Plextor introduces a SATA Dual Layer DVD recorder

Lasse Penttinen
16 Nov 2004 10:04

I have to admit, that I've been a big fan of Plextor, ever since I bought my SCSI CD-ROM drive UltraPlex 32x back in the 90's. In the early days of CD recording, this company aimed to deliver nothing but the best quality, and there was no doubt that their technology was quite superior. Later, many high profile CD-R manufacturers, such as Yamaha, were brought down on their knees by companies like Lite-ON, which were able to deliver good quality with lower cost.
The shift from CD-R to DVD-R was quite rapid, and introduced new players on the market, such as Pioneer. Some companies weren't ready for the change, and had trouble adjusting. Plextor's start on the DVD market was a bit slow, and I was a little worried how they would handle the new competition. Now it seems that Plex is going strong, and is once again ready to show an example in the optical recorder industry.

Plextor® Corp., a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media equipment, today announced the new PX-716SA series DVD±R/RW drive. Featuring a native Serial ATA (SATA) interface and high-speed 16X DVD+R and 16X DVD-R recording, the internal drive combines fast performance, 150 MB/sec bandwidth, and recording features that ensure reliable, high-quality results across a broad spectrum of media.
The drive achieves blazing fast 16X CAV performance on recommended 8X DVD+R media, and burns a 4.7GB DVD in less than six minutes, one minute faster than leading ZCLV competitors. The new drive also supports dual-layer DVD media, enabling users to burn up to four hours of high-quality MPEG-2 video on a single 8.5GB DVD disc in approximately 28 minutes.
The internal PX-716SA drive features an integrated Serial ATA connection, enabling OEMs and System Integrators to leverage the benefits of SATA, including 150 MB/sec bandwidth, elimination of master/slave configuration jumper issues, a substantial pin count reduction, and thinner cables to help air-flow and improve cable routing.
“The newest 16X DVD drive from Plextor is specifically designed for personal computer manufacturers who want to integrate a DVD/CD burner that sets new standards for performance, convenience, and reliability,” said Howard Wing, vice president of sales and marketing for Plextor. “The combination of Serial ATA interface, support for dual-layer media, and the Intelligent Recording features can really help OEMs differentiate their PCs from competitive offerings.”