Logitec intros LBD-A2FU2/WM, first OS X-friendly Blu-ray burner

For those Mac users who just can't wait to start filling up those $20+ Blu-ray writeables, the anticipation is just about over. Later this month, Japanese storage specialist Logitec will begin shipping what's touted as the "world's first Mac-compatible" Blu-ray disc burner. While Blu-ray burners for Windows-based machines have been popping up fairly frequently of late, OS X has been left out in the cold, (but considering the current price of Blu-ray media, we're assuming it hasn't been a total calamity). Nevertheless, the LBD-A2FU2/WM is an external 2x burner that will support DVD-RAM, DVD±R/RW, dual-layer DVD±R, CD-R / RW, and obviously BD-R / BD-RE discs. This FireWire / USB 2.0 combination drive supports PCs and Macs, and it's presumed that Roxio's Toast 7 Titanium software played a role in OS X getting its functionality groove on -- Roxio supposedly began offering Blu-ray drive makers a Mac-friendly version of the software, and sure enough, that's what you'll get with the Logitec. So for all you Mac fans who've felt a bit left behind, you can still get up to speed in just a couple weeks, but know it might cost you more than your MacBook (¥132,000 or $1,148), so you may want to think twice before cruising to Japan to pick one up.

[Al Gore @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:10PM]

Manbearpig approves. He must die because he is the first.

[MuDoggy @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:42AM]

If Toast 7 is all it takes then just get yourself a normal blu-ray burner and get the software.

If this drive does RAM and CD-R/RW (and all the rest) it MUST be a Panasonic SW-5582, which is the only drive that has a dual wave laser that can do CD/DVD/RAM plus blu-ray.

You can get that drive here:
http://www.slidirect.com/product43-105.html

Enclosure here:
http://www.slidirect.com/product27-42.html

Software here:
http://www.roxio.com/enu/store/mac.html

and all without going to Japan.

[Intrepid @ Aug 3rd 2006 5:06AM]

It's funny how Mac fans await news of technology being ported / adpated for their platforms. Us PC users get it on day 1.

[BenB @ Feb 26th 2008 7:45PM]

Actually, most technology comes out on Macs first, not PCs. SCSI was on Macs first, USB, Firewire, etc, etc, etc. You need to learn your history.

[Dave @ Aug 3rd 2006 5:19AM]

Great one :)
Go Blu-Ray we need you :)

[chris26 @ Aug 3rd 2006 5:38AM]

Strange...
Box is not accurate.
Im Japan, Logitech is branded as Logicool.

[Dan @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:24AM]

2x? It seems like writing 25 or 50 gigs at 2x would take... a while.

[Cnet Guy @ Aug 3rd 2006 5:33PM]

wAIT,

doesn't mac users first need dvd-r support?

[RichardBronosky @ Feb 26th 2008 12:01PM]

Macs have had DVD+R support since back when iDVD and the "Super Drive" where the only way that a consumer machine could encode and burn a DVD. Macs were way ahead of the curve before DRM went crazy.

Now, microsoft is the only gateway to Blu-Ray on computers until the Linux community destroys the DRM. I can wait. Bittorrent will suffice until then.

[Someone @ Aug 4th 2006 3:13PM]

To that guy who wondered about Macs that need DVD-R support, It's called the SuperDrive. It's been a staple in Macs for years.

Also, 2x means 2 times the original speed of the original Blu-Ray disc burner, if I recall correctly. It's kind of like a 52x CD-R burner and a 16x DVD one.