GristyMcFisty used our news submit to tell us that according
to this report over at DigiTimes, Super Multi DVD may place competitive
pressure on the current mainstream technology, DVD Dual (+RW and -RW). For those
that don't know the difference, Super Multi pick up heads support +RW, -RW,
+R, -R, '“RAM, CDR and CD-RW formats. You would think decision would
be a no-brainer except for one thing, the technology would
require royalty payments for three DVD formats! Still, if that is what the
consumer wants to buy, it may be dangerous to not have the capability for
your products.
 Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS) is the only producer of Super Multi DVD burners, with the standard posing no substantial threat to DVD Dual currently, the Taiwan ODD makers indicated. HLDS produces two million Super Multi pick-up heads a month for its own use. Sanyo Electric is currently the largest maker of pick-up heads used in DVD burners. According to its latest product roadmap, the Japanese company plans to start volume production of Super Multi pick-up heads at the end of this year or in the first quarter of 2005. In addition, Matsushita Electric, Renesas and Taiwan IC design house MediaTek have offered Super Multi chipsets, Taiwan ODD makers said. Lite-On IT and Accesstek, two Taiwan ODD makers using Sanyo's pick-up heads, are developing 16x Super Multi DVD-burner models and plan to launch them by the second quarter of 2005. |
It is obvious which head is the most
desirable. Apparently, this is going to be the preferred pick up starting next
year, I suppose time will tell, as always.
Source: DigiTimes
