Flexible New Read/Write DVDBurner Offers Interoperability Among DVD Devices
NEW YORK, June 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Panasonic today unveiled its
DVDBurner II, the next-generation combination DVD/CD drive that takes the
confusion out of buying a Recordable DVD drive. Meeting DVD Multi
specifications, the new DVD Multi drive builds on the success of Panasonic's
currently available DVD-RAM/R DVDBurner by extending the drive's capabilities
to include read/write support for all Recordable DVD formats approved by the
DVD Forum and read/write support for CD-R/RW discs. Universal and affordable,
the DVDBurner II offers higher write speeds, faster playback, broad
compatibility and the convenience of being able to switch between formats and
capacities.
"Panasonic's DVDBurner II changes the recordable DVD landscape," said Dana
Berzin, Product Manager for Panasonic's OEM computer drives. "It bridges
CD and recordable DVD technologies, and computer and consumer electronics
applications by providing a single, cost-effective solution for home video,
personal computing and business storage/archiving. With the new drive, users
now have an all-in-one DVD/CD storage solution that provides the security of
write-once, the flexibility of rewriteable, broad compatibility, and the
ability to choose between 9.4GB, 5.2 GB, 4.7GB, 2.6GB or 650MB capacities."
With read/write support for all DVD Forum recordable DVD specifications
and read/write support for CD-R/RW discs, Panasonic's DVDBurner II will have
broad appeal among consumers, businesses and professionals. According to
Berzin, the drive will not only allow computer makers to meet the needs of a
wide range of users, but will provide consumers with a new level of
flexibility that can help users achieve substantial savings.
"Whether purchasing at retail to upgrade existing units or to customize a
new computer, Panasonic's DVDBurner II offers consumers backward compatibility
and a proven solution for all their current and future storage needs," said
Charles Vidal, Product Manager for Panasonic-brand retail computer drives.
"It's a true all-in-one product that bridges formats, capacities and
applications."
To illustrate the drive's DVD/CD storage flexibility, higher performance
and cross-device interoperability, Panasonic will demonstrate the DVDBurner II
drive during TECHXNY/PC Expo in New York City June 25-27 at the Recordable
DVD Council Pavilion, Booth #2422.
Panasonic's DVDBurner II is fully compliant with the DVD Forum's DVD Multi
specifications. The specifications ensure disc compatibility for all
recordable DVD formats established by the 230-member DVD Forum -- both for
consumer electronics products and personal computers. In addition to reading
and writing DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, CD-R and CD-RW discs, the DVDBurnerII can
also play DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio and CD-ROM discs.
When writing to a 4.7GB DVD-R General disc, the new drive achieves speeds
of up to 2x, with DVD-R playback at 6x. Reasonably priced and readily
available, the write-once DVD-R is considered the most compatible of all
DVD formats. The discs can be played back by most of the DVD video players
and DVD-ROM drives in use throughout the world today. With huge storage
capacity, reliable data management and rewritability up to 10,000 times,
DVD-RAM discs are optimally suited for PC applications. The discs' write
speed is 2x, equivalent to at least 18x CD rate.
Smaller files can be stored on low-cost 650MB CD-Rs at up to 12x speed or
on CD-RW discs at up to 8x speed. CD playback is at 32x. To ensure
error-free CD recording, Panasonic's new multifunction drive includes buffer
under-run technology.
Price, Availability
The Panasonic brand DVDBurner II drives will begin shipping in October
2002 and, like the continuing DVD-RAM/R DVDBurner, will be available for
resale at retail or OEM applications. The Panasonic brand DVD Burner II drive
for retail sale will be priced at less than $500*.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC), best known for its
Panasonic brand, is one of the world's largest producers of electronic and
electric products for consumer, business and industrial use. The company
played an important role in the development of the DVD format, and has
introduced some of the world's most innovative DVD products to the market, to
include DVD Video Recorders, portable DVD Video and DVD-Audio players with
built-in LCD screen, DVD video and DVD-Audio players for home and automobiles,
TV/DVD and TV/DVD/VCR combination systems and DVDBurner drives. Additional
information on Panasonic and Matsushita Electric is available at
http://www.panasonic.com .
* Manufacturer's suggested retail price. All prices are in U.S. dollars.
All company and/or product names are trademarks and/or registered
trademarks of their respective manufacturers. Features, pricing,
availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.
SOURCE Panasonic
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.panasonic.com
CONTACT:
William Pritchard of Panasonic,
+1-201-348-7182, pritchardw@panasonic.com; or Andy Marken of
Marken Communications, +1-408-986-0100, or andy@markencom.com,
for Panasonic
|
