Specifications

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functions. Records on DVD-R and
DVD-RW, and playback
DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW,
DVD-Video, CD-DA, CD-R/RW,
audio CDs, video CDs and MP3
files. Manufacturer’s Suggested
Retail Price (MSRP) is $800.
Sony
http://www.sony.com
Their RDR-GX300 was created
for first-time users. It includes many
advanced features such as the
proprietary Precision Cinema
Progressive™, a DVD playback
technology which incorporates
Pixel-by-Pixel I/P Conversion
technology to augment and balance
DVD-video elements. It also
features Time Base Correction, Pre
Frame Noise Reduction and
Pre-video Equalizer technologies
that rebalance and equalize video
content before it is recorded onto a
DVD, improving the original source
content even before the encoding
process begins. New features added
to the recorder include chasing
playback allowing viewers to
rewind the recorded material while
it’s still recording to view and catch
up to the real time recording.
Simultaneous recording and
playback allows viewers to watch
pre-recorded content while
recording new content on the same
disc. Another convenience feature
new to the recorder is its ability to
control satellite receivers and cable
boxes through the unit’s IR remote
controls. It will be available in July
for about $500.
Toshiba
http://www.toshiba.com
Super Multi-Drive Recorder
D-R1 writes to DVD-R/RW discs,
designed to work exactly like a
floppy disk. Compatible with
virtually all DVD-Video players.
Record up to 8 hours of
programming using a double-sided
9.4GB DVD-RAM disc.
ColorStream Pro® component video
outputs allow for a high quality
video signal. Digital Cinema
Progressive provides smoother,
clearer picture from discs encoded at
24 frames per second. QSound™
Virtual Surround Sound provides a
simulated surround sound effect.
Time Slip lets you ‘pause’ a live
recording and then return to it later.
Comes with VCR Plus+™ timer
recording with a 181-channel cable
compatible tuner and a 2-month,
32-event timer programming
functionality. Each compilation of
desired footage can be separately
titled and edited (for removal of
commercials or other unwanted
sections) and then seamlessly played
back for review. Disc Play
DVD/VCD/CD-R/CD-RW/CD/DV
D-R/DVD-RAM
Here are a couple of unique DVD
recorders I thought were cool,
because of their slim design.
Freecom
http://www.freecom.com
The Freecom’s Classic DVD
+/-RW writer is less than two inches
in height. It is a DVD 8x writer /
recorder, connects with USB 2.0.
Writes to CD-R/CD-RW: Disc At
Once, Session At once, Track At
Once, Multi-Session, DVD
RW/DVD R: DVD-ROM,
DVD-Video CD: CD-DA,
CD-ROM, CD-ROM XA, CD Extra,
MP3 CDs, Mixed-ModeCD,
VideoCD, PhotoCD, CD TEXT,
Bootable CD. Comes with a two
years manufacturers warranty, and
unlimited free helpdesk support.
Their Freecom X2 is less than one
inch in height. Also connects with
USB 2.0 but it’s speed is only 4x
DVD +/-RW. The information on
this one is marked preliminary so it
could change.
Sunland International
(SLI)
http://www.digistor.com
The Digistor UltraSlim DVD
Multi Burner is an external 2X
–R/-RW drive weighing 1.05 lbs,
and measures 6 1/2"(L) x 5 1/2"(W)
x 1"(H). Features a combination
USB 2.0/ FireWire interface for
connectivity. Beyond that they have
both internal and external 8X DVD
±R/RW burners which will enable
users to write a 4.7GB +/-R discs in
under 10 minutes.
It’s not slim, but I liked the set up
this unit had.
mediaGear
http://www.mymediagear.com
The external Flash-DVD is an
external unit with medial slot
readers. Media supported include:
Compact Flash Type I & II(CF),
MicroDrive, MemoryStick (MS),
MemoryStick Pro, SmartMedia
(SM), SecureDigital (SD),
MultiMediaCard (MMC), and
eXtream Digital (xD). It uses USB
2.0 and they provide a hub for you
in the unit so you have two more
USB ports from it. For DVD it is a
dual 4x +/-R write.
CD/DVD Labeling
HP was showing their new
labeling program. It lets users burn
labels directly onto discs. One of
their engineers did not like sticking
a label on his disc. So he thought
about using the laser already in the
disk burner to make the label for the
other side of the disc. What he came
up with is called LightScribe. After
burning the disc the user flips it over
and it burns silk-screen-like image
(label) on the topside of disc with a
LightScribe dye coating. It is not of
course in color, but it does look
really sharp. You will have to use a
LightScribe compatible media
material which enables a
LightScribe-enabled ODD laser to
impart energy to the label side. Look
for the LightScribe logo on the drive
and media. This is expected to be
out the second half of 2004. Other
companies besides HP are
supporting the technology including
Hitachi-LG, Toshiba, Mitsubishi,
and others. These drives will cost a
little extra (not much) while the
LightScribe disc will cost about 10
cents more.