Today, CDRLabs brings you an in depth look at ASUS's new Blu-ray combo drive, the BC-1205PT. Based on the Pioneer BDC-202, the BC-1205PT combines a BD-ROM and DVD writer into a single unit. The drive is capable of 12x DVD±R, 6x DVD±RW, 4x DVD±R DL and 5x DVD-RAM writing speeds and can read Blu-ray Discs at speeds as high as 5x.

In this review we'll take a look at the features found on the BC-1205PT and see how it compares to some of the Blu-ray drives from the competition. Does ASUS's new combo drive have what it takes? You'll have to read the review to find out.


ASUS BC-1205PT Blu-ray Combo
If you have any comments or questions about this review or the ASUS BC-1205PT, please post them in the forum. Add a comment
Gateway announced their new GM5664 desktop PC today. Along with an AMD Phenom 9600 Processor and ATI Radeon HD 2400XT graphics card, the GM5664 features a Hybrid-SuperMulti drive which allows users to watch both HD DVD and Blu-ray movies.

With the ability to watch live TV and breeze through the most intense media demands, the Gateway GM Series of PCs are ideal entertainment supercenters. The ultimate PC for media-hungry users, they feature the high-performance horse power needed for playing the latest games and blazing through processor-intensive programs.

Gateway’s newest addition to the line, the GM5664 desktop, is ideal for those interested in extreme gaming, digital photo and video editing, watching TV or movies and storing a massive media library.

The new Hybrid-SuperMulti drive lets customers watch both Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs, and features burning capability on any type of DVD or CD disc. Rounding out this media supercenter is an integrated TV tuner with remote control, so consumers can watch, pause and record their favorite live programming.
The Gateway GM5664 desktop PC is available now for $1,149.99. More information, including a full list of specs, can be found here. Add a comment

AMD ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 @ChileHardWare,HotHardware.com
ASUS P5E3 Deluxe WiFi X38 Motherboard @HardwareLogic.com
Daze Products Nintendo DS Game Chamber @Bigbruin.com
GECUBE Radeon HD 3870 X2 Graphics Card @TweakTown
GeForce 8800 GT Roundup @InsideHW.com
Gigabyte GV-RX385512H (Radeon HD 3850 512MB) @Hardware Zone
Lexar 12-in-1 USB2 Card Reader @ASE Labs
Nexus Caterpillar Silent PC Case @TechwareLabs
OCZ 4GB Reaper X HPC PC2-6400 Memory @Virtual-Hideout
Samsung SyncMaster 2232GW 22-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor @ThinkComputers.org
SanDisk Sansa Clip MP3 Player @TechwareLabs
Sparkle 8800GTS 512MB @Madshrimps
Thermaltake SwordM Full Tower Case @ThinkComputers.org
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AirLive WMU-6500FS @InsideHW.com
Apricorn Aegis Biometric 120GB Portable Hard Drive @Everything USB
Corsair Dominator TWIN2X2048-9136C5D Memory Kit @HardwareLogic.com
Kingwin Mach 1 ABT-800MA1S 800W Modular PSU @Benchmark Reviews
LiteON LH-20A1L @BHmag.fr
Logitech ChillStream Actively Cooled Gamepad @Tweaknews.net
Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution @I4U
Patriot Xporter XT Boost 32GB @Hardware Zone
Raidmax Sagitta 2 PC Case @ThinkComputers.org
Sapphire Ultimate HD 3850 and Atomic HD 3870 @HotHardware.com
Seasonic S12II 500 Watt Power Supply @Hi-Techreviews.com
T hermaltake SwordM VD5000BNA Super Tower Chassis @Bigbruin.com
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The DVD6C Licensing Group has announced that they've revised its patent licensing program. The new license agreement offers reduced royalty rates for DVD Read-Only Discs as well as new categories for DVD+R and DVD+RW discs.
The DVD6C Licensing Group (DVD6C) consisting of nine developers of DVD technology and formats —Hitachi, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc. — today announced that it has revised its worldwide patent licensing program beginning on and after January 1, 2008, including offering a new license agreement (the "New DVD6C License"), which offers reduced royalty rates on certain products and additional licensing options.

