Plextor introduces low-cost high performance CD-R/RW drive.
Posted on 05/01/05 00:39 by Seán Byrne                             
Plextor introduces low-cost high performance CD-R/RW drive.

While it is common to hear news about new DVD recorders and faster DVD recording speeds, Plextor a well known brand for professional optical drives has announced yet another CD-R/RW drive - the PX-230A.  This drive offers the features of its previous CD-Recorders but at a lower Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $65, aimed at major OEMs, enterprises and high-volume systems integrators.  The drive comes with a 1-year full warranty.

The drives main features include improved CD-RW recording speed of 32X (up from 24X in its previous model) as well as the usual 52x CD-R recording, 52x reading and error-free digital audio extraction.  While most CD recorder manufacturers have been competing against each other to offer lower drive pricing to end users, Plextor have always been focusing on quality as their main priority.  This means that while their drives may cost much more competing CD recorders, they guarantee high quality recording such as for backing up critical data in organisations.

The drive ships with Roxio's Easy Media Creator 7.1 Basic VCD.  Besides CD recording, this package offers packet writing for CD-Rs and CD-RWs to allow read/write access to CDs as if they were like large removable disks, with the exception that erasing files on CD-Rs does not recover free space.  Other features include recording Audio CDs, Video CDs, mixed mode CDs and various disc copying/backup methods. 

Plextor Corp., a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media equipment, announced the PX-230A CD-R/RW drive. The new burner offers today's top CD recording speeds, 52X CD-R and 32X CD-RW, and delivers reliable, high-quality CD recordings. With an MSRP of just $65, the drive is specially designed for high-volume systems integrators, major enterprises, and OEMs seeking a moderately priced CD drive with high performance features.

Although the PX-230A breaks a new price barrier for Plextor, it includes Roxio Easy Media Creator 7.1 Basic VCD Edition, the latest version of Roxio's award winning software. Buffer Under Run Proof technology prevents buffer underrun errors, so users can multi-task during a recording session. Superior 52X-max digital audio extraction (DAE) eliminates pops, clicks, and hisses for superior sound quality.

"Thanks to lower manufacturing costs, Plextor now can offer a 52X CD-R drive at a lower cost than our previous version, and we increased the CD-RW speed from 24X to 32X," said Howard Wing, vice president of sales and marketing for Plextor. "The CD-R/RW market continues to compete against DVD recordable technology. One major reason is security concerns at enterprises. IT departments don't want to give every employee the ability to burn 4.7 gigabytes of critical corporate data onto a DVD or watch DVD movies at work. Most are comfortable with employees having a CD-R/RW drive to back up critical files, distribute content such as digital media, and perform other tasks that require removable data storage."

Read the press release here.

While DVD recorders appear to be the main optical drives consumers are grabbing, many businesses may not need DVD recording solution, but instead require a drive designed primarily for high quality CD recording.  For example when distributing content on CD or even backing up critical data, having one poorly recorded disc may be one too many. 

However for the average consumer, as long as the recorder is cheap, writes discs playable on their equipment and the drive is reliable, this is all that they may want.  If an occasional recorded disc turns out unplayable, the consumer will likely record another without thinking twice about the drive.

Feel free to discuss and find out more about Plextor optical drives on our Plextor SubForum.

Source: Music Industry News Network

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Reactions
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By Crabbyappleton, Wednesday 05 January 2005 01:30
CrabbyappletonYesssssssss devil this is great news. I have a mission critical control system at work that uses a PC for an HMI to a hardware controller. I bought a Plextor CD Burner for that PC as we image the drive in case we have PC/hard drive failure. ( The hardware controller keeps running Stick Out Tongue ) I damn sure wanted a good burn on that CD. We have tons of tweaks in that interface. Sure other drives can do it. But for this application and comfort factor I went for a Plextor
[edited by Crabbyappleton on 05.01.2005 01:40]
By valnar, Wednesday 05 January 2005 01:49
People tend to forget, or they weren't PC users for that long. Even $65 for a CDRW is cheap in my book. I remember when these things cost $300. If the difference is between $30 and $60, some may think it's twice as much. I see it as $30 more. It's a no brainer for a better quality drive.
By cynicalbastard, Wednesday 05 January 2005 04:52
While most CD recorder manufacturers have been competing against each other to offer lower drive pricing to end users, Plextor have always been focusing on quality as their main priority. Then, you read... "Thanks to lower manufacturing costs, Plextor now can offer a 52X CD-R drive at a lower cost than our previous version, and we increased the CD-RW speed from 24X to 32X," said Howard Wing, vice president of sales and marketing for Plextor. " biggrin Nobody else noticed that? LOL.
By FreqNasty, Wednesday 05 January 2005 05:31
Is this drive supposed to be as good as the PX-Premium ?
By tequila sunrise, Wednesday 05 January 2005 05:46
tequila sunriseI had a Plextor before, the 24X writer and was and is still fantastic.With this idea in my mind I got 708 A dvd writer, a real POJ.Unhappy with a returned "updated " 708A I got a Pioneer 108.Pioneer is doing for me what Plextor 24X was and Plextor is just history.
By GezusK, Wednesday 05 January 2005 09:06
GezusKSo that's why they've been so slow catching up with other DVD recorders out there...they've been working on a new CDRW.
By CORRSA, Wednesday 05 January 2005 10:10
back when cd recording required scsi drives and a scsi controler card to avoid creating coasters plextor was KING without a doubt but.... i am on my third 708a dvd burner from plextor and am getting frustrated with them going back to pioneer as soon as it arrives in the post devil putting the plex out to laze............
By Rhelic, Wednesday 05 January 2005 16:39
But is this truely a Plextor drive or is it a rebadged CDR drive (ala Plextor's DVDr drive idealoligy). It's it's a true Plextor this is great news although I've started to find LiteOn drives to be well made, especially for their price. Unless Plextor really re-invents itself in the DVDr market, I think LiteOn will oneday be the new Plextor.
By preda, Wednesday 05 January 2005 17:20
$ 65 in my opinion is not a low-cost cd drive Frown
By valnar, Wednesday 05 January 2005 19:51
It's true that Plextor sucks for DVD. It was never their forte. Pioneer, LiteOn and NEC do DVD better.
By Bruce Ballslap, Wednesday 05 January 2005 21:01
Notice what? Your first quote is about Plextor's strategy so far. The second is about their present strategy. I see no contradiction here.
By cynicalbastard, Thursday 06 January 2005 02:16
their present strategy is exactly the same, but in the land of marketing-speak it's suddenly 'low-cost' which they love to equate to higher quality.
By Bruce Ballslap, Friday 07 January 2005 02:27
Until now, Plextor haven't competed with price (to my recall). Now they are. In other words, there is a change in strategy. If low pricing was not one of their weapons, the last thing they would do is tout about it.
By cynicalbastard, Friday 07 January 2005 12:16
look at the price again Bruce Smilie For a CDRW drive. Now tell me they are competing.
By Bruce Ballslap, Friday 07 January 2005 21:41
Well ok, I havent been checking CDRW drives' prices in a while. It very well might be so that in _reality_ they are not competing with price. However, I was referring to the above press release. At least they are _trying_ to compete with it: "With an MSRP of just $65" (_just_) "Plextor now can offer a 52X CD-R drive at a lower cost" But no matter what they try to convince in press releases it might not apply to reality, like you said. So, in a way, you can say they are competing with price but seemingly suck at it Smilie
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