14 DAY TRIAL // While Pioneer's BDR-206MBK BDXL writer for Windows desktop PCs is not exactly a huge novelty, since it's been initially announced back in late October, it seems that the company's finally decided to start shipping it, just in time for the holidays.
The Pioneer BDR-206MBK, BDXL writer is the company's first drive to read and write using the new multi-layer recordable Blu-ray Disc format, that more than doubles the current maximum Blu-ray Disc storage capacity and is ideal for various commercial uses such as video and broadcast archiving and storage, capturing and playback of high definition programming or data archiving needs.
Plus, the BDR-206MBK also enhances recording accuracy and further limits artificial noise for quality playback.
By integrating additional layers to traditional Blu-ray Discs, BDXL offers up to 128 GB of storage capacity on a quadruple layer disc, while the BDR-206MBK drive allows users to read/write BD-R XL and BD-RE XL triple layer (100GB) and BD-R XL quadruple layer (128GB) discs.
Additionally, as expected, the drive can play back and record on virtually all disc formats including CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc.
Further enhancing the user experience, Pioneer has incorporated proprietary technologies to significantly improve recording and playback quality, its Limit Equalizer technology improving RF signals generated when reading data from Blu-ray Discs and enabling improved playback capability.
Along with a new, airtight structure that helps keep the drive quiet and protects against contaminants and dust particles, the Disc Vibration Stabilizer feature helps protect the disc from warping during the writing process, resulting in a higher quality written disc.
As expected from such a latest-gen, high-end product, the BDR-206MBK is not exactly affordable, since it's currently available for a suggested retail price of $199, but nevertheless, its pricing is actually a lot more decent than what the earliest Blu-ray adopters had to pay for their desktop PC Blu-ray optical drives.
Plus, the deal is further sweetened by the fact that, for a limited time, Pioneer is including a piece of BD-R XL 100GB media for free with each drive.