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Technology Stocks : ZORAN jpeg/dvd moguls -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Javelyn Bjoli who wrote (1202)	4/13/1998 12:11:00 PM
From: AreWeThereYet	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1486

>> This time, DVD recordable has been preannounced by a year or two and it is killing sales of present players. << Nuh, No body expects to release an affordable DVD-Recorder which can replace VHS until late 1999. They are talking about DVD-RAM and is available now. Even CD-R didn't break the $500 barrier until 1996. >> the sales rep will tell you to buy LaserDisc instead of DVD if it's the best picture you want. << First, never trust the salesman, Second, this is not the same opinion I hear from them. >> Unless you're buying a Dolby Digital stereo system to go with it << You can still use your existing Dolby Pro-logic but with an option for better. DVD, not only better image but also cheaper to manufacture than LD. I guess 35% of Best Buy revenue does show us the trend. >> DVD is set to become a core technology of the next generation of hybrid consumer/computer electronics devices. But not until it's recordable. << DVD-RAM is available now, and soon will be found in U.S. market too. HI-Val annouced a DVD-RAM for $399.00. Cheap enough? Now comes the problem, in order for DVD becomes a VHS replacement, it needs a Mpeg2/AC-3 codec and this chip alone cost 4 digits money. You will see DVD titles become popular before DVD-Recorder becomes affordable or ...even available! aC

To: Javelyn Bjoli who wrote (1202)	4/15/1998 12:50:00 AM
From: Peter V	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1486

In many ways, you are correct about DVD not taking off until it's recordable. Most people see it as a VCR replacement, and want it to record before they buy one. Those that see it as a laserdisc replacement already have one, but those are not that large in number, laserdiscs never took off like VCRS. And DVD recordable media promises to be vastly more expensive than videocasettes, at least initially. The DVD player manufacturers have not tried very hard to get DVD as a CD player replacement, but eventually I think we will see DVD changers to play music (and discs will probably will contain music videsos as well). That being said, the initial market for DVDs is the PC market, as programs get so big they require five CDs (Riven, for example), DVD is the perfect format. Not too long ago, I upgraded my 40 MB hard drive to an 80 MB and thought I had some space. Now you can't buy less than a 2 GB drive, and it's just going to get bigger. Software companies need a new format for the behemoth programs they are writing, and DVD makes perfect sense. I don't think it needs to be recordable in PCs, since the DVD readers are backwards compatible with CDs, and are a good replacement as the trend goes forward.