DVD products deliver differentiation to VARs
Joseph F. Kovar
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12/01/97
Computer Reseller News
Page 102
Copyright 1997 CMP Publications Inc.
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Irvine, Calif. -- For VARs building interactive systems for vertical markets or looking to significantly boost storage capacity, current and future digital videodisc ( DVD ) products may enable systems integrators to differentiate their products.
By incorporating new DVD interface cards, integrators can offer fully interactive systems with all the video and audio capabilities promised by the latest DVD specifications, manufacturers said.
On the horizon, VARs also may opt to add DVD+ReWritable technology into systems, significantly boosting storage capacity in custom-built systems. Last September, a specification was unveiled for the migration to rewritable DVD , led by companies including Hewlett-Packard Co., Sony Corp. and Philips Electronics Inc.
As a migration from CD-ReWritable technology available today, rewritable DVD technology was a hot topic of discussion at Comdex/Fall. It is likely that in 1998, VARs will see the emergence of volume products, enabling them to incorporate this new medium of storage in custom systems, said storage OEMs.
At the show, Philips Electronics said it has developed DVD+ReWritable media with 3 Gbytes of storage capacity.
Production samples of the new discs will be available soon for evaluation, though details on volume shipments and pricing still are being worked out by the company.
In the channel, VARs are seeing more add-in cards emerging from companies including Sigma Designs Inc. and Creative Labs Inc., enabling VARs to add DVD capabilities to desktop PCs.
In addition, DVD also is starting to find its way into the mobile market with manufacturers including Margi Systems Inc. unveiling a similar product for notebook PCs.
Many applications for computer-based training, distance learning and interactive kiosks are being ported to the DVD format, said Yogesh Khare, business development manager for Fremont, Calif.-based Sigma Designs.
Another important market is education, where learning materials can be put on a server and broadcast to schools, he said. |
