Buffalo Rolls Out External Blu-ray XL Writers with Optional Power Input

[btarunr]

Typical officegoers often don't understand the underlying power distribution with desktop USB hubs, which plug into the computer's rear USB ports, and give out four downstream ports on the desk. When a power-hungry USB device like external HDD or external optical drive is plugged into such downstream ports, it falls short of power, and doesn't work reliably. To address just that, Buffalo rolled out a new line of portable Blu-ray XL writer drives, which give you the flexibility of both bus-only power, and DC power input (referred to by Buffalo as "power boost").

The new BRXL-PC6VU2-C line of portable Blu-ray writers, pictured below, are capable of running bus-powered. If the drive detects it isn't getting enough power from its USB port, it lights up an LED, which prompts you to plug in its AC adapter, which makes up for the power deficit. When bus powered, the drive is limited to low read/write speeds, to keep power draw from the motor low (reliable, prevents write errors). This neat little arrangement makes sure the drive runs smoothly when it's plugged in directly to a computer, and gives you the flexibility of plugging it into a hub. Measuring 145 x 153 x 19 mm (WxDxH), the drive weighs about 340 g. Blu-ray XL 4-layer and 3-layer discs are written at 4X, single- and double-layer Blu-ray at 6X. When bus-powered, it writes all kinds of Blu-ray RE drives at 2X. When "power-boosted," those speeds go up to 6X. DVDs are written at speeds of up to 8X, CDs at 24X. Slated for an early-September launch in Japan, these drives are expected to go for 10,920 JPY (US $112).



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[JDG1980]

The fundamental problem with optical discs is that their capacity is too small for general computing use - especially since they are slower and clumsier to use than flash drives or external HDDs. You'll still want an optical drive to rip CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Rays (these tend to have better quality than their 'streaming' counterparts, not to mention you can actually own and keep them), as well as for installing the OS and software which is sold that way. But that's really about all the drive is needed for any more.

To make optical disc writers relevant again, we'd need a disc with a capacity of 1 terabyte or more and a cost of under $5 per blank. That would be great for backups. But 128GB on insanely overpriced discs (over $75 apiece!) is just not viable.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

The fundamental problem with optical discs is that their capacity is too small for general computing use - especially since they are slower and clumsier to use than flash drives or external HDDs. You'll still want an optical drive to rip CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Rays (these tend to have better quality than their 'streaming' counterparts, not to mention you can actually own and keep them), as well as for installing the OS and software which is sold that way. But that's really about all the drive is needed for any more.

To make optical disc writers relevant again, we'd need a disc with a capacity of 1 terabyte or more and a cost of under $5 per blank. That would be great for backups. But 128GB on insanely overpriced discs (over $75 apiece!) is just not viable.

I agree, $75 for a blank is insane, there wont be many of them burned in the world.