Lite-On IT to offer 20x DVD burners in 4Q

July 17, 2006

chas0039 used our news submit to tell us that according to this report from DigiTimes, we will be seeing some 20x drives before long.
Remember the old CD writer jokes? Like, when's the 21x coming? At any rate,
it looks as though the 18x drive will soon dominate the market, at least in the
next couple years, replacing the very popular 16x burners. But, much depends on
the availability of 18x chipsets.

Lite-On
IT, given the fact that several global leading brands will follow
Japan-based Plextor and unveil 18x DVD burner models this quarter or early
next quarter, is preparing to offer 20x DVD burners in the fourth quarter
to enhance its competitiveness, according to industry sources.

Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST), NEC, Hitachi-LG
Data Storage (HLDS), Pioneer and I-O Data Device are among the brands
expected to release 18x DVD burners soon, the sources indicated.

The article went on to say, that NEC is currently the
largest supplier of the 18x chipset. However, their sources indicated that if
Taiwan's MediaTek should begin volume production of the 18x
chipset, there is a good chance that current 16x models will be
overtaken by the faster drives.

Source: DigiTimes