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June 08, 2000
HITACHI TO RELEASE WORLD'S FIRST 4.7GB DVD-RAM-STANDARD COMPLIANT DVD CAMCORDER
-- DVD video recorder, and DVD drives for
PCs also to be released --
#
Digital Media Group of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT) today announced that on August 25 it 
will release the world's first DVD-RAM camcorder in Japan.  In addition, a DVD-RAM 
video recorder will be released on the same day, and volume shipments of 4.7GB DVD-
RAM and DVD-ROM drives for PCs will follow after the end of June.  The DVD-RAM 
products are based on the 4.7GB DVD-RAM standard.

In the field of audiovisual (AV) equipment, the pace of the shift to digital video and audio 
continues to increase at a rapid pace.  At the same time, the advent of faster CPUs and the 
growing capacities of hard-disk drives is driving a migration of AV applications to the PC 
and other digital appliances.  To enable this process of convergence to achieve its full 
potential, there is a need for a large-capacity media format that is compatible with both 
AV equipment and PCs. DVD-RAM standard is based on the concept that holds 
compatibility in both video recorders and storage devices for PCs through DVD-RAM 
disk media.  Setting DVD standards is a mission of the DVD Forum, which is comprised 
of more than 200 member companies from around the world.  Through their efforts, DVD 
is fast becoming the key storage media for providing a bridge between AV devices and 
PCs in the DVD world of the 21st century.

In making the announcement, Yoshinori Fujimori, CEO of the Hitachi, Ltd. Digital 
Media Group said, "Hitachi has been involved in DVD right from the beginning, 
expanding its presence in this sector of operations by developing DVD-ROM and -RAM 
drives for PCs.  Hitachi has used the technology and expertise thus acquired to develop 
this latest group of DVD products that take the convergence of AV and PC products a step 
further.  We intend to continue further development of truly innovative DVD based 
products that satisfy the needs for an increasingly content driven marketplace in the 
future." 

Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global 
electronics companies, with fiscal 1999 (ended March 31, 2000) consolidated sales of 
8,001 billion yen ($75.5 billion*).  The company manufactures and markets a wide range 
of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and 
industrial equipment.  For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's Web 
site at http://www.hitachi.co.jp.

* At an exchange rate of 106 yen to the dollar.

PRODUCTS AND AVAILABILITY

DVD camcorder
 Model: DZ-MV100  Sales start August 25 in Japan. Price: 248,000yen

DVD video recorder
 Model: DV-RX2000  Sales start August 25 in Japan. Price: 250,000yen

Internal DVD-RAM drive for PCs
 Model: GF-2000(ATAPI interface) Shipments start June 30 
 Model: GF-2050(SCSI interface)  Shipments start in latter part of August
 
External DVD-RAM drive for PCs
 Model: GF-2055(SCSI interface)  Shipments start August 25

Internal DVD-R£ÏM drive for PCs (with DVD-RAM playback capability)
 Model: GD-7500(ATAPI interface) Shipments start in latter part of July 
 Model: GD-S200(ATAPI interface, slim tray)  Shipments start in latter part of August 

Product features

DVD Camcorder
1.  Uses 8cm DVD-RAM disks with of 1.46GB per side
(1)  AV/PC compatibility
The 8cm DVD-RAM format was established by the DVD Forum for combined AV/PC 
applications.  Provides full range of DVD features, such as random access, high read and 
write speeds, durability and reliability.
(2)  Long-life storage
Being a non-contact recording/playback medium means that there is no deterioration in 
image quality even after repeated playings.  Also, unlike with a conventional video 
camcorder, there are no worries about tapes breaking or getting tangled.
(3)  Choice of recording modes
The camcorder can record for one hour in high-quality mode (30 minutes a side at a fixed 
rate of 6 Mbps), and two hours in standard mode (60 minutes a side at a fixed rate of 3 
Mbps).
(4)  DVD-RAM cartridge
The camcorder records on disks housed in a cartridge. The cartridge media are 
compatible with the 4.7GB DVD-RAM drives for PCs and with the DVD recorder.  The 
cartridge provides disks with added protection against fingerprints and dirt.

2.  Ease of operation
(1)  Recording
a.  New recordings do not overwrite existing recordings, but are added on, so there is no 
danger of the user inadvertently erasing previous recordings.
b.  Unlike a tape-based camcorder, there is no need to rewind the tape to see what you've 
recorded.  Any part of any recording can be replayed virtually instantaneously.  And you 
don't have to search for space for the next recording.  The camcorder does that for you.
(2)  Playback
a.  After you have finished recording, all you have to do is press the Play button and the 
camcorder automatically replays any recordings that haven't yet been viewed.
b.  Disk navigation screens enable rapid selection and playback of specific recordings.

