Sony doubles density of CD-RWs

On Tuesday, the consumer electronics giant unveiled Double Density CD-R and CD-RW drives and discs.

Dubbed DD-R and DD-RW, the discs can hold 1.3GB of data, or about 300 songs. That is twice the capacity of CD-R and CD-RW discs, which hold 650MB. The technology doubles the capacity of the discs by essentially shrinking the space between the tracks on the media.

The drives will be available in retail stores by the beginning of April and will cost $249. DD-R discs will cost $1.99 each, and DD-RW discs will cost $2.99.

Sony's new products are an attempt to provide a middle solution between CD-RWs and their giant cousin, DVD-rewritable discs, which offer 4.7GB of capacity.

"With a 1.3GB capacity, users can now get the best of both worlds, but not at twice the price," said Bob DeMoulin, a product marketing manager at Sony.

By contrast, Pioneer plans to start selling around May an add-on version of its drive that can play and record both DVDs and CDs. Pioneer's drive is expected to sell for around $1,000, with the discs costing $10 to $20 apiece.

Still, Dataquest analyst Mary Craig said Sony's new technology faces considerable obstacles.

"The price and capacity make a lot of sense to me in terms of addressing a middle ground, but the disturbing sign is that Sony is the only manufacturer stepping up to address this middle ground. That's not a good sign," Craig said. For any new technology to take off, it needs a number of companies to champion its cause.

Other companies may take a pass on double-density technology because a DVD-rewritable standard may be just around the corner.

"The looming DVD-rewritable technologies will be a challenge," Craig said.

But as long as the industry continues to squabble over a DVD-rewritable standard, DD-R and DD-RW may have a window of opportunity. There are three different specifications being considered by manufacturers: DVD+RW, DVD-R and DVD-RAM. The competing technologies have the potential to fragment the market and confuse consumers with compatibility issues.

DD-R and DD-RW are not completely clear of compatibility issues themselves. The DD-R/DD-RW drive will be able to read and write CD-R and CD-RW discs. But existing CD and CD-RW drives won't be able to play DD-R and DD-RW discs.

"While you can't share DD-R and DD-RW media with CD-RW owners, you can still record onto CD-RW and share that way. So I think they're covered in that sense," Craig said.

Sony's approach to marketing the new technology will have a major effect on how well it is accepted, Craig said, though it may help that Sony's new technology is based on an familiar one, CD-RW. Dataquest forecasts that manufacturers will ship more than 38 million CD-RW drives in 2001.

"We're playing off a technology that is already known, CD-RW, so we have instant understanding on the user's part," DeMoulin said.

However, he acknowledged, PC manufacturers are unlikely to incorporate Sony's new drive immediately given the weakness in computer sales.

"We've had talks with manufacturers and they're interested. But PC buyers are especially sensitive to price right now and they don't want to add cost to systems," DeMoulin said.

Craig agreed. "This is more of an after-market product," she said, referring to merchandise that people buy after they purchase a PC. "After this trial-balloon stage, if demand is good, it will send a message to manufacturers."

The Sony Double Density ATAPI CRS200E-A1 is an internal drive with a maximum write speed for DD-R and CD-R of 12x, a maximum write speed of DD-RW and CD-RW of 8x, and a maximum play speed for CDs of 32x.