Philips Introduces DRD-5200 DVD-ROM Upgrade Kit to Enhance Video Game and Movie Viewing Experience; Dual Laser Technology Enables Ultimate Compatibility With DVD and CD Discs As Well As Highly Popular CD-Recordable and CD-ReWritable Media; Complete Kit Includes Drive, Decoder Board and DVD Software Titles; User-Friendly Design Offers Easy Installation and Connection to PCs or TVs

Business Wire, Sept 29, 1997

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 29, 1997--Building on its leadership in CD-ROM, CD-Recordable and CD-ReWritable technology, Philips Electronics today introduced a uniquely compatible DVD-ROM upgrade kit that provides powerful audio and video capabilities for users to enjoy an unparalleled interactive game and movie experience on their PCs and TVs.

Developed as a complete DVD solution for multimedia and entertainment applications, Philips' newest upgrade kit offers users a perfect balance of outstanding data storage capacity, spectacular video output and crystal clear audio quality to provide end-users with a new level of visual computing performance that has not been available...until now.

The centerpiece of the DVD-ROM upgrade kit is Philips' new DRD-5200 DVD drive, which can play DVD-Video and DVD-ROM discs that store up to 17 gigabytes of data. Also bundled with the drive is the REALmagic Hollywood DVD/MPEG-2 decoder board from Sigma Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIGM), software drivers (for decoder board), installation cables, a comprehensive user's manual, an installation guide and an outstanding collection of multimedia DVD titles.

Utilizing a dual laser design to enable compatibility, the DRD-5200 supports all popular CD formats -- including audio CD, CD-ROM, CD-Recordable and CD-ReWritable -- to protect users' investment in existing music, video and data CDs.

"With a full suite of CD-format drives and media products on the market, maintaining full compatibility with CD and DVD platforms is very important to us," said Cornelis Klik, Project Director for DVD at Philips Electronics.

"We are pleased to add the DRD-5200 to our extensive product line of CD-ROM, CD-Recordable and CD-ReWritable drives because we feel it is the most complete, value-packed DVD-ROM solution available today."

Incorporating the latest DVD technology, the DRD-5200 is capable of playing DVD-Video and DVD-ROM discs. A full-length movie easily fits on a single disc. With a storage capacity of up to 17 gigabytes, DVD discs can hold additional data that offers users benefits such as multiple language and subtitle tracks and different camera angles (depending on title).

In addition, the DRD-5200 is a high-performance device that reads DVD and CD discs at speeds of up to 2X in DVD mode and up to 20X in CD mode. Designed for optimum compatibility with the REALmagic Hollywood DVD/MPEG-2 decorder board, the DRD-5200 delivers superior MPEG-2 video quality with resolutions ranging from 16 x 16 up to 1280 x 1024 with video scaling technology. It also supports Dolby AC-3, MPEG-2 and S/PDIF digital audio specifications.

"Our DRD-5200 DVD-ROM drive offers users an opportunity to enjoy new levels of visual computing capability with their favorite DVD-based entertainment and educational software," said Akyra Pagoulatos, Director of CD Products for Philips Professional Solutions.

"With MPEG-2 audio and video support, and compatibility with the AC-3 audio specification, the DRD-5200 enhances the enjoyment of CD or DVD discs, such as a music video or encyclopedia with its many audio and video clips."

Offering the Most DVD Titles Available

To enhance the viewing and listening experience, and to give consumers a helping hand in starting their own DVD content library, Philips is including an extensive variety of movie and interactive DVD titles in each DRD-5200 package. Through partnerships with leading DVD content providers, such as PolyGram, Philips will offer the widest selection of titles currently available in a DVD-ROM kit.

As a result of its superb video and audio output, the DRD-5200 can be used with either a PC monitor or TV set. It is equipped with Composite Video, S Video and VGA video outputs. This versatility and ease of use gives users the flexibility to install the DRD-5200 in a personal computer or home entertainment system configuration.

"The DRD-5200 represents the growing trend toward designing convergence products that can be used with a PC or TV set," Pagoulatos said. "With the growing number of DVD titles available, we envision the use of several DVD devices in a home. DVD units could become as commonplace as TVs and VCRs are today."

System Requirements

The DRD-5200 is designed to fit in any 5.25-inch, half-height drive bay and is equipped with an IDE/ATAPI interface for easy connection to any enhanced parallel port. It also features a power-assisted tray and average access time of 190 milliseconds (DVD) and 150 milliseconds (CD-ROM).

Minimum system requirements for the DRD-5200 kit include: Pentium 133 MHz or faster CPU, Windows 95 Operating System Release 2 (OSR 2), an available Bus Master IDE port, an available PCI slot, VGA controller with 256-color display and a minimum of 800 x 600 resolution, 70 MB free hard disk space, and a 16-bit SoundBlaster or compatible sound card.

Pricing and Availability

Each Philips DVD-ROM Upgrade Kit comes with a one-year limited warranty and complies with FCC, UL, CD, CSA, TUV and Semko requirements. It is available for a suggested list price of $599 through Philips' network of distributors and value-added resellers nationwide. For further information, users may contact Philips at 800/235-7373 or via the Internet at www.philips.com .