Taiwanese firm AOpen has plans to introduce its first line of internal and external PC-based Blu-ray optical drives to the Middle East by the end of November.
Compared to present dual-layer DVD writers, which can write up to 8.4GB of data to compatible media, Blu-ray drives should be able to write up to 50GB of data.
However, like all things new in the world of PCs, the prices of such drives are expected to be high when the models are first introduced onto the market.
“When they are first launched, Blu-ray drives will be sold at a premium,” confirmed Mike Chiang, senior director, AOpen. “This is no different from when dual-layer DVD writers and DVD/CD-RW combo drives first made their way on to the market. Those drives too were sold at premiums when they were first launched. Now however, we sell more dual-layer DVD writers than standard combo drives, which was our previous big seller.”
View: Read more at ITP
News source: ITP
Compared to present dual-layer DVD writers, which can write up to 8.4GB of data to compatible media, Blu-ray drives should be able to write up to 50GB of data.
However, like all things new in the world of PCs, the prices of such drives are expected to be high when the models are first introduced onto the market.
“When they are first launched, Blu-ray drives will be sold at a premium,” confirmed Mike Chiang, senior director, AOpen. “This is no different from when dual-layer DVD writers and DVD/CD-RW combo drives first made their way on to the market. Those drives too were sold at premiums when they were first launched. Now however, we sell more dual-layer DVD writers than standard combo drives, which was our previous big seller.”
View: Read more at ITP News source: ITP
What's Included: (new/updated entries are marked like this):
Windows 2K SP4 - Updated Components
Internet Explorer 6 SP1
DirectX 9.0c
.NET Framework 1.1 (+SP1)
- KB886903: Security Update for .NET Framework 1.1 SP1
Microsoft Installer 3.1 v2
MDAC 2.8 SP1
Windows Script 5.6 (v5.6.0.8825)
Windows Media Player v9
Windows Journal Viewer 1.5 (only in Full)
MSN Messenger 7.0.0816 (only in Full)
Windows Messenger 5.1.0700 (only in Full)
Windows 2K SP4 - Critical Updates
KB891861: SP4 Rollup 1 v2
KB823353: Cumulative Security Update for Outlook Express 6 Service Pack 1
KB828026: Update for Windows Media Player URL script command behavior
KB833989: Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 SP1
KB842773: Update for BITS 2.0 and WinHTTP 5.1 for Windows 2000
KB870669: Disable ADODB.Stream object from Internet Explorer
KB873374: Microsoft GDI+ Detection Tool
KB883935: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB885492: Security Update for Windows Media Player 9 Series
KB887797: Cumulative update for Outlook Express 6 Service Pack 1
KB890046: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB893756: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB896358: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB896422: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB896423: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB897715: Security Update for Outlook Express 6 Service Pack 1
KB899587: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB899591: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB901214: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB890830: Malicious Software Removal Tool v1.9
KB896688: Cumulative Update for Internet Explorer 6 SP1
KB899589: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB900725: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB901017: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB902400: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB904706: Security Update for DirectX 9 on Windows 2000
KB905414: Security Update for Windows 2000
KB905495: Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 SP1 for Windows 2000 SP4
KB905749: Security Update for Windows 2000
Windows 2K SP4 - Recommended updates
Root Certificates Update
KB818043: L2TP/IPsec NAT-T update for Windows XP and Windows 2000
KB820888: Fix for Crash When Mounting NTFS Volumes
KB822831: Windows 2000 Patch - Driver Installation Program Does Not Install Device Drivers
KB891122: Update for DRM-enabled Media Players
KB892313: Updates for Windows Media Player 9 & 10
KB895181: Fix for MPEG4 videos in Windows Media Player 9 or 10
KB898458: Security Update for the Step-by-Step Interactive Training Application
Add-ons
DirectX Control Panel
TweakUI 1.33
ieSpellcheck (only in Full)
Startup Control Panel 2.8 (only in Full)
Startup Monitor 1.02 (only in Full)
New XP Style Wallpapers (only in Full)
New Wallpapers (only in Full)
Delete Old 9x Wallpapers Otion (only in Full)
Macromedia Shockwave Player (only in Full)
WinUptime Tool (only in Full)
Windows Movie Maker 1.2 (only in Full)
Sun Java 1.5.0_05 (only in Full)
Macromedia Flash Player 8 for Internet Explorer (only in Full)
Macromedia Flash Player 8 for Mozilla, Firefox, Opera and Netscape (only in Full)
Google Toolbar 3.0.126.3 (only in Full)
And of course a lot of registry tweaks which improve speed, appearance, functionality and security!
