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Toshiba Debuts Laptop HD DVD Writer

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

October 2, 2006, 4:10 PM

Toshiba said Monday that it had produced the first HD DVD writer for mobile PCs, which would also have read and write capabilities for standard DVD as well as CD discs. At 12.8 millimeters in height, Toshiba says that the unit would be able to be used in most slim form factor laptops. The company plans to demonstrate the drives at an upcoming trade show in Japan, with initial shipments slated to start by the end of the year.

The drive would be capable of write speeds of 1x for HD DVD discs, between 2x and 4x for standard DVDs, and up to 10x for standard CDs. "Toshiba's new HD DVD writer allows mobile PC manufacturers to integrate high-definition digital video editing capabilities into their products, giving consumers a complete high-definition experience for their original content," marketing vice president Maciek Brzeski said in a statement.

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By gab64

edited Jul 12, 2007 - 8:08 AM

HD writer does not work with Windows Vista ! What can I do as I have only this version, will you update soon HD writer ?
I thank you very much in advance for your answer

Score: 0

By alphatrigon

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 9:33 PM

ahem ppl...I've been neutral on this for a while but...

I'm surprised any consumer is for either format. Really, because "high definition" video on discs with full audio was out before these hardware hollywood consortium versions. But you guys are supporting them instead of what came out already...paying them more in the end! How dare you :p

Not to mention MS WMHD but there were a few more formats out there, albeit asian markets. Only reason they didn't catch on in Western markets was they didn't really care about digital rights.

We have some people crying foul over digital rights and ignoring these "rebel" companies in asia. All you're doing is feeding into the people you don't like so much but don't quite hate just to piss off the one you do hate.

I'll keep on trying to buy my legit overseas international "high definition" movies while I can. I have to use "high definition" because HD is relugated to a format I can't confuse with what I already have and buy. So yes, I already have HD DVD but I can't call them that, lol.

Fight the right fight! goobers :)

Score: 0

By the artist

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 11:46 AM

WHAT?! 1X hd-dvd, 2-4X dvd and 10X cds?!!!!
OMG! lightspeed has finally come to recorders!

What a "complete high-definition experience for my original content"!.

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 12:37 PM

LOL :)
Thats the great toshiba :D
ROLF :D

Score: 0

By IceyKola

posted Oct 4, 2006 - 10:48 AM

What's ROLF?
Isn't it ROTFLMFAO?

Score: 0

By Skyfrog

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 3:51 PM

Well I'm glad I base my buying decision on what a couple of 12 year olds who can barely type say. I hope the HD-DVD investors are watching because if they see someone type ROLF they are definately going to sell their shares. I'm also glad you guys are taking the form factor (slim laptop drive) and price (not announced yet) into consideration for your little Blu-Ray wankfest.

Score: 0

By the artist

posted Oct 5, 2006 - 3:34 PM

im not taking that into account, because the thing is so lame that i don't need to look farther to criticize it. i knew it was a slim laptop drive and... i don't care about pricing because it will be overpriced no matter how cheap it is.

hope i answered for the three of us who were "wankfestin'".

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 4, 2006 - 8:06 AM

I wouldnt call 13mm slim :D

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 5:47 AM

Soon :)
http://www.foxbd.com/

Score: 0

By Alex Stevens

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 4:39 AM

Nice, this will only further HD-DVD's lead in Japan.

It's impressive that Sony and a whole bunch of other companies are getting their asses handed to them almost single handedly by Toshiba. HD-DVD is outselling Blu-Ray 11-1 in Japan, Amazon's sales ranking for BD has been in the toilet while HD-DVD remains steadily near the top month after month. It won't take much longer for companies (and studios) to be leaving Blu-Raytanic to get some of those sales for themselves. Our two Sony cheerleaders, Mark and his little sidekick DaveBG can troll in the HD-DVD threads all they want but that isn't going to help them. The consumers have spoken, HD-DVD is on top and only getting stronger.

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 5:12 PM

"Our two Sony cheerleaders,"

That's funny:-) Couldn't have said it better.

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 4:53 AM

Hahahah :)
HD DVD is out over a year now, thats why it has more sales. SONY and the others have not yet released and you judge doom for blu-ray?
Alex Stevens and his sidekick Banquo will cry big after Blu-Ray big releses.
Celebrate now. I wish i will be able to talk with you two 1-2 months from now :D

Score: 0

By Alex Stevens

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 5:13 AM

lol, is that the best you can come up with. Yeah the overpriced players had nothing to do with it, or the pathetic mpeg2 quality of the first movie releases. There have been Blu-Ray movies out for a LONG time now. Look up some titles available on both formats on Amazon, such as Corpose Bride. Same movie, same price, and the HD-DVD version outsells the BD version by a huge margin. Blu-Ray has the majority of the studios and manufacturers behind it and you are going to come up with some weak excuse like HD-DVD being out longer? That is lame. It must hurt living in denial.

