"..Philips is the first to announce plans to launch DVD video recorders, with release scheduled for mid-year 2000. Philips has announced its DVD+RW video format-based DVD recording device while different segments of the industry are promoting several other formats, which include Pioneer's DVD-RW, Matsusita/Hitachi/Toshiba's DVD-RAM, as well as NEC's Multimedia Video File (MMVF). Philips emphasizes the advantage of the already flourishing pre-recorded DVD-Video market, which allows its drive to offer DVD playback as well as home-recording capability.

The Philips DVD+RW drive is capable of performing on-the-fly transcoding from a DV format to an MPEG-2-based format. Currently, demo models of the Philips DVD Recorder use a Philips-designed MPEG-2 codec and separate transcoding chip, but the company has not ruled out off-the-shelf components for the final commercial product. Philips plans to launch the DVD+RW drive next hear in the U.S. and Europe at a price comparable to that of first-generation high-end DVD players, which have sold for $700-$1,000. DVD+RW blank media cost is expected to be about that of CD-RW media ($8-$10).." NULL