The two companies have agreed to incorporate in their respective products recordable DVD formats promoted by the other: Panasonic will add DVD+R read-write capability to its DVD recorders and HP will add DVD-RAM functionality to the recordable DVD drives in its broad portfolio of consumer desktop PCs.
By supporting these formats, HP and Panasonic are attempting to make it easier for consumers to use DVD media in their digital consumer electronics and PCs, and to provide customers with an experience that leverages the advantages of each technology – from wide compatibility to support for multiple media types.
For example, John Romano, senior vice president, Global Consumer PC Business Unit, HP, said: This collaboration will further enable average consumers to become movie producers. Customers who use DVD-RAM devices will be able to capture and record personal content on DVD-RAM media and then easily create and edit home videos on HP’s PCs and other digital entertainment products.
Recording of self-created content on DVDs is starting to grow rapidly in the US. This year consumers are expected to purchase close to 15 million DVD burners built into PCs and DVD set-top recorders. With the elimination of format issues and confusion about the right media to use, both companies expect that consumer interest in DVD recording will grow significantly.