By the way, it didn't take long to hook you did it, and I know you'll keep coming back for more. You wuv all dat attention don't you. lol

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 5:18 AM

"or the pathetic mpeg2 quality of the first movie releases"

Look here: http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?p=21991

"By the way, it didn't take long to hook you did it"

I am having fun, that why i am here :)
Its fun to see how much you will try to defend HD DVD before it sinks :)

Score: 0

By Alex Stevens

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 5:27 AM

That's what you came up with, a link to a Blu-Ray forum? Yeah that's not biased at all, way to go. Oh and I know they are releasing titles in VC1 now but first impressions are important. Consumers don't like being screwed and they don't soon forget.

It's fun watching how much you try to defend Blu-Ray as it never even got off the ground and is being trampled to death by HD-DVD. Yeah, the PS3 will save it though (bwa ha ha!!! right) We'll find out over the next year, don't worry I'll still be here and I won't rub it in your face too much when Blu-Ray dies like all Sony's other stupid formats. Well, I probably will. :P

Now I'm off to sleep, have fun with your fanboy friends.

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 5:28 AM

Did you even opened the link? Its not about VC-1!!!

"Yeah that's not biased at all, way to go."

The main super moderator is HD DVD supporter. Most members are ex-AVSForum members. Anything else? Just look at the threads! This is the most fair forum out there!

Score: 0

By Black-Wolf

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 4:47 PM

BD sux, we all know it!!

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 4, 2006 - 8:09 AM

Yes, except most IT and movie companys.

Oh no! Hitachi (the latest brand that had joined BD camp) likes blu-ray too :)
http://www.engadget.com/...-up-a-blu-ray-camcorder/

Score: 0

By Banquo

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 4:58 AM

Don't lump me in with the fanboys, I don't give a crap about either format. I'm quite happy with plain old DVD and have no plans to switch. I do get sick of Mark (and your) endless prattle about how great your format is and your constant sucking up to Sony. At least your just a regular annoying fanboy though, Mark is a deranged zealot.

Score: 0

By DaveBG

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 5:21 AM

Oh yeah? You are taking it so serious as your own life depends on ti :D
All of the HD DVD fanboys like Alex are the same! They make the war.
Blu-Ray will exist, get used to it. For HD DVD i`m not sure... and i do not care. I just want to have fun with the fanboys :)

Score: 0

By Alex Stevens

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 5:20 AM

They'll stop making regular DVDs eventually. The studios are peeing their pants about people being able to copy movies so they'll want to kill DVD as soon as possible. If it were up to me I'd still be buying Laserdiscs but since they are going to force me into an HD format, I'm going with the winning one. Blu-Ray is NOT it. :D

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 5:24 AM

True.

"Blu-Ray is NOT it."

Not true.
Blu-Ray have better copy protection, so studio support only will rise. HD DVD will fall :)
(recently Magnolia jumped into Blu-Ray http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=2787 too)

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 5:18 PM

What about Microsoft. They specifically said they won't support it because of the copy protection.

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 4, 2006 - 8:10 AM

You cant turn a BD advantage in disadvantage...
What you think M$ want to support movie sharing or what?

(long lives P2P networks! +++)

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 11:00 PM

My question is why they didn't release a desktop one first. Wouldn't a desktop be better for video editing?

Score: 0

By Alex Stevens

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 5:16 AM

I think they just threw in the video editing part for marketing. Putting the drives in laptops is a better way to get them onto the market. Not many consumers go out and buy addon drives for their PCs, they just use whatever Dell or whoever puts in it. As far as I know Toshiba doesn't sell desktops.

Score: 0

By bmj2006

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 9:42 PM

You know, I wish they would do the same thing for a PC desktop. All that extra storage for movies sounds better than Blue Ray.

Score: 0

By Banquo

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 9:48 PM

There will standard IDE models eventually:

http://www.digital-digest.com/news-59813.html

Score: 0

By dwaterman

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 5:14 PM

"The drive would be capable of write speeds of 1 x for HD DVD"

That makes it just about useless as an HD burner...

