Survey: DVD-recorder sales set to soar

The DVD-recorder market in the United States is poised for a major boom, as one in eight Americans wants to buy one of the devices, according to a new survey.

Some 13 percent of people surveyed by TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence said they were likely to purchase a DVD recorder in the next 12 months. The market researcher sampled about 2,000 American adults for the report, released on Tuesday.

"It's astounding that a very significant portion of the U.S. consumer population intends to buy a DVD recorder despite several irritants such as lack of universal standards and compatibility, and high price," Technometrica analyst Constantine Kambanis wrote in an e-mail. "This underscores the potential size and importance of this emerging market."

Kambanis acknowledged, however, that there still is a great deal of confusion in the market over DVD-recording formats.

The TechnoMetrica found that consumers are sensitive to price--only 37 percent said they were willing to pay more than $300 for a DVD recorder. The average price of the devices hovers around $475.

Depending on how low prices drop, about 4.5 million units will likely be sold within the next 12 months, resulting in sales of approximately $2 billion, the research firm estimated.

For nearly 60 percent of the consumers surveyed, ease of use is the most important feature that they look for in a DVD recorder. Another 48 percent voted for image quality. In addition, one-third of interviewees wanted a DVD recorder capable of playing different media.