Electronics giant Sony has unveiled its new 830 series of DVD/CD burners, offering recording speeds of up to 18× using standard 16× media, enabling users to record a full 4.7 GB of data to disc in about five minutes.
The series 830 burners will be available in four configurations: internal (DRU-830A) and two external designs for desktop use (the DRX-830U and DRX-830UL-T). The internal drive comes with an ATAPI interface and a black faceplate to match black PC cases; the DRX-830U desktop unit supports USB 2.0, while the DRX-830UL-T desktop unit supports i.Link (FireWire) and USB 2.0 interfaces for use with either a Mac or PC. All three handle 18× DVD±R, 88× DVD±R DL, 88× DVD+RW, 68× DVD-RW, 128× DVD-RAM for data backup, 488× CD-R, and 328× CD-RW recording. The internal unit and DRX830U ship with the Nero 7 software suit; the DRX-830UL-T ships also include Roxio Toast 6 Lite.
The 830 line also includes a slim external DRX-S50U unit designed for portable users, but it maxes out at 8× DVD±R. It offers USB 2.0 connectivity, and supports 8× DVD±R, 4× DVD±R DL, 8× DVD+RW, 6× DVD-RW, and 24× CD-R/RW.
The internal DRU-830A us available now for about $70 after rebate; the external SRX-803U will be available in October for about $100 after rebate, while the external DRX-830UL-T will ship in December for about $120 after rebate. The slim external DRX-S50U will ship in October for about $130.
