BenQ Demos Blu-ray Burner at Computex
June 09, 2006
Taipai, Taiwan - UK's Digit magazine reported that BenQ plans to launch a Blu-ray Disc drive later this year that will be able to write as well as read data.
"We have a prototype ready and we are going to ship (the product) before the end of the year," BenQ Chairman KY Lee said.
At a Taipei news conference, the company showed a prototype drive. It is a standard "half-height" drive designed for use in desktop computers, and can also write DVDs and CDs.
While Sony and Panasonic are heavy hitters in the Blu-ray camp, Toshiba and Microsoft are supporting the competing HD DVD format. BenQ's decision to manufacture Blu-ray Disc drives doesn't rule out their option for producing HD DVD, according to the report.
"I believe eventually we will have to support both," he said. Lee also expects a multi-drive that can read and write both of the new formats to be available in the future. "Just look at the history of the DVD standard. DVD+, DVD-, DVD-RAM and eventually DVD Multi," he said, referring to drives that support all three formats.
No pricing, nor a firm release date was announced. Lee said he believes the costs for read/write heads and drives will fall as the year progresses.
The report added that Panasonic is scheduled to ship their Blu-ray Disc drive this month for $850.
At the Computex trade show, BenQ showed an FP241W computer monitor with a high definition HDMI connector. HDMI is used to diplay hi-def images from Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD players to compatible monitors.
For more information go to:
Digit's Report on BenQ Blu-Ray Disc Drive
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