Asustek explores the optical storage market with new DVD-Dual drive

Dom · Aug 7, 2003, 10:36 AM

Taiwan-based Asustek Computer presented its own-brand 4x half-height DVD-Dual drive at a product launch event yesterday, saying it expects to ship 10-12 million optical storage drives in 2003, compared to six million units sold last year.

The new DVD drive, DRW-0402P/D, uses Pioneer’s pick-up heads (PUHs) and NEC’s chip sets, and enables 4x writing speed with DVD-R discs, 2x with DVD-RW, 4x with DVD+R and 2.4x with DVD+RW. It also allows 16x writing for CD-R and 10x for CD-RW discs, according to the company.

Initial monthly shipments of the DRW-0402P/D, which comes with a suggested retail price of US$8,999 (about US$257), will be about 50,000 units, while the company targets shipping 300,000 units for the full year, the company said.

An 8x DVD-Dual drive is also to be launched this November, the company said.

Asustek shipped about four million optical storage drives in the first half of this year, with half-height CD-ROM, CD-RW and DVD-ROM drives accounting for about 50%, 40% and 7-8% of its total optical storage drive revenues in the period, respectively. The remaining 2-3% came from sales of its external and slim-type optical storage drives, the company said.

Although the company is currently focusing on the retail market with own-brand products for its optical storage business, it expects to adjust the ratio of own-brand and contract manufacturing businesses to 6.5:3.5 in the second half of this year from 8:2 currently, the company said.

CD-RW and DVD-ROM drives will form the majority of Asustek’s optical storage drive shipments in the second half, with DVD-ROM shipments expected to reach 100,000 units in August compared to 70,000-80,000 in July, the company said.

Besides the half-height market, Asustek has also made great efforts to explore the slim-type optical storage market, and expects to ship slim-type combo drives in considerable amounts in the first quarter of 2004, the company said.

Claiming the fifth place in the worldwide half-height optical storage drive market based on shipment volumes in the first half, Asustek said it is optimistic about seizing third place by year-end. Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS), Lite-On IT, Samsung Electronics and BenQ are currently the top four suppliers, according to Asustek.

The Taiwanese company currently leads optical storage drive sales in Taiwan, Russia and the Middle East, it added.

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Source: DigiTimes

Aug 7, 2003, 10:36 AM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Asustek explores the optical storage market with new DVD-Dual drive Taiwan-based Asustek Computer presented its own-brand 4x half-height DVD-Dual drive at a product launch event yesterday, saying it expects to ship 10-12 million optical storage drives in 2003, compared to six million units sold last year. The new DVD drive, DRW-0402P/D, uses Pioneer’s pick-up heads (PUHs) and NEC’s chip sets, and enables 4x writing speed with DVD-R discs, 2x with DVD-RW, 4x with DVD+R and 2.4x with DVD+RW. It also allows 16x writing for CD-R and 10x for CD-RW discs, according to the company. Initial monthly shipments of the DRW-0402P/D, which comes with a suggested retail price of US$8,999 (about US$257), will be about 50,000 units, while the company targets shipping 300,000 units for the full year, the company said. An 8x DVD-Dual drive is also to be launched this November, the company said. Asustek shipped about four million optical storage drives in the first half of this year, with half-height CD-ROM, CD-RW and DVD-ROM drives accounting for about 50%, 40% and 7-8% of its total optical storage drive revenues in the period, respectively. The remaining 2-3% came from sales of its external and slim-type optical storage drives, the company said. Although the company is currently focusing on the retail market with own-brand products for its optical storage business, it expects to adjust the ratio of own-brand and contract manufacturing businesses to 6.5:3.5 in the second half of this year from 8:2 currently, the company said. CD-RW and DVD-ROM drives will form the majority of Asustek’s optical storage drive shipments in the second half, with DVD-ROM shipments expected to reach 100,000 units in August compared to 70,000-80,000 in July, the company said. Besides the half-height market, Asustek has also made great efforts to explore the slim-type optical storage market, and expects to ship slim-type combo drives in considerable amounts in the first quarter of 2004, the company said. Claiming the fifth place in the worldwide half-height optical storage drive market based on shipment volumes in the first half, Asustek said it is optimistic about seizing third place by year-end. Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS), Lite-On IT, Samsung Electronics and BenQ are currently the top four suppliers, according to Asustek. The Taiwanese company currently leads optical storage drive sales in Taiwan, Russia and the Middle East, it added. ______________________ Source: DigiTimes