OEM quotations for 8x slim-type DVD burners have dropped to US$70-80, according to OEM makers in Taiwan, as competition heats up among optical-drive makers in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.

OEM makers in Japan do not usually compete with their Taiwan and South Korea rivals on price, but currently do so to maintain their OEM orders from international brands, the Taiwan OEM makers pointed out.

The recent price drops have also made slim-type DVD burners more competitive in the OEM market with slim-type combo models, which are currently priced at US$50. The proportion of notebooks sold equipped with slim-type combo or DVD burners is estimated to grow from 22% in 2004 to at least 30% next year, the makers predicted.

From DigiTimes