Pioneer unveils Blu-ray drive for PCs

Sean Mota

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By Sue Zeidler Tue Dec 27, 7:24 PM ET


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pioneer Electronics Inc. on Tuesday unveiled a high-definition Blu-ray DVD disc drive for personal computers in the latest twist in a multibillion dollar battle over next-generation DVD standards.

Pioneer is part of the Blu-ray consortium, led by Sony Corp. (6758.T), which is vying against a rival high-definition format known as HD-DVD, championed by Toshiba Corp. (6502.T). Both camps are hoping the next-generation discs and players, set to be introduced to consumers in 2006, will help offset a slowdown in the $19 billion prepackaged disc market.
Hollywood studios are expected to announce names and dates of title releases for the new DVDs at the upcoming Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas, where consumer electronics makers are also set to release launch details.
But failure of the two camps to agree on a unified standard has overclouded the launches and set the stage for a format battle much like the VHS-Betamax war, which led to customer confusion and losses for Hollywood.

Entire Article
 
From the official press release:

The new Pioneer BDR-101A will utilize shorter wavelength blue lasers in order to store up to 25 gigabytes of information on a single layer Blu-ray Disc. It is expected to begin shipping in the first quarter of 2006.

The drive will come equipped with a data recording application to transfer digital files to Blu-ray Discs.

The drive also will be able to play consumer Blu-ray Disc movie titles on BD-ROM discs and will play and record standard DVD media.

The half height BDR-101A Blu-ray Disc/DVD writer will read BD-ROM/R/RE, DVD-ROM/DVD-R/DVD-RW and +R/+RW discs. It offers the following write speeds:

  1. BD-R/RE (2X)
  2. DVD-R/+R (8X)
  3. DVD-RW/+RW (4X)
 
Blu-Ray Burner!!!

And here is a picture of it from some Korean website, I think:

bdr101a17av.jpg
 
Is that a smart-card slot below?
 
From EARTHtimes.org:

The company was reluctant to offer more details but it is believed the product would be priced at $500 each...

A spokesperson said the company could likely launch the product by the end of January as it has still to complete some licensing formalities.
 
Dig out your CD burner? Your PC should already have a top quality all format - CD/DVD dual layer playr/burner now; which can be had for about $70. Just add this drive into an open bay in addition to that drive. Too easy.
 
No, it doesn't look like. According to this picture from cdfreaks.com, BDR-101A will not write or even read CDs. Only DVDs and BD-Rs.

 
And it is only a single layer 25GB version. What a surprise - I was right again. Plenty of promises, dick-waving arguments about the supriority of 50GB discs et cetera et cetera - then a single disc unit for $500. Bang, business as usual from BDA...
 
T2k said:
And it is only a single layer 25GB version.
Well, you probably won't be able to buy blank dual-layer BDRs next quarter anyway. ;)
Remember how many years it took for DL DVDRs to show up in stores???
I am actually surprised that we are getting any BD burner so soon!
 
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