3DsoundSurge Press Release: Recordable DVD Will Speed Consumer Electronics/PC Convergence

Recordable DVD Will Speed Consumer Electronics/PC Convergence

Analyst Sees Standards-Compliant Recordable DVD Products Stimulating Market Interest in New Computers, New Software Applications, New Consumer Products

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 2001-- Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research, gave Recordable DVD Council (RDVDC) meeting attendees new insight on the factors that will drive computer sales today. While the introduction of Windows XP and new high-performance microprocessors have raised the hopes of computer manufacturers and resellers to stimulate sales, Peddie predicts that sales resurgence will come about because of products and applications that deliver the convergence of consumer electronics and PCs. More than 100 executives from system, software and solution firms attended the meeting sponsored by the RDVDC, a coalition of nearly 75 leading firms that support all DVD Forum-approved recordable DVD formats -- DVD-RAM, DVD-R and DVD-RW.

``XP is a significant operating system improvement,'' Peddie observed, ``but for routine computing applications, it doesn't optimize the performance of the new 1.5GHz and higher microprocessors that are being used. However, when you add the requirements of new applications like video-enhanced PowerPoint presentations as well as personal and business video production, consumers suddenly have a compelling reason to rush out and buy some new peripherals or one of the new video-ready systems.

``Our relationship with video is changing from passive watching to manipulating it,'' he continued. ``People want personal video recording (PVR) solutions so they can produce their videos and use and share them on the same medium. Industry-standard recordable DVD enables them to move their work from their camcorder to their PC to their player and TV. Finally, the hardware and media are readily available -- and getting very economical, and the solutions you can deliver are powerful and extremely easy to use.''

Peddie, a leading digital media market researcher and consultant, pointed out that last Christmas, the leading purchases were DVD players, camcorders and mass storage devices. Today, more than 35 million camcorders are in use and almost every recordable DVD solution available is priced under $750. He told the ISV Meeting attendees that by this Christmas, he expected to see combination write-once and rewritable DVD drives available for below $450, DVD-R media for about $3 and rewritable DVD discs for $8-$9. ``This gives consumers all the justification they need to buy a recordable DVD solution,'' he concluded.

The Recordable DVD Council sponsored the ISV Meeting as part of its commitment to assist software and hardware vendors by promoting a better understanding of the three DVD Forum-approved recordable DVD formats -- DVD-RAM, DVD-R and DVD-RW. The rapidly growing international organization was formed in April 2001 to help businesses and consumers understand the benefits of the proven standards and their use in audio, video and computer devices such as DVD recorders, DVD drives, DVD cameras and other applications.

During the afternoon event, Executive Members of the Council discussed the current state of recordable DVD technologies, the resolution of drive/player compatibility issues, the state of copyright protection and the industry's international product verification program. In addition to overall industry presentations from analysts such as Peddie, attendees also heard about the Council's plans to stimulate the worldwide recordable DVD market. Plans include outreach activities at major trade shows such as Comdex and information exchange among council members, as well as business and consumer educational/ informational programs.

For more information on Jon Peddie Research or a copy of Peddie's presentation, call JPR at 415/435-9368; fax 435-8214 or jon@ jonpeddie.com.

The DVD Forum is an industry association whose more than 230 members include all major DVD manufacturers as well as major DVD software developers and DVD media producers around the world. For more information, visit www.dvdforum.org. The Recordable DVD Council (RDVDC) is dedicated to advancing DVD Forum-standard recordable DVD technologies and products worldwide. It provides education, fosters the exchange of information and stimulates new applications. For more information on the RDVDC, contact Tony Jasionowski, U.S. Program Coordinator, at 201/348-7777 or jasionowskit@rdvdc.org. Visit the Council's website at http://www.rdvdc.org/english.

Contact:

     Andy Marken, 408/986-0100
     andy@markencom.com