Tech Shout!

Sony Electronics has launched BWU-100A, the company’s pioneering internal Blu-ray disc (BD) rewritable drive for the computer aftermarket.

BWU-100A supports up to 50 GB of data on BD-R (write once) or BD-RE (rewritable) discs or up to four hours of high-definition video using HDV 1080i on a BD-RE 50 GB disc. The new drive has the capacity of burning a full 25 GB disc in about 50 minutes.

For content captured on a HDV camcorder, the BD drive is optimized for keeping the video in the native HDV 1080i for playback on home players compatible with BD-AV format and PCs with BD drives installed.

Sony’s BD drive also supports recording of standard single layer 4.7 GB DVD+R/+RW/RAM discs, 8.5 GB DVD+R Double/Dual Layer Discs, and CDs, making it a multi-format burner. The drive comes in a standard half-height computer bay form factor with a parallel ATAPI interface.

The BWU-100A drive comes packed with the CyberLink BD Solution from Cyberlink Corp., which offers a complete software application for capturing, authoring, editing and burning high-definition personal content captured by a HDV 1080i format camcorder onto BD discs. Video can also be “down-converted” to standard-definition resolution for burning onto DVDs.

Bob DeMoulin, marketing manager for branded storage products in Sony Electronics’ IT Products Division said, “Now consumers, professional videographers and filmmakers can store, record and experience the highest capacity of high-definition video available from capture to playback.” He adds, “Our Blu-ray Disc drive represents a significant leap in storage technology.”

The internal drive comprises of an IDE (ATA/ATAPI) interface and standard 5.25-inch form factor for easy installation inside a PC.

The recordable/rewritable drive will be available in August for about $750. To pre-order it, just click on sonystyle.com.

Sony BD/DVD/CD rewritable drives are sold direct through sonystyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores nationwide (www.sonystyle.com/retail), at authorized resellers and retailers across the country, through mail order catalogs, and by select online shopping sites.