Amex Digital Offers Blu-Ray for MacBooks

Steve Jobs might characterize Blu-ray as a "bag of hurt," but Amex Digital is hoping MacBook owners might love to bag their slim external Blu-ray drive.

At Apple’s introduction of new MacBook models earlier this week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs characterized Blu-ray technology as a "bag of hurt" from the perspective of a manufacturer because the licensing is "so complex." Although we can’t help but note that Apple has backed Blu-ray from very early days and other computer makers don’t seem to be having oodles of trouble working out the licensing issues, Amex Digital is hoping to capitalize on demand for Blu-ray devices while Apple waits for things to "settle down." Amex Digital’s new Portable Blu-ray Super Multi Drive for MacBook lets users tap into BD single and double-layer media, as well as write DVD±RW discs at 4-8× speeds.

Amex Digital is offering two versions of the drive: the BDP-2 Blu-ray player for $289, and the BDR-2 Blu-ray recorder for $389. The drive can be powered off either a USB 2.0 bus or via a separate 5V DC adapter, and offers a slim 140 by 143 by 16 mm profile that should appeal to portable users. In fact, the drive’s footprint is identical to Amex Digital’s portable DVD burner introduced in July, which bore a striking resemblance to the external DVD burner Apple offered for use with the original MacBook Air.

Although the product is being aimed specifically at MacBook users, Amex Digital is happy to note the drive works with Windows XP and Vista. The drive ships with a USB cable and a user’s guide CD-ROM.