PANASONIC UNVEILS DVD MULTI DRIVE, ALL-IN-ONE DVD/CD
STORAGE SOLUTION AT TECHXNY
Flexible New Read/Write DVDBurner Offers Interoperability Among
DVD Devices
NEW YORK CITY (June 25, 2002) Panasonic today unveiled
its DVDBurnerII, the next-generation combination DVD/CD drive that takes
the confusion out of buying a Recordable DVD drive. Meeting DVD Multi
specifications, the new DVD Multi drive builds on the success of Panasonic's
currently available DVD-RAM/R DVDBurner by extending the drive's capabilities
to include read/write support for all Recordable DVD formats approved
by the DVD Forum and read/write support for CD-R/RW discs. Universal
and affordable, the DVDBurnerII offers higher write speeds, faster playback,
broad compatibility and the convenience of being able to switch between
formats and capacities.
"Panasonic's DVDBurnerII changes the recordable DVD landscape,"
said Dana Berzin, Product Manager for Panasonic's OEM computer drives.
"It bridges CD and recordable DVD technologies, and computer and
consumer electronics applications by providing a single, cost-effective
solution for home video, personal computing and business storage/archiving.
With the new drive, users now have an all-in-one DVD/CD storage solution
that provides the security of write-once, the flexibility of rewriteable,
broad compatibility, and the ability to choose between 9.4GB, 5.2 GB,
4.7GB, 2.6GB or 650MB capacities."
With read/write support for all DVD Forum recordable DVD specifications
and read/write support for CD-R/RW discs, Panasonic's DVDBurnerII will
have broad
appeal among consumers, businesses and professionals. According to Berzin,
the drive will not only allow computer makers to meet the needs of a
wide range of users, but can provide consumers flexibility that can
help users achieve substantial savings.
"Whether purchasing at retail to upgrade existing units or to customize
a new computer, Panasonic's DVDBurnerII offers consumers backward compatibility
and a proven solution for all their current and future storage needs,"
said Charles Vidal, Product Manager for Panasonic-brand retail computer
drives. "It's a true all-in-one product that bridges formats, capacities
and applications."
To illustrate the drive's DVD/CD storage flexibility, higher performance
and cross-device interoperability, Panasonic will demonstrate the DVDBurnerII
drive during TECHXNY/PC Expo in New York City June 25-27 at the Recordable
DVD Council Pavilion, Booth #2422.
Panasonic's DVDBurnerII is fully compliant with the DVD Forum's DVD
Multi specifications. The specifications ensure disc compatibility for
all recordable DVD formats established by the 230-member DVD Forum--both
for consumer electronics products and personal computers. In addition
to reading and writing DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, CD-R and CD-RW discs,
the DVDBurnerII can also play DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio and CD-ROM
discs.
When writing to a 4.7GB DVD-R General disc, the new drive achieves speeds
of up to 2x, with DVD-R playback at 6x. Reasonably priced and readily
available, the write-once DVD-R is considered the most compatible of
all DVD formats. The discs can be played back by most of the DVD video
players and DVD-ROM drives in use throughout the world today. With huge
storage capacity, reliable data management and rewritability up to 10,000
times, DVD-RAM discs are optimally suited for PC applications. The discs'
write speed is 2x, equivalent to at least 18x CD rate.
Smaller files can be stored on low-cost 650MB CD-Rs at up to 12x speed
or on CD-RW discs at up to 8x speed. CD playback is at 32x. To ensure
error-free CD recording, Panasonic's new multifunction drive includes
buffer under-run technology.
Price, Availability
The Panasonic brand DVDBurnerII drives will begin shipping in October
2002 and, like the continuing DVD-RAM/R DVDBurner, will be available
for resale at retail or OEM applications. The Panasonic brand DVD BurnerII
drive for retail sale will be priced at less than $500.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC), best known for
its Panasonic brand, is one of the world's largest producers of electronic
and electric products for consumer, business and industrial use. The
company played an important role in the development of the DVD format,
and has introduced some of the world's most innovative DVD products
to the market, to include DVD Video Recorders, portable DVD Video and
DVD-Audio players with built-in LCD screen, DVD video and DVD-Audio
players for home and automobiles, TV/DVD and TV/DVD/VCR combination
systems and DVDBurner drives. Additional information on Panasonic and
Matsushita Electric is available at www.panasonic.com.
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All company and/or product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks
of their respective manufacturers. Features, pricing, availability and
specifications are subject to change without notice.
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