Key changes to the new licensing program include the following:

  • Reduction of royalty rates for DVD Read-Only Discs (i.e., the DVD-Video Disc, DVD-Audio Disc and DVD-ROM Disc) from US$0.045/Disc to US$0.040/Disc for sales of DVD Read-Only Discs beginning on or after the Effective Date of the New DVD6C License.
  • The addition of +R Discs and +RW Discs as new categories of licensed DVD Products. The royalty rates for +R Discs shall be the same as the current royalty rates for DVD-R Discs, and the royalty rates for +RW Discs shall be the same as the current royalty rates for DVD-RW Discs.
  • Inclusion of Time Limited DVD Discs in the DVD-ROM Disc, DVD-Video Disc and DVD-Audio Disc categories of licensed DVD Products.
  • More information, including a list of royalty rates, is available on the DVD6C Licensing Group's website. Add a comment

    ATI Radeon HD 3450 HTPC Video Card @I4U
    ATI Radeon HD 3870X2 1 GB @InsideHW.com
    Crucial 4GB (2GB x 2) DDR2-6400 800MHz SODIMM RAM @I4U
    MSI Radeon HD 3870 X2 OC Graphics Card @TweakTown
    OnAir HDTV GT @ASE Labs
    Patriot Viper 4GB DDR2-800 (PVS24G6400LLK) @HardwareLogic.com
    Thermaltake Toughpower Q-Fan W0163RU 650Watt Modular Power Supply @Tweaknews.net
    Tuniq Miniplant 950watt Power Supply @TweakTown
    Ultra X2 750W Modular PSU @BCCHardware
    ViewSonic VX2235wm-5 22-inch LCD Monitor @Hardware Zone
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    NME announced this week that they will be showcasing the world's first commercial 'Multilayer' HD VMD replication line on "Global HD VMD Day." The new line is located at the VDL-ODMS headquarters in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
    NME will showcase the world's first ever commercial 'Multilayer' HD VMDreplication line to both the entertainment and optical disc industries andpress. The event will be a celebration of the HD VMD format and willprovide industry and press with worldwide updates of recent milestones. NMEwill also take this opportunity to announce some of its new partnerships.

    Attendees will see presentations from co-hosts NME and VDL Group andwill be given an exclusive tour of the new line at VDL-ODMS. Guests willalso see technology demonstrations as well as exhibits of HD VMD productsand services. Confirmed attendees include distinguished members of thepress from the entertainment/video, consumer electronics, digital authoringand optical disc industries.
    If you'd like to read more, NME's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

    ASUS EAH3850 Top ATI HD 3850 Video Card @I4U
    B-Gear/B-Tarantula 550 Watt Power Supply @hi-techreviews.com
    Intel QX9650 Core 2 Extreme @HardwareLogic.com
    MSI X48 Platinum Motherboard @TweakTown
    SimpleTech PC3-10600 DDR3 1333MHz S1024R5NP2QA @Benchmark Reviews
    ZeroTherm HC92 CU 8800 @SweMOD
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    ASUS P5K3 Deluxe WiFi-AP Intel P35 Motherboard @Benchmark Reviews
    D-Link Xtreme N Networking @BCCHardware
    Intel D201GLY2 ITX Motherboard @ASE Labs
    Logitech Harmony One @I4U
    Mapower MAP-OT21 2.5 Inch eSATA / USB Enclosure @Bigbruin.com
    OCZ PC2-8500/DDR2-1066 nVidia SLI-Ready Edition 2GB Kit @Redaktion ocinside.de
    Super Talent 2GB Pico Series USB Drives @HardwareLogic
    X-Arcade Tankstick Dual Controller With Trackball @HotHardware.com
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    AOpen S150 ITX Case @ASE Labs
    ASRock 4Core1600P35-WiFi+ Motherboard @Phoronix
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1250w PSU @TweakTown
    Foxconn X38A Digital Life Motherboard @TweakTown
    OCZ Technology PC3-10666 ReaperX HPC 2GB DDR3 Kit @Bigbruin.com
    Samsung SyncMaster 245T 24-Inch LCD Monitor @Tweaknews.net
    Thecus N5200 Pro NAS @Virtual-Hideout
    Vizo Ninja II Notebook Cooler @DV Hardware
    Western Digital My Book Premium ES Edition @TweakPC
    Wolfking Warrior Gaming Keyboard @BCCHardware
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