DVD-RAM represents a strong threat to all existing removable storage formats.
The one drawback people mention is the relatively slow access time of DVD-RAM vs. magnetic storage. Apparently, has already been addressed! I was surprised to learn that DVD-RAM improves significantly over CD technology in this area. I have some information on this somewhere, will try to dig it up. And, if the first generation of DVD-RAM already has an improvement here, what happens in successive generations? (guess)
...so, looks like Iomega and others have a significant competitive challenge in front of it. I'm not short on Iomega...but if I worked there, I would be selling my options.
Personally, I think the whole thing is getting quite exciting, and predict people will "vote with their feet" Why? A simple matter of ONE format for distributing software, backing up data, playing back/recording video, and playing back/recording music? The time is finally here! Forget stupid articles in the WSJ about how "DVD isn't catching on" despite recent statistics which show upticks in player sales...
This is really exciting, and I don't often "rah-rah"...
Dan |