Score: 0

By Banquo

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 5:50 PM

You do realize that 1x on HD-DVD does not equal 1x for DVD, don't you? I guess not.

Score: 0

By dwaterman

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 11:14 AM

I realize that just short of an hour to record 15 gig on a single layer HD DVD is not very fast... or functional... or practical.

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 2:44 AM

Just a side note.
The LG Blu-Ray burner does 4x for Blu-ray.
(4x for blu-ray means 216Mbps)

The SONY blu-ray burner does 24x for CD-R and 12x for DVD-R ;)
This one is 10x for CD and 4x for DVD

Score: 0

By Banquo

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 5:00 AM

What do you know, they do have one. That's not a laptop drive though so it's not surprising. No wonder I hadn't seen it yet though, it's been out all this time and hardly any mention of it. At nearly $1000 for a bare IDE drive it's little wonder.

Score: 0

By Grazer

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 7:26 PM

I always wondered...
How the hell do they calculate "1x", anyway?
i.e. one what?!?!

Score: 0

By skorpian

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 8:26 PM

This article has all the info you need and more:

http://www.emedialive.co...le.aspx?ArticleID=11632

Score: 0

By Grazer

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 8:38 PM

Thanks anyway, but I don't think it did have what I was asking for. It told me what the data transfer rate of 1x is, but not why. Does a 1x CD spin at the same speed as a 1x HD-DVD, and the data density provide for different rates? Or is 1x just a techy way of saying 1st Gen?

Score: 0

By Banquo

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 12:37 AM

I believe it refers to the speed the disc spins. The more data that is packed on the disc the faster it will be read (or written) at the same rpm. So 1x DVD has a much higher transfer rate than a 1x CD, and HD-DVD or Blu-Ray will be much faster than DVD.

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 10:53 PM

I always though 1x ment as fast as it needs to to be able to play the movie. And also for CD's 1x is as fast it needs to play without skipping.

Score: 0

By Banquo

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 12:48 AM

Yeah, you're right. I knew that 1x was based on the speed of an audio CD. A 1x CD varies from 200 to 300 RPM depending on which part of the disc is being read (the motor slows down as the laser gets nearer the edge of the disc to keep the data rate constant). At 1x DVD movies vary from 570 to 1600 RPM. For CDs it comes out to 150 KB/s and DVDs it is 1.35 MB/s. An HD-DVD at 1x has a transfer rate of 4.56 MB/s.

So I was mistaken earlier, apparently 1x for DVDs and 1x for CDs are not based on the same rotational speed. Seems confusing to use 1x for different types of media, I guess you just have to know what the transfer rates for 1x are on different formats.

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 9:11 PM

Yep, that's pretty much it. 1x won't be quick, but it'll be comparable to 1x CD or DVD burning in terms of time.

Score: 0

By Real1tyczech

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 4:31 PM

Well, obviously, this means HD-DVD is the format that will win. Anyone who thinks otherwise could only be a complete idiot.

*holds out box of lighters*

Flame on....

Score: 0

By mjd5139

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 11:24 AM

Blu-ray has the backing of many of the major electronics companies like Sony, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, LG Electronics, Matsus***a Electric Industrial (Panasonic), Mitsubishi Electric, Philips Electronics, Pioneer Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sharp, TDK, and Thomson Multimedia. These companies may have the pull to make blu-ray the standard, assuming that they can get the cost down.

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 11:21 PM

But if no one buy's Blue-Ray, I'm sure they'd switch over to HD-DVD.

Score: 0

By Real1tyczech

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 2:12 PM

Snagged another one.

Wow, you guys are too easy.

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 4:34 PM

Yes. With this "high" speeds it has, it is obviously the complete winner :D

Score: 0

By Banquo

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 12:49 AM

The BD writers are 1x too. 1x on a higher capacity format is faster than 1x on a DVD.

Score: 0

By DaveBG

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 2:45 AM

LG does 4x "pompous ass"!

And 4x for DVD-R vs. 12x on SONY
And 16x for CD-R vs. 24x on SONY

What about this?

Score: 0

By dwaterman

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 7:34 PM

Maybe you could explain the technology instead of being a pompous ass... or do you just come here to impress yourself?

Score: 0

By Banquo

edited Oct 2, 2006 - 9:00 PM

DaveBG is another Sony fanboy, there's no point in explaining anything to him. By all means though jump to conclusions and call people names. How about asking about the technology instead of saying stupid crap like "That makes it just about useless as an HD burner...", then I would have been happy to explain it as best I could. Grazer asked politely and you'll notice I tried to answer his question.

