The Japanese company, Buffalo, has announced what they call the world's first HD DVD-ROM drive for the PC. Based on the Toshiba SD-H802A, the HDV-ROM2.4FB can read HD DVD-ROM and HD DVD-R discs at 2.4x and is backwards compatible with most DVD and CD media. Here's part of their press release, translated from Japanese:
"HDV-ROM2.4FB" 30GB (HD DVD-ROM) is the HD DVD drive for PC which corresponds to the playback of the next generation optical disk "HD DVD" which actualizes bulk at single sided 2 layer in place of DVD which presently has spread. Adopting TOSHIBA corporation make HD DVD drive "SD-H802A" to drive. HD DVD-ROM of HD DVD Disc (it reads and private 1 layer /2 layer), HD DVD-R ([raitowansu] and 1 layer) corresponds to lead/read 2 type. Respectively, it corresponds to reading 2.4 time speed, * 2. DVD (DVD±R, RW and ±R2 layer, DVD-ROM)/it corresponds to the playback of CD-R, RW and ROM other than HD DVD. It can correspond HD DVD of the next generation at 1 units without also the DVD/CD contents which already you have of course making wasteful.
The HDV-ROM2.4FB comes with CyberLink PowerDVD HD DVD Edition and is expected to hit store shelves at the end of December for 37,000 Yen ($322US). More information can be found here.
