Toshiba Delays Sale of HD DVD Recorder Jul 13, 2006

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Toshiba Corp. said Thursday it will postpone the sale of the world's first HD DVD recorder due to a production delay from problems in securing parts for the recorder.

The recorder, the RD-A1, was slated to go on sale July 14, but the release will be pushed back to July 27, according to AP. Reportedly, the company will not have enough recorders ready for a nationwide release until July 27.

The machine combines an HD DVD burner with a one terabyte hard disk and can record and store up to 130 hours of high-definition broadcasts.

The product is a key element of Toshiba's battle against rival Sony Corp. to establish the standard for next generation DVD technology. Sony and its allies are pushing an alternative technology called Blu-ray.

HD DVD players are already available, but the RD-A1 will be the first model that can record disks.

Toshiba has said the recorder will carry a suggested price of 398,000 yen (approx. U.S. $3,470). The company hopes to sell 10,000 recorders by the end of 2006. The company hasn't decided when the product will be launched overseas.

Sony has been selling Blu-ray recorders since 2003 in Japan, but prices have been high and uptake low.

Toshiba launched HD DVD players in Japan in March, and in the U.S. in April. Sony plans to begin selling personal computers equipped with Blu-ray drives later this month.

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