Score: 0

By dwaterman

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 9:45 PM

I didn't jump to any conclusions, but I'll take back the a** comment as it was in poor taste. Clearly I misunderstood the write speed, thanks for the explanation.

Score: 0

By Mark Gillespie

edited Oct 2, 2006 - 5:17 PM

Well, Blu-Ray laptop drives have been out for quite some time now...

http://makeashorterlink.com/?C1FD253ED

Score: 0

By Banquo

edited Oct 2, 2006 - 5:48 PM

Oh no, here come Mark Gillespie to tell us how much HD-DVD sucks and how awesome Blu-Ray is. I sure never saw that one coming. Ok actually I'm sure we all did. He may be a raving Sony zealot but at least he's predictable.

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 6:36 PM

Mark like Sony?!?!?! OMG I didn't know that!!!! He never comes in here and defends them with BS crap that he pulled out of thin air or anything. O wait nvm.

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 10:57 PM

And will he respond once we prove him wrong?

Score: 0

By Mark Gillespie

edited Oct 2, 2006 - 6:43 PM

Just levelling out the one sided reporting that happens here...

Your welcome....

Score: 0

By DotNet_Coder

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 8:43 PM

Were this an article bashing BR, then, wow, thanks Mark... It's not. it is simply announcing that Toshiba has developed a HD-DVD burner... how the hell you could infer that as biased reporting, I'll never know...

~dnc

Score: 0

By Mark Gillespie

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 3:03 AM

Because similar Blu-Ray stories get skipped over...

Score: 0

By Alex Stevens

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 5:29 AM

Oh boo hoo. Name one Blu-Ray story that has been skipped over. Maybe you should join the news staff, I'm sure your reporting would be fair and non biased. Oh wait, Betanews probably doesn't want raving zealots on their news staff.

Score: 0

By Banquo

edited Oct 2, 2006 - 6:46 PM

Betanews reports on Blu-Ray stories too; you know that very well because you post in them.

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 6:37 PM

Did I miss the part where somebody said thank you? BTW it is a news article on HD-DVD. Not BD.

Score: 0

By mishihu

edited Oct 2, 2006 - 4:56 PM

Funny... Click on your link, Mark... "The requested product is no longer available."

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 5:00 PM

Type the last "=" in and it will work :)

Score: 0

By Real1tyczech

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 4:43 PM

Hook.

Line.

...and sinker.

I knew I'd snag at least one.

Score: 0

By Mark Gillespie

edited Oct 2, 2006 - 4:31 PM

Who do you believe....

http://www.reghardware.c...hiba_hddvd_laptop_drive/

"Toshiba said it plans to show off the drive in Japan this week, but it couldn't - or wouldn't - say when the drive will ship to OEMs."

Score: 0

By jbaltz69

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 5:01 PM

"The company plans to demonstrate the drives at an upcoming trade show in Japan, with initial shipments slated to start by the end of the year."

It says it in the article right above us.

Score: 0

By Mark Gillespie

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 5:18 PM

Errm, but other reports are saying Toshiba are keeping quiet on release dates...

Based on Betanews biased reporting, I believe the former...

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted Oct 2, 2006 - 9:17 PM

Of course you would - you're reinforcing your own opinion by ignoring any facts to the contrary. You're almost as bad as PC-Rat and his crazed political crusade on file-sharing. *rolls eyes*

Score: 0

By Banquo

edited Oct 2, 2006 - 8:57 PM

Yeah Betanews is so anti-Sony. Paranoia anyone?

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 2:50 AM

The best about Blu-Ray is that if you hate SONY, you can get Panasonic, if you dont like Panasonic, you can get Samsung, someone told you to stay away from Samsung -> you get Pioneer, NO? -> LG...
And what about HD DVD? There is Toshiba, like it or not its Toshiba.
Now HP and Samsung also made PC Drives for HD DVD, but Blu-ray have already 10-12 different brands PC drives.

Score: 0

By Banquo

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 4:26 AM

What does any of that have to do with Betanews allegedly being "biased" against Blu-Ray?

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Oct 3, 2006 - 4:46 AM

In you eyes everyone is against Blu-Ray, but thats not the truth :D

Score: 0

By Banquo

edited Oct 3, 2006 - 4:55 AM

No, I don't believe everyone is against Blu-Ray. Unlike some people I'm not delusional. I was replying to Mark Gillespies post, as he seems to think that Betanews is biased against Sony and only does stories about HD-DVD.

Score: 0

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