Philips Launches World's Fastest DVD Burner (16x)

[Harvey]

Linkolay

Tue Jun 22, 2004 04:44 AM ET

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Philips Electronics has launched the world's first 16-speed DVD writer, which can burn a disc in less than six minutes, the Dutch group said on Tuesday.

U.S. computer maker Dell will be the first customer for the new DVD burner, sources familiar with the Philips activity told Reuters. Philips and Dell have a partnership to supply each other with products.

Philips said it planned to produce 600,000 of the devices every month. Computer makers will pay between 80 and 90 euros ($97-$109) per DVD writer when buying in large quantities, while consumers will have to pay around 180 euros.

The product, which has two layers that take the maximum storage capacity up to 8.5 gigabytes or four hours of DVD quality video, will be a mainstream feature in personal computers by the end of 2004, Philips said.

Until now, eight-speed burners were at the top of the range.

DVDs were designed to store film and video. With the advent of digital video cameras and still cameras, consumers are increasingly interested in editing their videos on a personal computer, then burning them on a DVD for storage or for sending to other people.

Philips' optical storage unit, which was also the first with an eight-speed DVD burner last September, returned to profitability in 2003 after heavy losses as a result of Asian competition.

Reuters/VNU

 

[AristoV300]

And I thought I was smoking with my 4x.... I wonder how 16x media will cost??? That isn't the speed for dual layer though, is it?

 

[Davegod]

Usual PR stuff, other manufacturers have already launched their 16x drives, review or two of the BenQ one around somewhere.

Like it how it implies the burner can do dual layer in the 6 mins, nicely done so joe consumer reads it that way while they dont actually say it. It's probably 2.4x, taking more like 45mins.

 

[Corporate Thug]

show me the media!!!!

 

[beatle]

I wonder if they'll cripple the read speed to 4x like they do on my drive. :|

 

[eelw]

8x media is hard to come by. How long before 16x media becomes readily available and inexpensive?

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: AristoV300
And I thought I was smoking with my 4x.... I wonder how 16x media will cost??? That isn't the speed for dual layer though, is it?

Dual layer media now trickling into the marketplace is 2.4x. 4x dual layer burners are said to be due in quarter 4.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: eelw
8x media is hard to come by. How long before 16x media becomes readily available and inexpensive?

I picked up 25 DVD+R 8x spindle at a computer show on Saturday ($29). My NEC 2510a DL 8x (DVD+R, DVD-R) burner should arrive in a couple of days.