Lite-On launches 179 Euro S-ATA 4x BD-ROM drive

13 Nov 07 18:17 by DoMiN8ToR in category Uncategorized To news archive

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Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions (PLDS) has send us a press release announcing world’s first BD-ROM drive in the market. The Lite-On DH-4O1S is a read-only device for all popular media formats, including Blu-ray discs. Besides Blu-ray discs, the drive can read DVD+/-R(W) and CD-R(W) media. The retail pack includes an extra silver bezel and a SATA cable to connect the drive to the motherboard of the PC. It also includes a Cyberlink Blu-ray software package for playback Blu-ray media in high definition. The complete pack will be available from December for an estimated retail price of EUR 179,-.

“With this BD-ROM drive we make the Blu-ray format available to a wider audience then ever before,” says Jelmer Veldman, marketing manager for PLDS in Europe. “Because it is a read-only device, we are able to reduce the price to a level that it becomes more interesting to make that step to the next generation format. People can now enjoy high definition playback on their PC. And instead of spending hundreds of euros on a standalone Blu-ray player, one can use an HDMI cable to connect his/her PC with a TV-set and enjoy high definition using their BD-ROM drive as their Blu-ray playback device.

The DH-4O1S has a Serial ATA interface and reads BD-R/RE/ROM/SL/DL media at a maximum of 4X. Single Layer DVD ±R can be read at 12X, while Double Layer DVD±R and Single Layer DVD-±RW can be read at 8X. CD-R(W) can be read at a maximum speed of 32X.

179 Euro equals about $244 at the current time. Discuss this devices in our Blu-ray and HD-DVD Forum and spread the word by Digging it.

8 Comments

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 13 Nov 07 18:44

And at that price they can keep it...

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 13 Nov 07 19:12

@BurnMaster, I honestly think this is really a good start, if you want a BD drive then this is a good opportunity...

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 13 Nov 07 20:32

Worlds first? Don't you just love it. Mid-November. I've had a Pioneer BDC-202 since July. Same capabilities. Read-only Blu-Ray. Can read and write your legacy discs. Price is good as you are not paying twice and three times as much for BD burning capability that wont be used much. Toshiba HD-DVD deserve to lose the high def PC market place as they are not making the drives in sufficient numbers. Im using one of their laptop drives in a slimline caddy. The XBox 360 drive (the most commonly available option) is not exactly the sleekest, is it? The bare drive will not physically fit in most PC cases. Has a funny connector anyway. Critical error - HD Failure - Stop......

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 13 Nov 07 20:44

MANY HAVE LOST HOPE AND RETURNED.... OK lets assume that customers already have a HD Ready TV, not a typical LCD monitor, so their screen will have the necessary HDCP compliance. Lets also assume that they have an nVidia 8400/8600 or ATI 2400/2600 card or better. And a good 2006 CPU. Or better. Plus a recent driver. Or better..(hello nVidia) These customers can plug and play. Everybody else is likely to be disappointed, as they will either see a HDCP error or just a black screen. The packaging is very unlikely to explain that using AnyDVD-HD will get around HDCP piracy limitations. So customers will either have to spend extra on upgrading their PC and-or screen..........or.........they will return the damn thing to the shop. There isnt much of a compromise possible. Your $30+ HD disc will either play nicely or it wont. It is the industrys fault for making it too difficult (except for the determined) and for not getting the message across about what you need to buy first before your upgrade kit will work as advertised. Blu-ray camp and HD-DVD camp are equally to blame. P.S. Lowly 7600GS + E6400 + AnyDVD-HD + Cyberlink Ultra 7.3 works for Blu-Ray & HD-DVD. I know this because I tried it. But it was 50-50 whether it would work or not. Look ma! No spelling errrrrs! :g

SpeedyJDK: Posts: 57; Posted on: 13 Nov 07 21:02

I wonder if they have been locked up for so long they didn't notice Pioneer had a drive for quite a while. I really hate this type of announcements. World first. Or the leader in blabla technology......LOL I wonder if this drive can read 50GB discs. Now sure if Pioneers can do that.

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 14 Nov 07 00:09

HD DVD player Toshiba SD-H802A is at half price and already launched, so BD camp must work hard to reduce their manufacturing costs . Otherwise will lose the format war. :S

old3eyes: Posts: 96; Posted on: 14 Nov 07 07:18

Who wants a read only BD drive?? If it could also write it may be worth it..

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 14 Nov 07 08:09

I suspect the "world's first" part of that press release refers to either the SATA interface or the 4X reading speed. Or perhaps they are the first with that combination

And I agree, I also don't like this type of marketing!

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Lite-On launches 179 Euro S-ATA 4x BD-ROM drive

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