Hitachi America Announces World's First Double Speed DVD-ROM Drive.BRISBANE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 3, 1997--Hitachi America, Ltd. today announced the launch of the GD-2000, the world's first double-speed technology DVD-ROM DVD-ROM: see digital versatile disc. A read-only DVD disc used to permanently store data files. DVD-ROM discs are widely used to distribute large software applications that exceed the capacity of a CD-ROM disc. drive. With full support for 4.7 GB capacity single-layer and planned double-layer DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. media, as well as standard CD media, the GD-2000 establishes Hitachi as the leading supplier of DVD drives DVD drives come in a variety of speeds and options. The original drive (1x) transferred data at 1.35MB per second. By doubling the spindle speed (RPMs) for 2x drives, the transfer rate increased to 2.7MB/sec and has been increasing ever since. for computer data storage applications. The GD-2000 has a transfer rate of 2.76 Mbytes/second with DVD media, twice the performance of first-generation drives now on the market. The GD-2000 also reads CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). and CD-R (CD-Recordable) A writable CD technology using a type of compact disc that can be recorded, but not erased (CD-Rs are "write once" discs). CD-R discs are used to master CD-ROMs, to back up data and to make copies of data for distribution. discs at up to 20X (3.0 Mbytes/second) data rates, using constant angular velocity (storage) constant angular velocity - (CAV) A disk driving scheme in which the angular velocity of the disk is kept constant. This means that the linear velocity of the disk be larger when the reading or writing the outer tracks. (CAV (1) (Component Analog Video) See YPbPr. (2) (Constant Angular Velocity) Rotating an optical disc or hard disk at a constant speed. Contrast with "constant linear velocity" (CLV), in which the platter rotates at varying speeds. ) technology. These substantial performance improvements, and the ability to read all standard DVD and CD media, set a standard for all future DVD-ROM drives. "With the GD-2000, Hitachi is the first company to deliver true multimedia performance for personal computers," said Werner Glinka, Director of Marketing for the Storage Products Group of Hitachi America, Ltd. "System designers and end-users who want maximum flexibility and performance in optical storage can move to DVD drives immediately, with assurance that they have a system compatible with the standards of today, and tomorrow." The GD-2000 drive uses a dual-laser and lens system, combined with a high-performance actuator, to support playback of both DVD and CD media. The drive has a 650-nm, red-light laser to read DVD-ROM, and the DVD lens systems supports focus-jump technology to instantaneously switch between layers of a dual-layer disc. For CD media, the drive use a 780-nm infrared laser that can read both CD-ROM and CD-R media. Additionally, the drive achieves what may be the fastest data access rates of any drive on the market. DVD data access rates are 150 ms, and CD data access rates are just 100 ms. Actual data transfer rates can reach 16.6 Mbytes/second, using the industry standard E-IDE (ATAPI (AT Attachment Packet Interface) The specification for ATA (IDE) tape drives and CD-ROMs. See IDE. ATAPI - AT Attachment Packet Interface PIO Mode (Programmed Input/Output mode) The data transfer mode used by IDE drives. These modes use the CPU's registers for data transfer in contrast with DMA, which transfers directly between main memory and the peripheral device. For transfer rates, see IDE. 4) system bus interface. In conjunction with a suitable decoder, the GD-2000 is capable of playing back MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group) An ISO/ITU standard for compressing digital video. Pronounced "em-peg," it is the universal standard for digital terrestrial, cable and satellite TV, DVDs and digital video recorders (DVRs). 2 compressed video and audio material with exceptional clarity and definition. A single-layer 4.7GB DVD disk can store more than two hours of video material with a picture quality that approaches the CCIR-601 studio quality standard. Even with its advanced dual-laser and lens design, the GD-2000 maintains Hitachi's reputation for high reliability with a 100,000 hour Mean Time Between Failure. Physical dimensions are identical to CD-ROM drives (146mm X 41.3mm X 190 mm), allowing easy integration of the GD-2000 in current system designs. The GD-2000 has software drivers for Windows 3.X and Windows 95, and appears like a high-speed, high-capacity CD-ROM to the operating system and user. The tray design allows either horizontal or vertical mounting and operation, and the tray loading mechanism eliminates the need for a disc caddy A plastic container that holds a CD or DVD disc for added protection. The bare disc is placed in the caddy, and the caddy is inserted into the drive. A caddy is not a jewel case. A jewel case protects the disc for transportation. A caddy protects the disc while reading and writing. . The GD-2000, sold and supported in North America by the Storage Products Group of Hitachi America, Ltd., Computer Division, will principally be marketed to personal computer manufacturers for factory installation in personal computers. Sample quantities of the GD-2000, priced at $750 for a single evaluation unit, will be available in April 1997. The Computer Division of Hitachi America, Ltd. sells high-capacity, high-performance hard disk drives, CD-ROM and DVD drives, through its Storage Products Group. The Computer Division is part of Hitachi America's Converging Technologies Group, which markets a broad range of electronic hardware and software products, including semiconductors, storage devices, printers, monitors and flat panel displays. Hitachi America, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of Hitachi, Ltd., Japan, markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, semiconductors, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout the United States. Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, is the world's leading electronics company, with fiscal 1995 consolidated sales (ending March 31, 1996), of $76.6 billion. The company markets and manufactures a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products, and power and industrial equipment. CONTACT: Hitachi America, Ltd. Werner Glinka, 415/244-7630 or FS Communications Matthew Schmidt, 415/691-1488 or Reader Contact: 800-HITACHI (800-448-2244) |
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