Demand is picking up for digital video recorders, which the industry is counting on to gradually take the place of VCRs. Digital video recorders are now available in an array of formats, including D-VHS, DVD-RAM, rewritable DVD (DVD-RW), DVD+RW and hard disc drive. Each of these formats has its own strength. D-VHS videocassette recorders, for example, feature digital high-definition (HD) recording. Meanwhile, DVD video recorders feature functions for quick random access and editing, and hard disc drive video recorders feature high-speed access and ample capacity for extended recording. Behind the popularity of digital video recorders are demands by users for high-quality pictures and for products accommodating more diverse recording needs. Also stimulating demand is the appearance of more advanced infrastructures, such as those for digital broadcasts and home networks. The industry expects that broadcasts of the World Cup soccer finals this year will further fuel the popularity of digital video recorders. Japanese demand is forecast to exceed 1 million units in FY2002, tripling that in FY2001.
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