Storage: Toshiba Leads the Industry with New Generation of DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM Drives

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, July 6, 1998

Summary: o The leader in DVD launches two new DVD-ROM drives and a new DVD-RAM drive to meet the needs of a wide range of customers running diverse applications.

o SD-M1202 for desktop computing provides DVD transfers twice as fast as the first generation -- up to 4.8X. Also, the SD-M1202 allows the industry's fastest transfers for CD-ROM at speeds of up to 32X.

o The slim-line SD-C2102 is the first DVD-ROM for notebook computers to offer industry-leading transfer rates in a 12.7mm high form factor -- bringing a new level of DVD performance to ultraportable computers.

o Toshiba's new SD-W1101 DVD-RAM drive combines fast writing and transfer rates with a high capacity of 5.2GB for highly-reliable, high-performance rewritable optical storage.

The Disk Products Division (DPD) of Toshiba American Electronic Components (TAEC) Monday reinforced its position as the leader in DVD by introducing three new high-speed, high-performance DVD drives.

The new drives include the SD-M1202 DVD-ROM drive for integration into desktop computers, the SD-C2102 slim-line DVD-ROM drive for integration into portable computers, and the SD-W1101, a rewriteable DVD-RAM drive.

"With this new line of DVD drives, Toshiba is delivering to its customers the widest range of DVD products with industry-leading specifications," said Maciek Brzeski, vice president, marketing, TAEC DPD.

"Our new drives meet a range of computing applications -- such as DVD-ROM for gaming, interactive software and software distribution, DVD-RAM for back-up and data storage, and slim DVD-ROM for on-the-road presentations. Now, customers can turn to Toshiba for a vast array of DVD drives that meet their exact need."

SD-M1202: High-Performance DVD on the Desktop Toshiba, the leader in DVD and one of the first companies to bring a DVD-ROM drive to market, has continued its tradition of innovation with the SD-M1202. The drives' technological firsts include a newly designed optical pick-up head and an improved optical sensor that enable higher-speed digital transactions and maximized data transfers. Together, these improvements result in the highest possible performance for desktop computer users.

The SD-M1202 offers transfer rates twice as fast as previous generations: 4.8X speed playback for DVD-ROM (6,535 KB/sec.), and a full 32X speed maximum playback for CD-ROM (4,800KB/sec.). DVD transfers are especially fast with Toshiba's new SD-M1202 -- since the bandwidth of DVD is so high, the DVD transfer rate is equivalent to a 43.5X transfer for CD-ROM.

Toshiba's SD-M1202 DVD-ROM drive employs constant angular velocity (CAV) rotation to cut average random seek times to 85 percent of earlier models. The new drive now offers quick access to data with random access times of 135ms for DVD media and 95ms for CD media.

SD-C2102: Super-slim Superiority Toshiba's SD-C2102 slim-line DVD-ROM drive was designed to meet the strict size and weight constraints of portable PC users. Toshiba combined its new slim pick-up head and miniaturized disc motor with the latest high-density mounting technology to achieve the first DVD-ROM drive in a 12.7mm (height) form factor. The drive weighs only 265 grams, virtually the same as Toshiba's leading slim CD-ROM drive, making it light enough for integration into the newest ultraportable computers.

The drives' performance is also groundbreaking, as it boasts the world's fastest data transfer rates of any super-slim DVD-ROM drive. The data transfer is a fast 2.4x speed (3,268KB/sec.) for DVD-ROM media and a full 20x speed (3,000KB/sec.) for CD-ROM media. Random access times of 160ms for DVD and 110ms for CD assure smooth operation of all content.

Because of a new level of parts integration, the SD-C2102 drive can achieve a very low average power consumption of 3.0W, the lowest power consumption for a slim DVD-ROM drive.

SD-W1101: Raising Performance Levels in DVD-RAM Toshiba design improvements push the performance of the SD-W1101 to previously unreached limits for DVD-RAM. The SD-W1101 records data onto DVD-RAM media at 1,350KB/sec. The DVD-RAM drive also plays back media quickly, at a rate of 2,700KB/sec. for DVD media and 2,400KB/sec. (16x speed) for CD-ROM media.

Toshiba's DVD-RAM drives offer the reliability needed for critical recording environments such as video record-and-playback, security, back-up and data storage. For such applications, the SD-W1101 offers unmatched capacity and the fastest data transfer rates available. The high recording capacities of 2.6GB on a single-sided disc and 5.2GB on a double-sided disc are achieved through the wobbled-land-groove recording and phase change recording.

Overall High Performance Through Technology Leadership Toshiba's drives provide computer users with the highest possible performance, reliability and quality through the company's ongoing research and development in a number of areas -- from ASICS to pick-up heads and optical lasers. For the full specifications of Toshiba's three new DVD drives, please see the attached specification sheets. Pricing and Availability