More details on Matsushita's power-hungry portable DVD...............
--In comparison, ZiVA consumes about 1.5 watts--
Matsushita Unveils Portable DVD Player
****Matsushita Unveils Portable DVD Player 01/08/98 TOKYO,
JAPAN, 1998 JAN 8 (NB) -- By Martyn Williams, Newsbytes.
Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co. Ltd. [TOKYO:6752] has officially
unveiled its portable DVD-Video player, a product that was first seen at the
Japan Electronics Show in October, 1997. Also included in the
announcement were commercialization plans, a new model not seen before,
and the much awaited pricing details.
Despite the show unveiling, the company has released no information, technical or marketing,
on the product until today. In the announcement, timed to coincide with the Winter Consumer
Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and its first public showing in the United States, the company
said it would produce two models, one with a built in LCD screen and one without a screen.
The more impressive of the two machines is the DVD-L10, which features stereo speakers and
a 5.8 inch widescreen liquid crystal display built into the fold-up lid of the player. A small
number of buttons on the front edge of the player combined with an on-screen menu allow
access to all DVD functions. The unit can also be controlled by a wireless remote control unit.
To power the unit, which consumes 17watts in operation, Matsushita is supplying a
custom-built nickel metal hydride battery pack. It is rechargeable and allows 135 minutes
playing time - enough to play an entire DVD-Video disc. Alternatively, the player can be
powered from any external nine-volt power source. An optional power cord, to enable the
player to be powered by a 12-volt source such as car battery, will be available in the United
States.
The DVD-P10, which will be available in Japan only, comes without the built-in stereo
speakers and LCD screen although most other functions are identical. Users are required to
connect it to a television monitor to view discs. Connecting either player to other audio visual
devices can be done via mini-jack, for video, and stereo mini-jack or optical output, for audio.
Both also include a stereo headphones socket.
The DVD-L10 unit measures 160mm square and is 43mm thick. It weighs 910 grams. The
DVD-P10 occupies a similar area but the absence of an LCD screen makes it thinner, at
36mm. It also means the player is lighter, at 610grams, and consumes less power, at 10watts.
Because of the small size, Matsushita calls the players "perfect for traveling" but the ability to
watch your favorite movies on a train or plane comes with a hefty price tag. The DVD-L10 has
a suggested retail price of 150,000 yen ($1,133) in Japan and $1,299.95 in the United States.
The DVD-P10 will retail in Japan for 79,800 yen ($603).
Monthly combined production will be 3,000 units, said the company. "We expect to produce
more L10 than P10 models," said a spokesman, "but we must see how the market responds to
each model." He said that likely customers include audio- and video-philes and business users.
By creating a presentation on DVD, representatives will be able to play information films,
catalogs or presentations easily when visiting customers, the company envisages.
The spokesman also said the company, a major supplier of in-flight audio and video systems,
might also see sales to airlines, eager to offer first and business class passengers the ability to
choose a personal movie to view.
Both models also feature the ability to play audio and video CD discs.
The DVD-L10 will be available from February 10 in Japan and early-Spring in the United
States. The DVD-P10 will be released in Japan on March 1. There are no current plans to
introduce the P10 in the US market. Sales of the L10 are expected to commence in March in
Asia and later in the spring in Europe. International introduction of the P10 will depend on
market acceptance in Japan, said the company.
Exchange rate: $1 = 132.35 yen
Reported By Newsbytes News Network: newsbytes.com
(19980108/Press contact: Matsushita, +81-3-3578-1237, fax +81-3- 3437-2776
/MATSU980108/PHOTO |
