Pioneer Sells Blu-Ray Drive For About $1,000

[drjtech]

Pioneer Sells Blu-Ray Drive For About $1,000

Pioneer Sells Blu-Ray Drive For About $1,000
ARTICLE DATE: 05.18.06
By ExtremeTech Staff, ExtremeTech

Pioneer Electronics said late Wednesday that it has begun shipping its first Blu-Ray computer drive, which e-tailers have listed for just under $1,000. The interal, ATAPI-based BDR-101A has been priced at about $999, according to a Froogle survey of online retailers. Pioneer did not release a suggested price for the drive.

While amazingly expensive, Pioneer's price is somewhat consistent with I/O Data, which released a Japan-only price of 116,000 yen (about $985) for its ATAPI internal BRD-AM2B drive, which was announced last month.

Pioneer's drive will be bundled with Sonic Solutions' Roxio Blu-Ray disc software and a blak disc from TDK.

While Pioneer did not release specification of the drive itself, e-ailers indicated that the drive reads, writes and rewrites BD dscs at 2X speeds, while readig DVD-ROMs and writing recordable DVD+/-R discs at 8X speeds. DVD+/-RW rewrite speeds are 4X, according to Pioneer. The drive cannot read or write DVD-RAM discs.

"As we move deeper into the transition to high-definition content creation and distribution, increasing storage capacity will become more and more critical," said Andy Parsons, senior vice president at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., in a statement. "Blu-ray Disc technology fulfills the rapidly growing need for additional storage space and Pioneer is proud to be one of the first companies bringing it to market through the BDR-101A."

[ebenton]

I like how they use their favorite buzz-phrase hype "...the rapidly growing need for additional storage space..."
I consider myself to be, while not leading-edge, at least up-to-date on most storage technologies. I have a 250 GB Hard Drive on my PC, and I frequently back up movies that I have purchased. I have an 8-megapixel digital camera, and I store a lot of photos at full resolution on my PC. Since I do not retain those movie files on my drive, I have yet to notice a "rapidly growing need for additional storage space". The "need" seems to be approaching very slowly, and is not really a "need" yet. It is more of an anticipation.
Those factors, combined with my inability to notice much, if any, difference between 480P DVDs and 720P and 1080i video on my 42-inch Sony LCD-projection HDTV, lead me to not go clamoring to my nearest Pioneer or Toshiba dealer to buy a Blu-ray or HD DVD player or drive.
Maybe I should get a 65-inch screen so I might see the difference, or start saving all of my movie backups on my hard drive so I will experience a "rapidly growing need for additional storage space".

[lenti_75]

you can already get Samsung for 500 and this one records everything not just BR....

the prices are already going down......probably by next year a BR drive will be around 100.

:P

[CrayonEater]

I like how they use their favorite buzz-phrase hype "...the rapidly growing need for additional storage space..."

Yeah, really. If I need that much space, I'd get a DAT drive; they're still much cheaper than Blu-Ray or HD.

[bunginuts]

yeah if next year they drop to 100 bucks then count me in but until then forget that. I'd be happier with dual layer dvd's being cheaper and more compatible.

[Bob W]

$1000 they must be really proud of the burner to ask that much for it. Does it burn CD?

[SingSing]

I remember my first CD burner cost $350.00.

[rkr1958]

I received a sales magazine from TigerDirect yesterday. The back cover ("cover offer only") lists a Pioneer Blu-ray DVD burner for $999.99 (US). I think I'll wait until they're below $100.00 (US) before I'll consider getting one.

[SilverBlade]

I'll wait until the price is below $100 AND it supports Blu-Ray/HD/DVD-R AND DVD+R media.

[whitejremiah]

I'll wait until the price is below $100 AND it supports Blu-Ray/HD/DVD-R AND DVD+R media.

also as requirements, dvd-ram, cdr, and cdrw....

[mecg]

I'll wait until the price is below $100 AND it supports Blu-Ray/HD/DVD-R AND DVD+R media.

also as requirements, dvd-ram, cdr, and cdrw....

What the heck - whle we're at it I want mine to play VHS and BetaMAX also

[RDS1955]

Does anyone remember "Johnny Mnemonic" ? The Heck with BR or HD..Give me a 50 Terabyte jolt.