More and more pupils are picking up digital camcorders and working with digital video on PCs. Most camcorders use videotape, but the first models to use mini-DVD disks were launched by Hitachi a couple of years ago.
Hitachi plans to launch two smaller models with memory card slots for storing still images. Now, Sony has plans to launch two competing products.
The DCR-DVD100 and DCR-DVD200 use 8cm DVD disks that can each store up to 60 minutes of video. But whereas Hitachi’s models are based on the DVD-Ram format, which uses protective disk caddies, Sony’s will use DVD-RW and DVD-R disks that don’t require caddies and will play in most DVD-video players and DVD-Rom drives. To be fair, Hitachi’s models can also use DVD-R disks, but RAM disks require special drives and players for playback.
www.hitachi.com
www.sony.co.uk