Latest Digitimes lame-ass propaganda

[dolphinius_rex]

It has already been posted on our front page, but I thought it was worth bringing up here:
http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20060605A1002.html

Demand is increasing for 18x DVD burners with sales volume in 2007 expected to catch up with that of 16x models, currently the mainstream writing speed, according to sources in Taiwan's optical disc drive (ODD) industry.

Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST) this month will launch its 18x Super Multi DVD burners, which have a writing speed of 12x for the DVD-RAM format, higher than the 4-6x of other Super Multi models, the sources indicated. Japan-based Plextor launched a 18x DVD Dual burner in February of this year. Lite-On IT, Taiwan's largest ODD maker, is poised to begin volume production of 18x DVD burners next quarter.

Due to relatively low production costs, 16x currently dominates the global DVD burner market, whereas 18x models cater to the high-end segment, according to the sources.

Ok, does anyone else get the feeling this is complete BS? Most people don't care about 18x over 16x (and I don't just mean us enthusiasts either). It sounds to me like some of the drive makers are aware they can make more money with this tiny gimmick, which actually puts more pressure on the media manufacturers then it does on drive manufacturing, then if they were just selling 16x burners. But I don't think demand is so much increasing, as they are hoping it *WILL* increase is they tell people that it is.

[Ian]

It's not so much from digitimes but from the Taiwanese manufacturers. They just tell the reporter and DigiTimes that they're expecting this or that, hoping that it will come true.

[jberry]

you will need some pretty bad-ass media to write at that speed...most will not be able to handle it.

can you burn @ 18x will GOOD results? what media....sounds liek marketting to me

[Ian]

I've gotten good results at 18x with TY and Verbatim media. I wouldn't think about using garbage media at these speeds though.

[MonsterMan]

...and all the while I sit here petting my LG 4167, which'll beat those 18x drives in speed & quality with it's "lowly" 16x write speed...

Now if LG made an 18x drive that used P-CAV like their 16x drive, THEN 18x would (might) be worthwhile...

[Scour]

It´s an old game

Many guys didn´t know much about DVD-writers, and if they see bigger numbers, they will buy it. And maybe some sellers told them "18x is newer as 16x, and it´s better, buy it"

[Dartman]

I'll probably give it a shot when some one who knows what they are doing Like BenQ or Pioneer makes one, just becuase. So far the 18 drives are just useless for most media it sounds like.
Of course I burn quite a bit of my blanks at 12x now because I get better quality with the lesser ones, but 18 is so, like, way fast

[RJW]

Well here's a update.

Incase of Veeza it definately shows the hands who feed digitimes. (Taiwanese largest manufacturers of material)

This is the first time CMC and Ritek, the top two makers of optical discs in Taiwan, have taken action in protest against Philips' licensing program, industry sources pointed out.

If Ritek never protested then why o why was there a time that the status of Riteks media was put on unlicensed ???
(One example for evidence)
http://www.wave-report.com/archives/2001/01080102.htm

Ohh and unlicensed indian manufacturers ???
MBIL does pay licenses and is there main competitor in India as worldwide !!
Yeah there are some smaller Indian manufacturers but these have small surivival changes in the end. Like the very small taiwanese compannies they are slowly closing down or being bought up (Even by these taiwanese compannies who are complaining now !) because they can not compete !