Japan Gets 1 Terabyte DVD Recorder

Hitachi has created the first 1-terabyte DVD recorder, which utilizes two 500GB hard drives to store up to 128 hours of high-definition television. The company's new lineup also comes in 160GB, 250GB and 500GB sizes, which Hitachi hopes will help it win market share from Matsushita and Sony.

The new recorders are expected to launch next month in Japan, and there is no plan to bring them to Europe or the United States. The problem, Hitachi says, is the lack of demand for DVD recorders outside of Asia. In the U.S. DVRs such as TiVo remain the device of choice while European consumers have been slow to adopt either technology.