Sales of DVD players in the United States jumped from 1.1 million to 4 million between 1998 and 1999. In 2001, 12.7 million DVD players were sold, and the number is expected to be even higher next year.

Despite the surge of DVD production over the past four years, a new product, Digital VHS, may give DVDs a run for their money.

JVC has introduced a new, yet familiar format for watching movies. Digital VHS, or D-Theater, is a tape deck that is designed not only to bring higher quality to the screen, but promises to wipe out copyright infringements and make it impossible to download movies from the Internet.

Some students say they would consider leaving DVDs behind if Digital VHS offers noticeable advantages even though some just purchased a DVD player.

"I would consider buying it if the quality is a lot better," LSA junior Aadam Hussain said. "Once we got our DVD player, we stopped using tapes."

The new tape, which is the same size and shape as a VHS tape, requires a 75 gigabyte hard disk to hold 30 minutes of video. This creates a major obstacle for Internet lovers who download and burn their favorite titles online.

The quality of the Digital VHS is 1,080 lines per screen width, compared to around 500-600 for DVD players and 240 for VHS tapes.

According to the JVC website, Digital VHS systems can record and playback High-Definition television without losing the digital quality.

Despite JVC's confidence about their newest video product, electronic retail stores are only in the preliminary stages of distribution.

"It will depend on customer response," Best Buy spokeswoman Donna Beadle said. "If it's something they want, we will begin to sell more."

Beadle said Best Buy would not comment further until it learns more about the product and its demands on the market.

Local video stores are also wary of declaring Digital VHS the wave of the future, like they did with DVDs only four years ago.

Scott Johnson, manager of Record Xchange on South University Avenue, said customer demand will dictate the future of Digital VHS, but he added the convenience of DVDs may give them the edge.

"DVD will stick around," Johnson said.

"They are a lot easier to store. But it depends on the customers. Even if (Digital VHS) is better quality, if the price isn't right, customers won't buy it."

DVDs first hit the U.S. market in March of 1997 at prices ranging from $400-$600 per player.

DVD players are now available at prices as low as $70, compared to the Digital VHS recorders which will cost about $1,000.

One concern for some students is having to change formats from their current DVDs to the new Digital VHS tapes.

"I have too many DVDs as it is," LSA senior Michelle Huddleston said.

"I'd be screwed if I had to change it," Huddleston added, saying that she has more than 30 DVDs in her collection.

It appears that DVDs are not in any immediate danger of being replaced.

JVC's Digital-VHS deck will not be available until May 2003 and will only be compatible with the $10,000 D'Ahlia television.