Hardware (5192)

Toshiba unveils the first HD DVD writer for desktop PCs

Ready for distribution to manufacturers in February

5 January 2007 14:34 GMT / By Amber Maitland

Toshiba, the main backer of the HD DVD format, has launched its first desktop PC HD DVD drive.

Toshiba launched an HD DVD-drive equipped laptop last March in the UK, but this is the first drive it has released for use in desktop machines.

The SD-H903A supports both read and write to all types of standard DVD and CD media, as well as HD DVD-R discs.

Microsoft also backs the HD DVD side, and has incorporated HD DVD support into Windows Vista. This may help to increase the adoption of HD DVD over Blu-ray.

An HD DVD single-layer disc can hold up to 15GB of data, while a dual-layer disc manages 30GB. This is enough for 48 hours of standard-definition images. Triple layer discs are also in the pipeline.

Full tags

Hardware, HD DVD, Toshiba