Lite-On It 18x DVD burner shipments to start rising next quarter

September 5, 2006

GristyMcFisty used our news submit to tell us about recent news posted over at DigiTimes. We had already
heard about this development of course, 18x DVD drives, however, now we can read
about the predicted production schedule. There is also a bit of IFA news as well
concerning Pioneer.

Lite-On IT started volume production of 18x DVD burners in July of this year and expects shipments of such burners to begin to increase next quarter, according to industry sources, who noted that Sony launched a 18x Super Multi model in Europe last month and Pioneer will also offer a 18x DVD burner.

Sony last month in the European market
launched its AWG170A, a 18x Super Multi DVD burner model produced by its
joint venture Sony NEC Optiarc, the sources indicated. Pioneer is
showcasing its first 18x DVD burner model, the DVR-112 at the 2006 IFA
(International Funkausstellung) consumer electronics trade fair taking
place in Berlin, Germany, and plans to begin volume production next
quarter for launch in January 2007, the sources added.

The article
went on to name other contenders in the 18x market, namely, Plextor,
Samsung, LG and NEC. Considering the fact that Sony and Pioneer are also
producing 18x drives, we could expect the 16x drives to fall by the wayside as
time goes on. DigiTimes also reported in this article, that the current OEM
prices for these faster burners has now dropped below $30 dollars
US!

Source: DigiTimes