Sony NEC Optiarc And Samsung Unveil New Drives @ CeBIT

[Ian]

At least from here, CeBIT was pretty uneventful as far as new optical drives go. Sony NEC Optiarc and Samsung did have a few new drives on display though. Specs and pictures borrowed from PC Watch

First up is the AD-7191A from Sony NEC Optiarc. The drive sports 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD±R DL, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds. Google's translator sucks but it looks like it might read DVD's at 20x.

Sony NEC Optiarc also had the AD-7173S on display. I can't tell, but I think it says that it supports Serial ATA and Labelflash. Maybe 18x DVD writing speeds too?

They also had four slim Blu-ray drives for notebooks. The BD-5710S (SATA and slot load), BD-5600S (slot load), BD-5500S (SATA and tray) and BD-5500A (ATAPI and tray).

[roadrunner]

It'd be nice to start seeing some of these 18x & 20x drives that can actually READ at that speed, too.

[dolphinius_rex]

Is it just me, or is the idea of 18x and 20x drives just not that exciting?

[roadrunner]

Is it just me, or is the idea of 18x and 20x drives just not that exciting?

Nope, it's not you. Considering that a 20x drive shaves around 1 minute off of a burn vs a 16x drive, I don't see much point. Especially given the burn quality differences. My 111D with Verbatium 16x DVD+R's rocks. I have yet to see an 18x or 20x drive that can come close (well, maybe the 112D)...

[Ian]

I had to run to lunch before posting Samsung's new drives... but according to PC Watch, they too have a 20x DVD writer on the way. Along with support for LightScribe, the SH-S203 features 20x DVD±R, 12x (yes 12x) DVD±R DL, 12x DVD-RAM, 8x DVD+RW and 6x DVD-RW writing speeds.

Samsung also has two 4x Blu-ray Disc writers on the way, the SH-B043 and SE-B046. Beyond their 4x BD-R writing speed, I'm not sure what their specs are.

[Grain]

Other than when testing a drive or media's speed ability/burn quality, I only burn at 8X. I get the best results at 8X, and the few extra minutes is worth the cost to me. Like Roadrunner said though, a 18 or 20X reader would get me excited (especially a 20X DL read )!!!

[Wesociety]

20x isn't that exciting, but 16x DL has the possibility of being REALLY good if quality can be maintained.