Today the processor speed of our personal computers are so much quicker than a year ago! Does this mean we can work faster? Maybe, but for most it means we just ask the PC to handle more complex tasks; handle large files sizes as we create the need to store high-quality sound and digital images. Advances in software packages leads to an increase in the number of people who are comfortable in creating & burning CD’s, something that was often left to the IT Department. Times are changing; we not only use the PC for writing documents or formulating spreadsheets, the PC use in the home is gaining popularity. Not only to write letters or calculate the monthly finances but to view digital still and video images, record, edit music and playback to friends and family. Then there is the need to archive the footage for retrieval in years to come! To respond to such needs, last year Verbatim launched the DVD+RW disk. Establishing a standard for rewritable DVD “DVD+RW” that focuses on compatibility with DVD-ROM drives and DVD Video players. The newly launched DVD+R disk conforms to exactly the same standards also providing a high level of playback compatibility. With this introduction, Verbatim becomes the first to offer DVD+RW technology in both the ReWriteable and Write-once formats. “DVD+RW is an enabling technology for the convergence of PCs and home entertainment devices” said Kevin Jefcoate, Director, European Marketing and Product Management. “People like the simplicity of using a single DVD+RW disc for computer data and consumer electronics applications. They also want the security, compatibility and cost savings that write-once media provides. Our new DVD+R media offers the best of both technologies.” Broad compatibility, a low storage cost and high-speed recording make the discs ideal for sharing computer data, home videos, photos and music. By adopting lossless linking technology2, the DVD+R disk has realised high play back compatibility after adding postscript. The disk can also be reproduced by traditional DVD-ROM drive and DVD Video player3. In addition, by adopting our originally developed azo-family organic pigment “Metal Azo” in the recording layer, we have realised 2.4 times faster high-speed recording by sufficient power margin that is the fastest in postscript and rewritable-type DVD standard. At the same time, the disk maintains high durability and high light resistance that have been proved in CD-R, thereby enabling long-term stable storage of important data. To provide its customers with a quick and easy way to distinguish between discs used for computer storage and those used to store movies and videos, Verbatim packages its media in standard jewel cases and video tall boxes. Special features of the DVD+R disk are as follows: 1. High compatibility by adopting lossless linking technology 2. Secure and stable recording by adopting “Metal Azo” dye for the recording layer 3. Records at 2.4x speed Date of launch: In mid March 2002 (planned) Product name: DVD+R Disk *1: “DVD+RW Alliance Members” Sony Corporation, Dell Computers of the US, Thomson Multimedia of France, Hewlett Packard of the US, Philips of the Netherlands, Yamaha Co., Ricoh Co., and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. *2: Lossless linking technology In the DVD-ROM and DVD-Video disk, continuous data are recorded without any opening. Therefore, unless data are recorded without any opening even in write-once and rewritable-type DVD, DVD-ROM drive and DVD-Video player cannot read them out. The lossless linking technology enables additional entries and rewriting with high precision of less than 1 micron from the former recorded data. With this, traditional drive and video player can read them. *3: There is a case that some DVD-ROM drives and DVD-Video players cannot play back. Notes to editors: Verbatim is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical Media and provides information storage products, computer and imaging consumables, and related accessories, which deliver valuable solutions to customers and end users. Verbatim is currently the only firm in the world that designs, develops and manufactures high performance, high quality CD-Recordable, CD-Rewritable, DVD-Recordable and DVD-ReWritable media products, a complete family of 3.5inch and 5.25inch MO media. Furhermore the product range includes tapes, imaging products, digital devices and memory cards Editorial Contacts: Emma Soames, Tel: +44 (0)1784 896233 Email: esoames@verbatim-europe.com Maggi Fox, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7487 3633 Email: maggi@maggi-fox.co.uk Product Images are available. Please contact Emma Soames for details.