AfterDawn: News

Plextor releases first external Blu-ray drive

Plextor has announced today the release of its first external Blu-ray drive, the PX-B920UF, which is capable of writing BD-R at 4x and can also playback HD DVD discs.

The drive connects via either a USB 2.0 or FireWire meaning it can be used for either Macs or PCs. The drive also has LightScribe technology.



The PX-B920UF features black casing with satin finish and can accept both 12cm full and 8cm mini BD as well as HD DVD and DVD and CD. Featured write speeds are 4x BD-R, 2xBD-RE, 16x DVD+R/-R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 4x DVD+/-R DL, 5x DVD-RAM, 40x CD-R and 24x CD-RW.

As is standard, the drive will come with InterVideo WinDVD8,Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5.5 SE, and Burn.Now 4.5 SE for editing and burning BD.

The drive will be available beginning this month but there was no word on pricing yet.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 18 Oct 2008 18:27

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• 11 comments

• NexGen76

  Good to see the prices on drives going down but the Blank media prices is insane.One disc for 20 bucks....

  18.10.2008 18:50 #1

• ripxrush

  do they even make there own drives any more? i have heard they DONT but i havent heard or seen anything from a reliable source!

  19.10.2008 00:21 #2

• iluvendo

  Quote:The drive will be available beginning this month but there was no word on pricing yet.
  Now that scares me

  19.10.2008 00:45 #3

• ZoSoIV

  Originally posted by ripxrush: do they even make there own drives any more? i have heard they DONT but i havent heard or seen anything from a reliable source!NO they don't there re-badged Pioneer ODDs with a NEC chipset. will probably be the same for the Blu-ray ODDs also
  

  
  
  Antec 1200 Full-Tower Case/Thermaltake 750-Watt PS/ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA 775 Intel X48 Mobo/Seagate Barracuda 250GB 32MB Cache Sata HDD(primary)/Seagate Barracude 160GB Sata(slave)/NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GX2,1 GB of GDDR3 Memory /CORSAIR DOMINATOR PC8500 5-5-5-15 at 1066MHz (2x2GB) DDR2/Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache,OC(ed)to 3.4GHz on air/ Zalman 9700/3-Plextor PX-810SA Sata Drives/Samsung 2493HM 24" LCD Monitior 1920x1200 resolution,5ms respone time

  19.10.2008 02:35 #4

• 13thHouR

  Plextor used to be one of the greats, look at them now no better than the rest.
  
  4X, are there not 8x blu-ray burners available.
  
  Maybe their downfall was **** like this!
  
  Plextor PX-B900A/T3KB: Blu-ray movie playback requirements.
  
  http://www.plextor.be/press/datasheets/Plextor_AACS.pdf
  
  Quote:To play back commercial Blu-ray movie (BD-MV) discs at HD quality, your PC configuration requires a
  minimum hardware configuration and suitable software, both of which can handle the very strict copy
  protection requirements of BD-MV.
  
  BD-MV playback at HD quality has very strict copy protection integrated and managed by the Advanced
  Access Content System License Administrator (AACS LA), and software manufacturers are required to
  include the AACS key management in the play back software.
  
  These AACS play back keys are only valid for a predefined and limited period of time. Customers
  generally have to buy new AACS keys every 15 months.
  
  The Plextor PX-B900A/T3KB product package includes two AACS keys with the following expiration
  dates:
  - Key one expires in February 2008.
  This initial AACS key is already build into an application
  
  - Key two expires in April 2009
  This key is free of charge and can be obtained from the software manufa cturer website (under
  construction).
  The software will notify the customer to renew for this second key within February 2008.
  
  - Within May 2009, the software will notify you to renew this last key.
  This third key is not free of charge and can be obtained from the software manufacturers website.
  Keys needs to be renewed every 15 months.
  
  If a customer chooses not to renew the key, he won’t be able to play back BD movies which are produced
  after these key expiration dates.
  
  Conclusion:
  With the Plextor PX-B900A/T3KB the customer can playback BD movies produced until April 2009.
  To play back movies produced after April 2009, the customer has to purchase a renewal of the key.what's the deal now?
  

  The RIAA - BPI - IFPI - CRIA - Ect - Ect Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
  The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX.
  
