The first consumer models of DVD (digital versatile disc) players appeared on store shelves in November, and DVD-ROM - touted as a replacement for CD-ROM - was not far behind. Two of the early entries in the race to market PCs equipped with DVD-ROM drives are Matsushita and Fujitsu.

Fujitsu's FMV Deskpower T20D, at the high end of the Deskpower "Speciality" series, comes equipped with DVD-ROM drive, 200-MHz Pentium CPU, ViRGE/VX graphics accelerator, 2MB of VRAM, 32MB of RAM, 2.5GB hard disk, 33.6K-bps modem, and 17-inch monitor. Pre-installed software includes the purchaser's choice of Ichitaro/Lotus 1-2-3 or MS-Word/Excel, plus Windows 95, Internet Explorer, and dictionary and game software.

Matsushita's Woody CF-200DV minitower comes with DVD-ROM drive, 200-MHz Pentium CPU, high-speed ViRGE 3D graphics chip, 32MB of RAM, 2.5GB hard disk, and 28.8K-bps modem. Pre-installed software includes Windows 95, MS-Word and Excel, and a TV broadcast viewer that captures subtitled broadcasts, as well as fax/communications, dictionary, and game software.

Both of these systems can read dual-layer (8.5GB) and single-layer (4.7GB) DVD-ROMs as well CD-ROMs (6X) and audio and video CDs. The Fujitsu FMV Deskpower T20D lists for JPY598,000, while the suggested retail price of Matsushita's Woody CF-200DV is JPY498,000.

Fujitsu FM Information Service: 0120-89-4321

Matsushita PC Centric Consumer Division: 06-908-1151

Edit videos with an all-in-one Mac

Apple's Macintosh Performa 6420, loaded with software and hardware for professional-level, high-performance digital video editing, brings high-quality DTV (desktop video) within reach of small businesses and individuals. Elements from video or digital cameras and music CDs can be blended to produce an original video (including titles), which then can be saved to VHS videotape, an Internet homepage (using Adobe PageMill), QuickTime movie format, or other media. The Performa 6420 comes loaded with Avid Cinema (with PCI card) for video editing, Adobe PageMill, Adobe PhotoDeluxe, and Kai's Power Goo LE. Hardware includes a 200-MHz PowerPC603e microprocessor, 24MB of RAM (expandable to 136MB), 2.4GB hard disk, 8X CD-ROM drive, internal 28.8K-bps modem, and TV tuner input. Pricing is "open."

Apple Customer Assistance Center: 0120-61-5800

Applause for E/J and J/E Mac dictionary

Qualitas Japan has introduced Ayumi Software's Applause 2.0, the latest entrant in the dictionary/translation software arena. Features of this Macintosh application include a search function that accepts up to two wild cards for finding terms. The English-to-Japanese dictionary contains about 59,000 words and 85,000 word/phrase translations, while the Japanese-to-English dictionary contains about 60,000 words and 60,000 word/phrase translations. List price for the CD-ROM (with 53-page manual, in Japanese only) is JPY7,900.

Qualitas Japan Inc.: 03-3238-0041

Talk to your IBM Aptiva

IBM Japan has released the country's first PC preinstalled with IBM Voice Type Dictation 3.0 for Windows 95 (Japanese version). Currently available only preloaded on models of IBM's Aptiva H series as part of an advance campaign, the software eventually will be marketed separately. The system recognizes some voice commands, and can produce text from dictation. The Aptiva H models come with a Pentium CPU (150 to 200 MHz), 32MB of RAM, 1.5GB to 3.2GB hard disk, and 28.8K-bps modem; Windows 95 and nearly 50 communications, 3D Internet, home office, and multimedia applications and games are preinstalled. While retail prices are "open," Aptiva H models are available from IBM PC Direct starting from JPY349,000.

IBM Japan: 0120-04-1992