For those who don't need the ability to write data onto BD-R or BD-RE discs, but want to add Blu-ray movie playback to a PC, BD readers offer a nice, lower cost alternative to the more expensive BD-R/RE burners.
Current BD Readers
LG GBC-H20L (MSRP: $199) -- Firmware / Software Updates: Link
(Picture coming soon.)
With the death of HD DVD, LG has been updating its line of drives and removing the HD DVD playback feature. More importantly, perhaps, they're also dropping the price on both their new burner and the new GBC-H20L combo drive. Oddly, the drive doesn't appear to burn DVD media -- on CDs.
| Specs | Write Speeds | ||
| Interface | SATA | BD-R/RE SL | NA |
| Cache | 4MB | BD-R/RE DL | NA |
| Read Speeds | DVD+/-R SL | NA | |
| BD-ROM | 6x | DVD+/-R DL | NA |
| DVD-ROM | 16x | DVD+/-RW | NA |
| CD-ROM | 40x | CD-R | 40x |
| Special Features | None | CD-RW | 24x |
Sony BDU-X10S (MSRP: $199) -- Amazon -- Newegg -- Firmware / Software updates: Link
Those looking to upgrade their existing PCs with Blu-ray playback functionality now have a relatively inexpensive option direct from Sony! The drive doesn't write to CDs or DVDs either, though, so you'll want to keep your existing burner as well.
| Specs | Write Speeds | ||
| Interface | SATA | BD-R/RE SL | NA |
| Cache | ??? | BD-R/RE DL | NA |
| Read Speeds | DVD+/-R SL | NA | |
| BD-ROM | 2x | DVD+/-R DL | NA |
| DVD-ROM | 8x | DVD+/-RW | NA |
| CD-ROM | 24x | CD-R | NA |
| Special Features | None | CD-RW | NA |
Pioneer BDC-2202 and BDC-202 (MSRP: $299) -- Amazon -- Newegg (BDC-2202) -- Newegg (BDC-202) -- Firmware / Software updates: Link
For those who don't need Blu-ray burning capability, but want the ability to watch Blu-ray movies on their PC, the Pioneer BDC-2202 is the drive you've been waiting for. The drive retails for around 1/2 the cost of Blu-ray burners and still retains CD and DVD burning capability.
| Specs | Write Speeds | ||
| Interface | SATA | BD-R/RE SL | N/A |
| Cache | 4MB | BD-R/RE DL | N/A |
| Read Speeds | DVD+/-R SL | 12x | |
| BD-ROM | 5x/2x | DVD+/-R DL | 4x |
| DVD-ROM | 12x/8x | DVD+/-RW | 6x |
| CD-ROM | 32x | CD-R | 24x |
| Special Features | None | CD-RW | 24x |
Lite-on DH-401S (MSRP: $199) -- Amazon -- Newegg -- Firmware / Software updates: Link
For those who don't need any writing capability in a BD optical drive, Lite-on has released a very reasonably-priced drive that can fill your need for BD movie playback at a price that won't kill your wallet.
| Specs | Write Speeds | ||
| Interface | SATA | BD-R/RE SL | NA |
| Cache | ??? | BD-R/RE DL | NA |
| Read Speeds | DVD+/-R SL | NA | |
| BD-ROM | 4x | DVD+/-R DL | NA |
| DVD-ROM | 12x | DVD+/-RW | NA |
| CD-ROM | 32x | CD-R | NA |
| Special Features | None | CD-RW | NA |
Optiarc BR-5100S (MSRP: $199) -- Newegg -- Firmware / Software updates: Link
Optiarc, the joint Sony/NEC venture, has released their first BD product, the BR-5100S, a read-only drive with specs that essentially match Sony's own BDU-X10S drive.
| Specs | Write Speeds | ||
| Interface | SATA | BD-R/RE SL | NA |
| Cache | 4MB | BD-R/RE DL | NA |
| Read Speeds | DVD+/-R SL | NA | |
| BD-ROM | 2x | DVD+/-R DL | NA |
| DVD-ROM | 8x | DVD+/-RW | NA |
| CD-ROM | 24x | CD-R | NA |
| Special Features | None | CD-RW | NA |
ASUS BC-1205PT (MSRP: $270) -- Amazon -- Newegg -- Firmware / Software updates: Link
Although ASUS claims to competing with the Pioneer BDC-2202, the specs on their product match the Pioneer model's exactly, so it is likely based on the same Pioneer design. Either way, with two manufacturer's now releasing Blu-ray reader/DVD and CD writer combo units this summer, Blu-ray disc reading on PCs should be one step closer to mainstream.
| Specs | Write Speeds | ||
| Interface | SATA | BD-R/RE SL | NA |
| Cache | 4MB | BD-R/RE DL | NA |
| Read Speeds | DVD+/-R SL | 12x | |
| BD-ROM | 5x | DVD+/-R DL | 4x |
| DVD-ROM | 12x | DVD+/-RW | 6x |
| CD-ROM | 32x | CD-R | 32x |
| Special Features | None | CD-RW | 24x |
LG GGC-H20L (MSRP: $299) -- Amazon -- Newegg -- Firmware / Software updates: Link
The little sibling of the GGW-H20N retains the ability to read just about any disc format you can throw at it (including both Blu-ray and HD DVD) but will only write to DVD and CD media. Still for those looking to put together a media PC and want to playback both HD formats, this drive fits the bill nicely.
| Specs | Write Speeds | ||
| Interface | SATA | BD-R/RE SL | NA |
| Cache | 4MB | BD-R/RE DL | Na |
| Read Speeds | DVD+/-R SL | 16x | |
| BD-ROM | 6x/4.8x | DVD+/-R DL | 4x |
| DVD-ROM | 16x | DVD+/-RW | 8x |
| CD-ROM | 40x | CD-R | 40x |
| Special Features | Plays HD DVD | CD-RW | 24x |
Last update: 7/30/08
0 comments:
Post a Comment