LiteOn USA Announces Slim External Dual Format DVD Writer

[Ian]

Lite-On IT continues building upon its strong worldwide leadership in the optical recordable drive market with the introduction of the SDW-200DX Slim External Dual DVD ± ReWritable drive. The SDW-200DX is one of the early entrants in the Slim External USB market that supports the four major DVD formats; DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD-R.

DVD Features
An “all-in-one” device that delivers compelling features for burning DVDs and CDs, the SDW-200DX supports up to 2X DVD+R and DVD-R recording when using 2X speed media, making it among the fastest on the market. Additionally, the SDW-200DX supports up to 2X DVD+RW recording and 1X DVD-RW recording as well as 16X CD-R and 8X CD-RW recording. With this performance, the SDW-200DX enables a new level of convergence for video, audio and data storage applications. Users can create and share their home videos, backup critical system data, create a digital memory book of favorite still photos, and so much more. Additionally, the option of multiple recording formats, whether DVD or CD, provides consumers with the choice of the lowest media price independent of media type.

The recordable DVD format can store up to 4.7 gigabytes of digital content, roughly equivalent to seven CD discs or two hours of quality MPEG-2 digital footage.

The full featured software suite included with the SDW-200DX includes Sonic Solutions MyDVD® authoring software for transferring personal content to DVD discs and CyberLink PowerDVD® playback software that enables interactive viewing of DVD-Video and Video CD discs in a PC environment.

Compatibility
The Slim External SDW-200DX comes with USB 2.0 interface for easy installation. The high-speed SDW-200DX has an onboard 8MB buffer that delivers maximum performance for creating DVDs without worrying about formats, eliminating risk and confusion for consumers. Supported Operating System platforms include Windows 98SE/ME/XP/2000 environments.

The key performance specifications of the SDW-200DX are achieved with supported media only.

Writing
DVD+R/+RW: 2x
DVD-R/-RW: 1x
CD-R: 16x (Z-CLV)
CD-RW: 8X

Reading
DVD-ROM: 5x
CD-ROM: 24X(CAV)

Availability
Lite-On DVD and CD drives are available through select retailers, resellers and distributors in the North American and South American geographies. This Lite-On Dual drive comes with a standard one-year limited warranty from the original date of purchase. Volume shipments of the SDW-200DX begin within August 2003

[Ian]

Here's a picture of the drive:

[dhc014]

She's a beauty!

[cfitz]

Do you know if Lite-On is actually making this drive? It seems odd that they would get a slim, external dual format drive into production before getting out their standard half-height dual format drive.

cfitz

[jase]

I was going to say much the same thing

Although, this is only a 2x writer. The 2x DVDR specs are simpler to implement than 4x. Although, in which case why they didn't just provide the +R machine with 2x -R support with 4x promised later I don't know.

[Halc]

Either that or they are REALLY having trouble with the dvd-r format in a dual format drive :)

regards,
Halcyon

[jsl]

8 MB buffer doesn't sound like a "real" Lite-On and the specs is very similar to the Sony PCGA-DDRW1... The latter is however supposed to burn DVD-RW in 2x vs. the stated 1x DVD-RW for the Lite-On.

[dhc014]

I agree, I don't think that it is 100% Lite-ON made. I suspect that this drive is very similar to the Sony DW-P50A which is a DVD+R/RW only burner found in HP computers mostly. Lite-ON just added a page for this drive here, and it's for sale at newegg.com here for $449.