AfterDawn: News

Lite-On to offer BD-ROM drive for 179 euros

Lite-On is to offer a Blu-ray read-only (BD-ROM) drive for just €179 (USD$244). The Lite-On DH-4O1S uses the Serial ATA (SATA) interface to connect to compatible motherboards, and reads Blu-ray discs at up to 4X. The drive is also capable of reading DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW and CD-R(W) media. Single layer DVD±R is read at 12x, while dual layer DVD±R and DVD±RW IS READ AT 8x. CD-R(W) can be read at a maximum speed of 32X.

"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 retail pack includes an extra silver bezel and SATA cable. Cyberlink's PowerDVD playback software is also bundled to play Blu-ray HD video. The drive will be available in December.

Source:
CDFreaks

Written by: James Delahunty @ 13 Nov 2007 19:56

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• 4 comments

• b18bek9

  nice to see sony come backwith a BR player but the down side is its read only if they put out a burner for that price they might of taken this format war tho thats a maybe considering the BR blank media is real expensive compared to HD.....

  13.11.2007 21:04 #1

• Pop_Smith

  Originally posted by b18bek9: nice to see sony come backwith a BR player but the down side is its read only if they put out a burner for that price they might of taken this format war tho thats a maybe considering the BR blank media is real expensive compared to HD.....Here are some prices for media and burners:
  
  Newegg has the Philips Blu-Ray burner for $479 with a 25GB BD-RE by TDK.
  
  The other burner is by Lite-On which sales for $459 this also includes a 25GB BD-RE by TDK.
  
  The HD DVD media, although no burners for desktops are available at the moment, are $41.99 for a 3 pack (or $13.99/piece) or $64.99 for a 5 pack ($12.99/piece).
  
  Blu-Ray disks are $15.99 for a single, $30 for a two pack and $64.99 for a 5 pack.
  
  The media is really, really close to the same price with HD DVD being only slightly cheaper. However, we will have to see what the price of burners are for the HD DVD camp before drawing conclusions there.
  
  Peace

  13.11.2007 21:45 #2

• skeil909

  Newegg has a "Pioneer Black 12X DVD+R 6X DVD+RW 4X DVD+R DL 12X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 5X DVD-RAM 12X DVD-ROM 24X CD-R 24X CD-RW 32X CD-ROM 4MB Cache SATA Blu-Ray Reader and 12X DVD±R DVD Burner" in-stock for USD $239.99 and they don't seem to be a hot item. Personally I wouldn't buy one if they were USD $99. I might consider it at USD $59, maybe $79 but that would be pushing it.
  
  If it was a Blu-ray burner I might consider one at USD $179. Until this time I will do like most others and wait.

  13.11.2007 21:48 #3

• borhan9

  just wait for a few more months and we will see the writer come out and that will hopefully drop in prices.

  2.12.2007 20:31 #4