Imation brings first 6x Blu-ray recordable discs to US

We had a dream back in June that America would one day be able to buy 6x BD-Rs for these 6x Blu-ray burners without relying on a Japanese importer, and today, that dream has been realized. Imation is bringing TDK Life on Record media to US soil, marking the first time 6x Blu-ray recordable (BD-R) and Blu-ray recordable double layer (BD-R DL) media has been available here. Unfortunately, this stuff is still absurdly expensive -- expect to hand over $13.99 for a single BD-R in October, while a BD-R DL 1-pack will ring up at a staggering $32.99.

[BigD145 @ Sep 17th 2008 4:37PM]

I'll stick with DVD's, thanks. It's cheaper, faster to burn even with disc switching, and a stack of 50 holds more info than that single DL.

[Michael Scrip @ Sep 17th 2008 4:59PM]

What are you burning to DVDs? Data backup?

You could copy data to a hard drive faster than a bunch of DVDs. And if you need to access the data, just plug the drive in and it's all there.

A 250GB hard drive holds as much as 50 DVDs, and much easier to deal with. And just get a pair of drives to be safe.

[Poom @ Sep 17th 2008 5:40PM]

I think the whole point of backup on optical discs is that the data won't be stored in some magnetic device with moving parts... -_-"

[Michael Scrip @ Sep 17th 2008 6:47PM]

Optical discs are a pain in the ass. It takes a long time to fill them up, and a long time to locate and get stuff off. I have 2 external hard drives in addition to my internal drive. My data is in 3 places. If one hard drive fails, I still have 2 copies. And if I ever need to get to it... it's just like accessing a hard drive! :) Using syncing software, my externals are exact copies of my internal drive.

I spent hours burning data to 7 DVDs once. No thanks. And that's only a fraction of my data. Now I just copy it all at once to a couple of hard drives. And if I get paranoid, I'll keep one hard drive across the street with the neighbors in case of fire.

10 Blu-Ray discs = $320

500GB hard drive = $70

If you're that paranoid, you can buy 4 of those hard drives for the cost of the 10 Blu-Ray discs.

[BigD145 @ Sep 17th 2008 11:26PM]

I usually only have enough cash to spare on a single spindle of 10, 25, or maybe 50 DVD's. With a standard failure rate of 3-5% amongst all digital mediums, I'd rather have 20 discs of data that I can check as I burn them than to have a single HD develop the dreaded *click*. I certainly won't have to spend $140 on two HD's for the just in case failure of one. Just in case you ask, yes I keep old HD's around after an upgrade, untouched and in safe places, until I'm sure the new one I tossed in seems to be ok after a month or three.

[Michael Scrip @ Sep 18th 2008 3:12AM]

> "I usually only have enough cash to spare on a single spindle of 10, 25, or maybe 50 DVD's."

Well, that's fine for you. I have 28GB of digital pictures alone. I'm not gonna burn 7 DVDs once... and then keep burning DVDs as I accumulate more pictures. I just run a Syncing program that copies everything to my externals. Every time I add a large amount of new files to my computer, I sync to my externals.

I'm a notorious organizer. I rename folders, move stuff around and change files, and maybe delete stuff if I no longer need. The syncing program I use only copies new or changed files, so it only take 2 minutes to sync my 109GB of data to an externals. Then I do that twice, once to a USB portable drive, and once to a Firewire external. And it's an exact copy of the internal.

The best part, since my USB portable drive is a mirror of my internal data drive, I can carry it with me and I have all my stuff wherever I go.

To each his own. I'd rather have complete duplicates of my data drive... than have DVDs labeled Photos 1-7, MP3 1-3, iTunes Library 1-5, etc. It's just easier for me to have duplicates of the entire drive.

This is what I use: http://allwaysync.com/

I use the One-Way synchronization feature... so whatever is on my internal is duplicated on my externals. Any additions or deletions are reflected on my externals. Internal ---> External

[bob sakamano @ Sep 17th 2008 4:39PM]

tdk = imation?

[tpadekar @ Sep 17th 2008 4:58PM]

And here I thought Bruce Wayne was the TDK!

[captain underpants and the bringdown gang @ Sep 17th 2008 6:27PM]

Don't be afraid if no one gets that joke.

[John @ Sep 17th 2008 6:56PM]

the the dark knight?

[xValentine @ Sep 17th 2008 10:23PM]

srsly?

[Richard @ Sep 17th 2008 4:40PM]

Glad I held off on buying that Blu-Ray burner for my laptop. Ouch!

[Travis @ Sep 17th 2008 4:41PM]

216 Mbps (27 MB/s) recording on a 50 GB disk will take 30 minutes to complete.

No thank you.

[ooo @ Sep 17th 2008 4:43PM]

wake me when they're sold in packs of 100

[dj496 @ Sep 17th 2008 5:29PM]

Good night. Sleep tight.

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 17th 2008 6:00PM]

R.I.P.

[alexmueller @ Sep 17th 2008 7:25PM]

So highest ranked comments are now blue any other modifications you would like to make Engadget? Perhaps make the low ranked comments pink?

[Engadgetier @ Sep 17th 2008 7:32PM]

Let me know what heaven or hell is like, where ever you go.

[xValentine @ Sep 17th 2008 10:26PM]

Please tell Jesus to make a miracle and make SSDs and Blu-Ray Discs cheaper. Now.

Oh and please tell him also that I'm sorry about last night, he knows it. :)

[reid_sartin @ Sep 17th 2008 4:46PM]

Pfft.

