Funny Cameron. 5 DVD disk changers? More than ten hours of Video and you don't need to get off the couch. What about the bathroom, something to drink, or some food, even the telephone might ring. DVD players have big inventories..............................................
newline.com
DVD HARDWARE MANUFACTURERS UNVEIL NEW PLAYERS AT CES
(by Martin Levine)
Las Vegas-In an aggressive bid to stimulate the second-year market for DVD, player manufacturers at last week's Winter Consumer Electronics Show here announced a wide array of new models, including the first DVD changers and portable player.
On Jan. 7, the day before the show opened, Panasonic executives said they will introduce five new players this spring, including a five-disc changer and a portable model with a built-in LCD display. Sony, meanwhile, added two models to its line-also including a five-disc changer-and there were indications as the show opened that other manufacturers planned to expand their product offerings this spring.
The new players expand on first-generation DVD hardware, primarily by adding new features, at similar price points rather than costing less than the existing "leader" price point of $499. Both Sony and Panasonic added audio enhancements, for example, including built-in Dolby Digital decoders in entry-level models.
Panasonic also added DTS outputs to three of its new players as an alternative to Dolby Digital. Although DTS has built a solid installed base of DTS-equipped movie theaters, it has lagged behind Dolby in the battle over providing multichannel surround sound in home video.
An executive with one leading player manufacturer said that unsold 1997 players could push retail pricing down. By some estimates at the show, as many as 240,000 players are in stores or manufacturer warehouses. That could be enough to satisfy consumer demand through the first half of the year, based on sales projections for 1998. |
