14 DAY TRIAL // While other companies are releasing new DVD writers, Sony Optiarc thought it would go all the way and create some half-height internal Blu-ray Disk rewritable drives, known as the BWU-500S and OEM BD-5300S.
“Available in a retail and OEM configuration, the new drives are an ideal replacement burner for a standard DVD drive while offering all the benefits of Blu-ray Disc technology, including Blu-ray 3D high-definition playback,” states the official press release.
Both SATA-connected newcomers can scribe disks of up to 50 GB, whether they be BD-R (write once) or BD-RE (rewritable),.
This corresponds to about 220 minutes of high-definition 24Mbps MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video.
Single BD-R media can be scribed at speeds of up to 12X, while dual-layer BD-R has to limit itself to 8X.
The 12X rate is possible when using BD-R media compatible with 6X speeds, and means that 25 GB disks can be filled in roughly 10 minutes.
Of course, DVDs and CDs can also be written, and at even higher speeds, of up to 48X if the media supports it.
CD-RW disks can go at up to 24X, while CD-R reach 48X, DVD-RAM at up to 12X, DVD-RW at up to 6X, DVD+RW reach 8X and DVD+/-R go up to 16X.
Of course, dual-layer DVDs, whose capacity is of 8.5GB, are also supported, the scribing speed achievable being of 8X.
It should probably be noted that the BWS-500S retail branded model benefits from the CyberLink Media Suite 8 software, which can back up, edit, author, view and, of course, capture high-definition content and play Blu-ray movies, even those in 3D.
Finally, the units can adjusting read speed in order to ensure smooth playback and even perform intelligent monitoring, for consistent recording.
Their prices have not been mentioned, but sales should start this month, which means this final detail is not far off.