14 DAY TRIAL // HP's Envy 14 may have only just entered stores, but there seems to be no rest for the world's largest supplier of personal computers. In fact, Hewlett-Packard may be plotting and scheming as we speak, seeking to increase its hold on a certain market segment that has, so far, not grown as quickly as one may have expected. In short, the PC maker supposedly plans to soon launch an affordable personal computer, type still unknown, with an integrated Blu-ray disk optical drive unit.
The rumor arose as a consequence of a certain report that China Economic News Service published, in which it was implied that Lite-on Technology Corp., the third largest ODD manufacturer worldwide, landed a massive order for such optical drive units. In fact, the order was allegedly large enough to actually secure a strong sales growth during the second quarter of the ongoing year. Not only that, but the agency suggests that it is only a matter of time until HP announces a cooperation with Blockbuster.
If the rumor is to be believed, then the largest video rental chain in the US (Blockbuster of course) will popularize the computer manufacturer's multimedia notebooks with BD drives. At the same time, Blockbuster's own rental service gets propelled upwards in popularity for being coupled with the world's leading PC brand. Obviously, this will increase HP's share of the multimedia computer market, even as the format itself is propelled upwards. This should also make BD media more approachable by budget-conscious consumers.
Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing what type of PC will come out first. In truth, a BD-equipped desktop or notebook, or both, are equally likely possibilities. Naturally, none of the three involved parties deigned to comment on the report, so time will have to reveal whether it was accurate or not.