Pioneer announces BDR-101A internal Blu-ray drive

http://www.pioneer.co.jp/press/release159.html

December 27, 2005, Tokyo, Japan - Pioneer Corporation announced today that the company's first internal BD/DVD writer with ATAPI connection for Windows PCs has recently been developed. The new Pioneer BDR-101A complies with the latest specifications for the BD-R (Blu-ray Disc recordable), BD-RE (Blu-ray Disc rewritable), and the BD-ROM (Blu-ray Disc read-only memory). It is expected to start shipping at the end of January, 2006*1.

Single-layer BD-R and BD-RE discs can store up to 25 gigabytes*2 of data, about five times more than a conventional DVD disc, supporting a high-speed data transfer rate of a maximum of 72Mbps (2x) for both reading and writing. It is possible to record over two hours of a high-definition (HD) video (at 24Mbps transfer rate) on a single disc. This level of storage capacity and transfer speed is expected to make possible a wide range of applications, such as server data backup and video storage.

For BD-ROM discs, a wide variety of Blu-ray Disc titles, including films, music, and games, will be released in the future.

The BDR-101A Blu-ray Disc writer will write and read single-layer BD-R and BD-RE discs (without cartridge), and read single-layer and double-layer BD-ROM discs (without cartridge). Also, featuring proprietary Pioneer optical technology, such as the Ultra Dynamic Resonance Absorber and the Multi-Effect Liquid Crystal Tilt Compensator, the new writer will ensure high reliability in high-density recording and playback with Blu-ray Discs as well as DVD discs.

With the release of the BDR-101A offering the industry's highest level of performance and reliability, Pioneer is responding to users requiring greater storage capacity, as well as contributing to the expansion of the Blu-ray writer market. Pioneer will continue to actively develop the Blu-ray disc format and promote its use as one of the Blu-ray Disc Founders.

Pioneer will be exhibiting the BDR-101A at the 2006 International CES being held from January 5, 2006, in Las Vegas, USA. Visitors will be able to see the BDR-101A at both the Pioneer booth and the BDA*3 booth.

*1 Shipment schedules may change depending on the start date for the Blu-ray Disc format logo license and the copyright protection technology license.
*2 Double-layer BD-R/BD-RE discs can store up to 50 gigabytes of data.
*3 Blu-ray Disc Association. The BDA is a worldwide organization made up of enterprises and organizations engaged in the research and development or the manufacture of Blu-ray products, and of software and hardware manufacturers and other members dedicated to developing and promoting Blu-ray disc standards. The BDA establishes and promotes Blu-ray standards.

What's this cartridge thing the article mentions?

The BDR-101A Blu-ray Disc writer will write and read single-layer BD-R and BD-RE discs (without cartridge), and read single-layer and double-layer BD-ROM discs (without cartridge).

What's this cartridge thing the article mentions?

It means that you won't need a caddy to play the disc like CD-ROM's did originally when they came out and like MD's use today. In other words, you just lay the disc in the tray.

Originally Posted by Xylob the Destroyer

Single-layer BD-R and BD-RE discs can store up to 25 gigabytes of data

= between 3 and 12 DVD quality movies backed up to a single disc!
talk about saving some shelf space!

With no player it doesn't matter how much shelf space is saved. Unless you plan to run them through the PC.
But with 2x burn how long will it take to backup 3 dvd's?
This relates to an article I just read about faster, 15mbps, internet. It claims that faster net doesn't really save you time. Even though you can dld a movie in seven minutes it still takes around two hours to watch.

Originally Posted by GullyFoyle

But with 2x burn how long will it take to backup 3 dvd's?

Well, assuming I'm doing the math right (big assumption), and using the info from the article:

supporting a high-speed data transfer rate of a maximum of 72Mbps (2x)

I get (25GB / 72Mbps) * 8 (bits to bytes correction) is around 2700 seconds, or just over 46 minutes.

Of course thats maximum transfer rate, your milage may vary.

Not too bad, but faster would be better.

Thanks, Xylob and Corrax

I guess they'll come out wth the 2x at first so everyone will jump at the chance at buying the 4x when that comes out and so on...just like they did with the CD and DVD burners at first.

Originally Posted by Xylob the Destroyer

Originally Posted by GullyFoyle

...With no player it doesn't matter how much shelf space is saved. Unless you plan to run them through the PC...

PlayStation3! it will be released by May in Japan, and by November in the US.

That assumes they will play on the PS3. Play without hacks or special purchase items allowing dvd replay, or choosing folders on a Blu-ray disk.

46 minutes ( with a very large guess as to speed my 16x will burn as slow as 6.5x and as high as 16x) for three dvd's is rather high by almost twenty minutes.
Nice for archiving though and backup.
Still that whole holpgraphic disk thing due out later in the year offers a very big challenge.

No mention of CD read/write ability in that ad---ARE they trying phase it out? Hmmm...

Scott

They should of provided a price range estimate.