http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v ... 07,00.html
At the International Consumer Electronics Show today, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. announced the new BDC-202 combination Blu-ray Disc® BD-ROM computer drive with enhanced DVD and CD writing and reading capabilities. The newly designed Pioneer drive offers playback of BD-ROM discs allowing users to view Blu-ray Disc high definition programs directly on a properly configured computer. The Pioneer BDC-202 can play multiple Blu-ray Disc formats, as well as provide high-speed reading and writing of DVD and CD formats.
With a focus on BD-ROM playback, the new Pioneer combination computer drive will be a significant contributor in the emergence of the Blu-ray Disc format for both professional and consumer use on computers. In addition to BD-ROM playback, the BDC-202 allows users to access and transfer A/V and data files rapidly to DVD and CD.
“Pioneer believes in the continued growth of the Blu-ray Disc high definition video format, so the primary focus of the BDC-202 combo drive is to enable Blu-ray content playback on personal computers. With seven of the eight major Hollywood studios now supporting Blu-ray Disc, users should soon have hundreds of film titles to choose from, all in spectacular high definition,” said Andy Parsons, senior vice president at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.
With up to 50GB of storage capacity, the Blu-ray Disc format allows for copious amounts of high definition video and audio content on a single disc, including advanced interactive features and extensive bonus materials. The BDC-202 drive allows computer system builders to provide a cost effective playback solution for advanced Blu-ray content as well as DVD and CD recording and playback.
The Pioneer BDC-202 combines fast DVD and CD recording speeds with enhanced BD-ROM playback to the delight of audio video enthusiasts who now have the capability to view recently released film titles directly on a computer for times when they are not in a home theater environment.
The BDC-202 is expected to begin shipping in the second quarter of 2007, and is targeted at computer OEMs and system builders.
