PVR Market Blasts Off

It's taken almost 7 years, but the personal video recorder (PVR) market is finally taking off. Stunted by poor user education and high costs, the PVR market has seen limited growth since its introduction in the mid-1990s. The technology is finally catching on, according to market research firm In-Stat/MDR. PVR devices let you pause live TV and record TV shows without using tapes. Last year, shipments tripled worldwide. The growth is credited to integration of PVR capabilities in DVD players, and cable and satellite operators offering set-top boxes with PVR technology. In 2003, 4.6 million units were shipped worldwide. Shipments are expected to reach more than 11 million units this year. Surprisingly, DVD players with integrated PVR capabilities are expected to account for as much as 80 percent of PVR shipments this year. If you haven't joined the PVR wave yet, what are you waiting for