File Size & MD5 Hashes
English Full File Size: 211 MB (221628874 bytes)
English Full MD5 Hash: AFDEDF4F4CC5653CD98392E270ABD684
English Lite File Size: 158 MB (166581434 bytes)
English Lite MD5 Hash: AB49142528CEAF59F8A69CAD6D92BFEB
English Update File Size: 32.9 MB (34553506 bytes)
English Update MD5 Hash: 3E1795A8D9932AA3EE6BD14E96CBB748
I sure as hell will not pay $$$$100's when the drives will drop in price in a few months and faster/better drives will be out anyway.
GJ
Last edited by 13486 on 16 Oct 2005 - 09:53
I'm still hesitant about buying a Blu-Ray drive though since it's protected by patents and therefore won't become the definitive technology.
Anyway all such things (including HDD) are protected by patents. So that is neither here nor there.
GJ
For clarity we show zero tolerance for spam, advertising, useless and off topic comments.
Anyways,
I'm definantly supporting blu-ray, it looks like the future, why support 9gb drives, when we can get ones that are ~50gb?
Who's the loser. The company that endorses HD-DVD or the guy who spells loser "looser".
For the record I support Blu-ray.
Don't they mean Far East, rather than Middle East, by the way?
it's very nice to have it here ^^ .... also I read there will be Wi-Max in saudi arabia soon ^^ ... which is really good coz' it's wireless and we won't need to use the old cables which doesn't support more than 256Kb DSL connection
But ok, it's not THAT bad, and doesn't happen a lot anyway. But when you spend 50 to 100 Euro for such an optical drive, I sure want guarantee that it doesn't get damaged or scratched easily.
With that money, you can easily buy 1 200 GB Hard Drive or 50 DVD's or 200 to 300 CD's..
One simple disc would be very handy though, but the risk of there going something wrong with it is just so high I wouldn't spend money on it.
50GB is a LOT of data, so the disc has to be damage-proof in any way possible. it would be convenient if they'd come in a protective enclosure like older DVD-RAMs or floppy discs. i couldn't imagine losing 50GB of information because the disc is scratched or something.
and like you point out, HDs will keep getting cheaper and cheaper. it's only a matter of time when the price/GB ratio is better than any other disc media on the market. and considering how HDs are more reliable than discs anyway, it would be a logical choice.
They still make them in cartridges but they are getting harder to find, not to mention finding a drive that will load them.
Let's rephrase that. Their broadband connections are a lot faster, hence the need to burn all their downloaded software / mp3s / movies / .. faster and more efficiently :p
-hacker tip from Ramzi- j00 4ll l337
I wonder what the prices will be like.....
I really prefer HD's for pretty much everything data wise, the ease of access, no hunting around under the desk for that pesky DVD-R you didn't have a pen to label only to find yourself going through a dozen blanks. No one actually keeps these things organised do they? lol
we are getting close to home boxes having a terabyte of storage, makes me wonder just how popular removable optical media will be in the future if it can't keep up.
Stand alone players, and the Video DVD (MPEG2) standard asside, I can fit WAY more then 6 hours of video at a much higher video and sound quality and those crapy old VCR tapes. If that is what you are talking about.
but either way, it was hardly a major jump in space, no wonder it took so long to take off.
We will see how quickly these become affordable. I think most people (at least the more tech savvy ones) will see more value in spending $300 else where, like a faster and larger hard drive. As it is now, I'm just using DVDs as a backup medium. Nothing for permanent storage except my array of SATA drives
But can't help thinking backing up on 50gb discs is going to be way too expensive in the short term compared to just buying another HD which is so much simpler. Even file servers are pretty cheap to put together now or just keep adding HD's through USB etc.
I really think lil ole blu ray has its work cut out to get into peoples homes.
I think before I invest anymore money in CD-based media a few problems need to be addressed (too bad not with this generation)...
1) the issue of CD-rot (though I have 5 yrd old computer and 10 yr old audio discs and no problem
2) tougher coatings (Verbatim makes em scratch and dust resistant but there's a premium price... it should be the default esp with this capacity
3) maybe a caddy that you can stick in the drives like of old as someone else mentionned.
12 minutes for a 2x drive ish, very ish lol
Very cool
DVD-ROM drives came first, then DVD-RW (and DVD-RAM and DVD+RW, for the pedants out there)
BD-RW is coming before BD-ROM?
www.hd-dvd-report.com
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!
Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.