DVD players won’t replace VCRs until users can record programmes on
them—but a standards battle between two competing formats is confusing
everyone. Now Sony has an answer: a DVD recorder compatible with both, ensuring
people don’t get stuck with a latterday Betamax (invented by Sony). Originally,
Sony helped Philips develop the DVD+RW system, but is not sure that it will
prevail against Pioneer’s incompatible DVD-RW system.
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