3.  High-performance camcorder functions
(1)  Megapixel CCD
A 1.1-million-pixel, 1/4-inch CCD with an effective area of 720,000 pixels is used for 
video recording.  In still mode, the effective area is one million pixels.
(2)  Optical 12x zoom lens system
The multi-coated, aspherical lens system is a high-performance type designed specially 
for megapixel applications.  Hitachi's DSP6 digital signal processor uses MPEG-2 
compression technology for optimum image quality.  The camcorder also has a 48x 
digital zoom mode.

Main specifications
Recording mode	              	Motion pictures (with sound)
				Still images

Maximum recording time
	Motion pictures:		60 minutes in high-quality mode
				120 minutes in standard mode

Still recording capacity		1,998 stills

Recording system			Motion pictures:  DVD video recording standard
				Still images:  DVD video recording standard and 
				JPEG

Pixel resolution
	Motion pictures:		704 x 480 (high-quality)
				352 x 480 (standard)
	Still images:		1,280 x 960 (JPEG)
				704 x 480 (DVD video recording)

Media				8cm DVD-RAM (DVD-RAM Book 2.1 compliant)


DV-RX2000 DVD Video Recorder recording


The DV-RX2000 is a high-performance, high quality 4.7GB DVD-RAM video recorder 
that is as easy to operate as a videotape recorder, and providing adequate copy protection 
features.

The DV-RX2000 incorporates MPEG-2 variable bit rate compression and a number of 
other high-performance features such as external input TBC (Time Base Corrector), 3D 
Y/C separation and digital noise reduction.  Being a disk-based medium means that it has 
excellent random-access operability, and it is fully compatible with PC DVD-RAM 
drives and other DVD devices.  This includes full playback compatibility with respect to 
DVD recordings made using the DZ-MV100 DVD video camcorder.  The DV-RX2000 
can also rearrange and erase images, and is cable-ready.

The DV-RX2000 can play DVD videos, video CDs and audio CDs.  For optimum quality 
reproduction of DVD movies, it includes 525-line progressive scanning playback and a 
Dolby Digital 5.1-channel decoder for full home theater viewing and listening pleasure.


Main specifications
Recording system		DVD video recording

Disk			4.7GB DVD-RAM disk

Recording modes		XP: 10 Mbps; SP: 5 Mbps; LP: 2.5 Mbps (variable bit rate)

Recording capacity	4 hours maximum (using 4.7GB DVD-RAM disk)
			High-quality mode: 60 minutes
			Standard mode:	120 minutes
			Long-play mode:	240 minutes

Video system		NTSC

Channel reception		VHF (channels 1 to 12); UHF (channels 13 to 62); 
			CATV (channels 13 to 63); BS (channels 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 
			13, 15)

Playback media compatibility
			DVD (SL/DL: 8/12cm); DVC (8/12cm); CD-DA (8/12cm)

GF-2000 series 4.7GB DVD-RAM drive for PCs

The GF-2000 series DVD-RAM drive is the successor to the GF-1000 series 2.6GB 
DVD-RAM that Hitachi released in April 1998.  At 4.7GB a side (double-sided capacity 
of 9.4GB), the GF-2000 has roughly twice the capacity of the earlier drive, and its data 
transfer rate of 22 Mbps during writing is twice as fast.

The GF-2000 series offers read/write compatibility with the 2.6GB DVD-RAM disks, 
enabling existing data assets on such disks to be utilized.  Disks used by a GF-2000 series 
drive to store data can be read by the GD-7500 and GD-S200 DVD-RAM drives that 
Hitachi is releasing at the same time as the GF-2000.

Features
1.  Full compliance with DVD-RAM (rewritable) standards.
2.  Playback compatibility with respect to DVD-ROM, CD-ROM, etc.
3.  ATAPI (enhanced IDE) interface (GF-2000)
4.  Ultra SCSI interface (GF-2050/GF-2055)
5.  Buffer memory of 2MB
6.  Drives can be used horizontally or vertically
7.  Compatible with Windows(R) 95/98 and Windows(R) 2000/NT
(When used with a PC, device drivers or application software is required.)

Internal DVD-ROM drives for PCs can read 4.7GB DVD-RAM disks

In July, Hitachi will start shipping the GD-7500 and GD-S200 internal DVD-ROM drives 
for PCs.  Both drives come equipped with an ATAPI interface and can read 4.7GB/side 
(9.4GB/two sides) DVD-RAM media that complies with the 4.7GB DVD-RAM 
(rewritable DVD) standard, which means they are read-compatible with the latest DVD-
RAM media format.  This means that PCs can be used to read data stored on a DVD-
RAM, and to play video data recorded by using Hitachi DVD camcorder, which also 
facilitate such data to be transferred to a PC's hard disk.

Note:  
-ATAPI is the standard interface used by PC CD-ROM drives to transfer data.
-Windows is a trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. 
and/or other countries.
-The full name of Windows(R) 95 is Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95 Operating System.
-The full name of Windows(R) 98 is Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 98 Operating System.
-The full name of Windows(R) 2000 is Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 Operating System.
-The full name of Windows(R) NT is Microsoft(R) Windows(R) NT Operating System.




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