Despite the ongoing battle between the next generation optical formats, Sony doesn�t forget the classic DVD format and that is why it has launched its tenth generation of DVD burners.

The internal DRU-810A and external DRX-810UL models support the industry's fastest 8X DVD+R Double Layer (DL) recording speed, and can burn up to 8.5GB of video, data, music or images on compatible media in about fifteen minutes.

The 810 series of DVD burners also features 4X DVD-R DL, 16X DVD+/-R, 8X DVD+RW, 6X DVD-RW, 48X CD-R and 32X CD-RW recording.

The drives come bundled with a feature-rich software package suite from Nero for burning, authoring and editing home movies, creating digital scrapbooks, and backing up critical data.

The internal DRU-810A drive comes with an ATAPI interface for easy installation inside a PC and includes a black replacement bezel for those with black-colored PC cases. The external DRX-810UL drive features an award-winning, space-efficient vertical design and offers connectivity with both i.LINK (IEEE 1394) and hi-speed USB (USB 2.0) digital interfaces for simple set-up and maximum flexibility.

There are currently two formats on the market that support recording to two layers of a DVD disc. The first was presented by the DVD+RW Alliance for the plus ("+") format and given the formal name "Double Layer". The DVD Forum followed with its own standard for the dash format ("-"), which it dubbed "Dual Layer." For now, drives are only available in write-once formats called DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL.


The internal DRU-810A will be available next month for about $100, while the external DRX-810UL is expected to ship in October for around $150.

Specification for Sony's New 810 Series of Dual RW Drives

Sony DRU-810A DVD/CD Rewritable Drive
-- ATAPI (EIDE) internal interface
-- DVD+R DL: 8X P-CAV (max.) writing
DVD-R DL: 4X CLV (max.) writing
DVD+R: 16X CAV (max.) writing
DVD+RW: 8X Z-CLV (max.) rewriting
DVD-R: 16X CAV (max.) writing
DVD-RW: 6X CLV (max.) rewriting
DVD-ROM reading (single layer): 16X CAV (max.)
DVD-ROM reading (dual layer): 12X CAV (max.)
CD-R: 48X CAV (max.) writing
CD-RW: 32X P-CAV (max.) rewriting
CD-ROM: 48X CAV (max) reading
-- Dimensions: 146 x 41.2 x 172.5 mm - excluding bezel (W x H x L)
-- Compatible with Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 / Windows XP
-- Burst data transfer rate: 66.6 MB/s max. Ultra DMA66
-- Random access time: 135 ms (CD-ROM), 130 ms (DVD-ROM)
-- Buffer memory: 2 MB
-- Buffer under-run error protection technology: Sony Power-Burn(TM)
conformed
-- Recording method (CD): Disc at Once, Track at Once, Session at Once,
Packet Writing(DVD): Random Access Write (DVD+RW/DVD-RW/CD-RW),
Sequential Write (DVD+R/+R DL/+RW, DVD-R/-RW/CD-R/RW)
-- Compatible disc format: DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL,
DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD-R, CD-ROM, CD-DA, Video CD, Photo CD
(multi-session), CD TEXT, CD Extra, and others

Sony DRX-810UL DVD/CD Rewritable Drive
-- Hi-Speed USB (USB2.0) and i.LINK(R) external interfaces
-- Full Speed USB (USB1.1) compatible with lower write/read performance
-- DVD+R DL: 8X P-CAV (max.) writing
DVD-R DL: 4X CLV (max.) writing
DVD+R: 16X CAV (max.) writing
DVD+RW: 8X Z-CLV (max.) rewriting
DVD-R: 16X CAV (max.) writing
DVD-RW: 6X CLV (max.) rewriting
DVD-ROM reading (single layer): 16X CAV (max.)
DVD-ROM reading (dual layer): 12X CAV (max.)
CD-R: 48X CAV (max.) writing
CD-RW: 32X P-CAV (max.) rewriting
CD-ROM: 48X CAV (max) reading
-- Dimensions: 52 x 164 x 250 mm excluding front panel (W x H x L)
-- DRX-810UL: Compatible with Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 / Windows XP
-- Burst data transfer rate: Hi-Speed USB 2.0: 480 Mbit/s max; i.LINK
interface: 400 Mbit/s max
-- Random access time: 135 ms (CD-ROM), 130 ms (DVD-ROM)
-- Buffer memory: 2 MB
-- Buffer under-run error protection technology: Sony Power-Burn
conformed
-- Recording method (CD): Disc at Once, Track at Once, Session at Once,
Packet Writing(DVD): Random Access Write (DVD+RW/DVD-RW/CD-RW),
Sequential Write (DVD+R/+R DL/+RW, DVD-R/-RW/CD-R/RW)
-- Compatible disc format: DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL,
DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD-R, CD-ROM, CD-DA, Video CD, Photo CD
(multi-session), CD TEXT, CD Extra, and others