Sony unveils BWU-100A Blu-ray burner

This thing has been around for quite a while in prototype form, but Sony has finally gotten around to joining the pack and unveiling a PC drive for their own format. The BWU-100A Blu-ray burner doesn't have a whole lot of surprises -- other than that purple faceplate which will most likely totally clash with your PC case -- but the $750 pricetag is a nice move. It also manages all three lasers types, allowing it to read and write single layer 4.7GB DVD+R/+RW/RAM discs, 8.5GB DVD+R Double/Dual Layer Discs, and CDs. With 2x burning speeds for BD-R or BD-RE media, you can fill a 25GB Blu-ray disc in 50 minutes, and we're guessing 50GB discs should fill at a similar rate. Sony also touts the ability to move 1080i HDV camcorder footage natively to the BD-AV format for home playback, with a whole four hours fitting on one 50GB disc. The drive should be out in August, and is available for pre-order now.

[Guruboy @ Jul 18th 2006 6:14PM]

25% off original BD prices for a 50GB-supporting burner = EAT IT HD DVD!!!

LOL

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Jul 18th 2006 6:15PM]

Nice, if I was gonna get a Blu-Ray drive, this would be it.

[miron @ Jul 18th 2006 6:25PM]

#2
definitely

[miron @ Jul 18th 2006 6:26PM]

whoops i meant ^^
as in agreeing with silver r. wolfe

[hmurchison @ Jul 18th 2006 6:38PM]

Simmer down Guruboy.

Nice to see the pricing coming down.

[cycomachead @ Jul 18th 2006 6:54PM]

cool- I'll wait till Dec or Jan and then they'll be $500/-
but is it moe or does it look like the part other than the face plate is back

like the features

although about the clashing thing- a lot of PCs now days have drawers do it wont be too bad

but can I stick this thing in a G5- that would be worth it!

oh nd I hope this will smack HD DVD in the face!!!!!!!!!

[TC @ Jul 18th 2006 7:17PM]

Here's the full spec from the site, very impressive:

MEDIA & MODES SUPPORTED
BD-ROM*, BD-AV, BD-R, BD-RE, DVD-R/-R DL/-RW, DVD+R/DVD+R DL/+RW, DVD-RAM: DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, CD: CD-DA, CD-ROM (XA), CD Extra, Video CD, Photo CD*, CD Text, multi-session

READ/WRITE SPEED
Write (BD-R 50GB***/25GB) 2X CLV max**
Write (BD-RE 50GB***/25GB) 2X CLV max**
Write (DVD-R) 4X CLV, 6X - 8X Z-CLV max.**
Write (DVD-R DL) 4X CLV max. ***
Write (DVD-RW) 6X CLV max. **,br>Write (DVD+R) 6X-8X Z-CLV max**
Write (DVD+R DL) 4X CLV max***
Write (DVD+RW) 6X - 8X Z-CLV max**
Write (DVD-RAM) 5x Z-CLV max**
Write (CD-R) 12X - 24X Z-CLV max**
Write (CD-RW) 12X - 16X Z-CLV max. **
Read (BD-ROM) 2X max.
Read (DVD-ROM) 8X max.
Read (CD-ROM) 32X max.

SUSTAINED DATA TRASFER RATE:
9MB/s max. (2X BD-ROM)
10.8MB/s max (8X DVD-ROM)
4.6MB/s max (32X CD-ROM)

AVERAGE ACCESS TIME
210 ms (BD-ROM)
170 ms (DVD-ROM)
160 ms (CD-ROM)

INTERFACE: Parallel ATA (P-ATA)/EIDE

BURST TRANSFER RATE:
66.6MB/sec Ultra DMA Mode 4
33.3MB/sec Ultra DMA Mode 2
16.6MB/sec Multiword DMA Mode 2

BUFFER MEMORY: 8MB

[Shmee150 @ Jul 18th 2006 7:19PM]

One big problem for me; the drive bay has a big front, i.e. cannot fit into stealthed bays.

That's gonna make it impossible for my computer - I was waiting for a Sony BD burner!

ShMeE

[Jordan @ Jul 18th 2006 7:46PM]

I'll be waiting until December or January a year from now when they are $179.. ;)

[duke hafa @ Jul 18th 2006 10:08PM]

first wave of price drop..

VERY very impressive little 5.25 drive, but im holding out for better.

[Bruce @ Jul 18th 2006 10:17PM]

Next round of motherboards are going to have very few PATA connectors.

Why not SATA? eSATA would be even better!

[Dave @ Jul 18th 2006 10:26PM]

Wow, that price drop was a lot sooner and a lot steeper than I expected. Kudos to Sony.

[sainath @ Jul 19th 2006 2:22AM]

Wow, when will this baby be available in India?

And getting to the point, how much will they be in Indian ruppees?

[kiwipron @ Jul 19th 2006 3:46AM]

home HD pr0n has never been so easy!

[Dave @ Jul 19th 2006 3:48AM]

Perfect! Yes! Go go go BD!
I want this one now :) No more crap outdated HD DVDs will mess here!

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Jul 19th 2006 4:28AM]

> BD-AV format for home playback, with a whole four hours fitting on one 50GB disc.

BOOOO! I was expecting (2hours/4GB)*50GB hours of video... Or something similar.

Four hours - even if its HD - seems to be waste of space and money, compared to 2 hours of DVD. Especially since most cameras cannot HD/1080i anyway.

Is BD-AW "raw" format? what about compression? mpeg4/avc anyone?

[Know It All @ Jul 19th 2006 7:25AM]

I wonder if this product will get pushed back to October too. Oh well it probably only burns mpeg 2 anyway. Sony where are your priorities? Get a player out first!Your format is getting worked.

[Rick Broida @ Jul 19th 2006 8:05AM]

You know, every time I see any news or announcement relating to Blu-Ray or HD-DVD, I just yawn. I honestly couldn't care less. Am I alone in this?

[tiuk @ Jul 19th 2006 10:06AM]

Rick - Nope, not alone. At least not until I can buy a Blu-ray/HD-DVD combo-writer with my pocket change like I can a DVD+-RW ;)

[ChillyWilly @ Jul 19th 2006 1:30PM]

For Mac users, Roxio has an alpha kit that supports BluRay burning. Not sure if this drive is supported, but it's nice to see them working on something so soon.