  Dont allow them to hide behind the trade body names, name and shame em.

  19.10.2008 05:30 #5

• error5

  The AACS renewal fee is no longer needed.
  
  The culprit here is not Plextor but the playback software.
  
  The PX-B900 was bundled with InterVideo WinDVD 5/BD. This is the playback software that required users to pay for the AACS updates.
  
  The later models including the 920 is now bundled with InterVideo WinDVD 8 (OEM version upgradable to 9). All you need is to be registered with Corel and log in as a member to continue updating the AACS keys for free.
  
  
  
  
  http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/u...w=tab2&tabview=

  19.10.2008 08:21 #6

• 13thHouR

  Originally posted by error5: The AACS renewal fee is no longer needed.
  
  The culprit here is not Plextor but the playback software.
  
  The PX-B900 was bundled with InterVideo WinDVD 5/BD. This is the playback software that required users to pay for the AACS updates.
  
  The later models including the 920 is now bundled with InterVideo WinDVD 8 (OEM version upgradable to 9). All you need is to be registered with Corel and log in as a member to continue updating the AACS keys for free.
  
  
  
  
  " target="_blank">http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/u...abview=
  
  thank you error 5 for the mature informative responses you are making to my posts, that shows advancements being made for the benefit of consumers. Respect Dude.
  

  The RIAA - BPI - IFPI - CRIA - Ect - Ect Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
  The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX.
  
  Dont allow them to hide behind the trade body names, name and shame em.

  19.10.2008 08:30 #7

• Oner

  Originally posted by NexGen76: Good to see the prices on drives going down but the Blank media prices is insane.One disc for 20 bucks....I don't know where you shop but there are way more options out there.
  
  Memorex Blu-Ray Disc BD-R 25GB 4x Branded @ 5.28 ea for 15 pack
  
  Verbatim Blu-Ray Disc BD-R 25GB 2X @ 7.60 ea for jewel case singles
  
  
  Personally I am still debating on whether to wait a little longer for the next wave of price drops for BD Burners. But with prices like these below
  
  LITE-ON 4x BD, 12x DVD & 40x CD SATA Burner for $210
  
  LG HD-DVD Reader, 6x BDR, 16x DVDR, 40x CDR SATA Burner for $224
  
  
  It's pretty tempting though to be able to back up and have 25gb available for whatever. Hopefully dual layer 50gb's will keep dropping equally too ($25 for 50gb is just a bit pricey still). Either way the current price for a BD burner is no more expensive than when I first started with DVD burning but the Plextor BD will undoubtedly be WAAAY more costly.
  

  
  
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  19.10.2008 09:51 #8

• domie

  Quote:
  thank you error 5 for the mature informative responses you are making to my posts, that shows advancements being made for the benefit of consumers. Respect Dude.yeah but the thing is 13th hour, what error5 didn't tell you is that winDVD 8 ( which is about 2-3 years old now ) is incapable of playing back blu ray discs so when he says "upgradable" to win dvd 9 ( owned by Corel now ) he means you have to fork out an extra $ 60 for the upgrade to watch the discs lol
  
  other blu ray burners like the LG one I have come pre bundled with software ( power dvd ) that immediately plays back the blu ray discs
  
  then again - just buy anyhd-dvd and don't worry about any copy protection , keys or licences ever again lol

  19.10.2008 16:25 #9

• error5

  Originally posted by domie: winDVD 8 ( which is about 2-3 years old now ) is incapable of playing back blu ray discs BluRay, HD DVD and AVCHD playback is enabled in WinDVD 8:
  
  http://www.intervideo.com/nVidia/WinDVD8_3in1_landing.jsp
  
  Quote:InterVideo® WinDVD® 8 is the world's #1 DVD and video playback software, with over 175 million copies shipped worldwide. Enjoy crystal-clear, smooth playback of your standard and High-Def video and audio. Whether you're a movie buff, frequent flyer, or just like to watch video clips, WinDVD 8 gives you the best digital entertainment experience. Now, WinDVD also supports HD DVD, Blu-ray, and AVCHD Disc playback!

  19.10.2008 18:53 #10

• uruz7

  That's OK!But take a closer look following link,It's great to DVD and PSP converter
  
  spam removed

  21.10.2008 01:40 #11