18x DVD burner sales will catch 16x in 2007

June 5, 2006

Although
many feel the speed increase to 18x is not that significant, it seems when we
get ready to purchase, the numbers are important. According to Taiwan makers
quoted in this DigiTimes report, the 18x burners are going to make some
impressive sales gains in the coming months. They can already feel the demand
growing for these faster drives and manufacturers are responding to the
market now.

Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST) this month will launch
its 18x Super Multi DVD burners, which have a writing speed of 12x for the
DVD-RAM format, higher than the 4-6x of other Super Multi models, the
sources indicated.

Japan-based Plextor launched a 18x DVD Dual burner in February of
this year. Lite-On IT, Taiwan's largest ODD maker, is poised to begin
volume production of 18x DVD burners next
quarter.

At the moment though, the 16x DVD writer can claim
market dominance due to it's lower production costs. The report indicated that
the 18x drives are currently attractive to the "high end"
segment.

Source: DigiTimes