Blu-ray recorders outsell DVD ones in Japan

Philip Wong | May 23, 2008

While Blu-ray-related product sales is inching ahead in the US and the rest of Asia, the HD format is enjoying a surprisingly brisk trade in tech-crazed Japan. The statistics from Japan BCN Inc. show that Blu-ray recorders have garnered more than half the country's April DVR sales, a far cry from the 12.4 percent combined Blu-ray and HD-DVD market share in units sold for January.

Among the Blu-ray recorder manufacturers smiling all the way to the bank are Matsushita Electric (a.k.a. Panasonic) with a lion's share of 45.8 percent in sales, with Sony and Sharp hot on its heels. No surprises here considering Panasonic's affordable DMR-BR500 Blu-ray recorder comes at a street price of less than US$970. In fact, such blue laser recorders were aplenty during CNET Asia's recent visit to Japan, nicely lined up at Yodabashi Camera and other major electronics stores.

Via Tech-On | Photo credit: Tech-On

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