[John B @ Sep 17th 2008 8:39PM]

Your valve is open. You're leaking.

[Wolfticket @ Sep 17th 2008 4:48PM]

I'm not sure I could ever bring myself to buy this in the full knowledge that it won't be long before they cost about 20p, even if I though I needed it.

[PartyMarty @ Sep 17th 2008 4:51PM]

I can wait. Thnx.

Does it say $13.99 for a single and $32.99 for a 1 pack? What's the difference besides the price?

Fail.

[inv4zn @ Sep 17th 2008 5:36PM]

If you read, there is a difference. DL = Dual Layer = more expensive

[Tensionhead @ Sep 17th 2008 4:58PM]

Dual layer vs. single layer. 25GB vs. 50GB.

[Starnerf @ Sep 17th 2008 4:58PM]

$32.99 is a dual layer disc.

[Christian Martin @ Sep 17th 2008 5:00PM]

$13.99 for one single-layer and $32.99 for a one dual-layer.

And yes, you do in fact fail at reading comprehension. Your time is up; please close your test booklet.

[Malikye @ Sep 17th 2008 5:00PM]

$13.99 for single and $32.99 for DL (Dual Layer) 1 pack. i'll wait till it drops to at least 1 dollar per disk before i even buy a Blu-Ray burner

[letstakeawalk @ Sep 17th 2008 5:00PM]

The more expensive single is for a dual layer disc: 50 GB versus 25 GB.

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 17th 2008 5:13PM]

Just so I can fit in with all you cool guys:

Its $13.99 for 1 single-layer BD and $32.99 for a double-layer BD.

[xValentine @ Sep 17th 2008 10:28PM]

It's $13.99 for 3dvds fitted into 1 disc and $32.99 for 10dvds fitted into 1 disc.

[reisa @ Sep 17th 2008 5:00PM]

pfft

[Soylent @ Sep 17th 2008 4:55PM]

I don't see a bright future for Blu-ray on any front. By the time prices come down enough for anyone to care, digital distribution will be right around the corner. Even now I have a hard time buying games that aren't on Steam. I have to go allllll the way to the goddamn store.

[Zak @ Sep 17th 2008 5:02PM]

I don't disagree with you, but there are places you can buy games online other than Steam. Like Amazon or Newegg. :)

[Colin Potter @ Sep 17th 2008 5:09PM]

digital distribution is a long ways off with how many people still cant do anything on a computer... sure its all well and good for the techie crowd but most people would rather have something straightforward like optical media. i work retail and you wouldnt believe how many people come and ask me questions like "how do i get the pictures off my camera onto my computer"... the world is far from ready for digital distribution

and if you're too lazy to buy games from a store when you want them, thats really quite sad

[koala72 @ Sep 17th 2008 10:30PM]

Digital is taking over? Really?

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/15430.cfm

[Hellaphunt @ Sep 17th 2008 4:55PM]

10th!

[uranidiot @ Sep 17th 2008 4:56PM]

you guys with the first posting bs are idiots. really? do you sit by the computer hoping to be the first to post a comment every minute??

other than that mess. I'm glad they are finally releasing BD-R over here

[Hellaphunt @ Sep 17th 2008 4:56PM]

Err... 12th. This one being 12.1.

[Platinum_Skeet @ Sep 17th 2008 4:59PM]

The sad thing is his name is first.... god what a fail...

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 17th 2008 5:05PM]

Guys, relax. He was only introducing himself.

[S @ Sep 17th 2008 5:12PM]

You know it actually isn't THAT expensive when you think about it..........

Yeah, its 13.99 for a single disc, but think of it as 60gigs of space on the smallest "movable hard drive" available in the market...........

But yeah, it can only get cheaper from here ;)

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 17th 2008 5:23PM]

First of all its 50Gb, and its more like the worlds slowest movable harddrive.

And for $5 more you can get an 80Gb HDD, which is faster, more durable, and can be re-movable with an enclosure. Plus it will never scratch.

Blu-Ray just quite isn't there yet for home use, recording wise.

[Excelsior @ Sep 17th 2008 6:06PM]

Tensionhead @ Sep 17th 2008 4:58PM

"Dual layer vs. single layer. 25GB vs. 50GB"

Starnerf @ Sep 17th 2008 4:58PM

"$32.99 is a dual layer disc."


Christian Martin @ Sep 17th 2008 5:00PM

"$13.99 for one single-layer and $32.99 for a one dual-layer.

And yes, you do in fact fail at reading comprehension. Your time is up; please close your test booklet."

Malikye @ Sep 17th 2008 5:00PM

"$13.99 for single and $32.99 for DL (Dual Layer) 1 pack. i'll wait till it drops to at least 1 dollar per disk before i even buy a Blu-Ray burner"


letstakeawalk @ Sep 17th 2008 5:00PM

"The more expensive single is for a dual layer disc: 50 GB versus 25 GB."


Lowest Ranked @ Sep 17th 2008 5:13PM

"Just so I can fit in with all you cool guys:

Its $13.99 for 1 single-layer BD and $32.99 for a double-layer BD."

[muddipanda @ Sep 17th 2008 5:10PM]

Absurdly expensive? I guess I'm the only one that was shelling out $10-12 a pop for Kodak CD-R (2x no less).

Media will be here for a long time until digital distribution can work to places where it doesn't work now (e.g. the US with their low speed "high speed data", mobile devices in cars and planes, etc.)

[Keimperst @ Sep 17th 2008 5:24PM]

Will these work for PS2 games?

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 17th 2008 6:03PM]

Backing up ROMs? Sure.

Playing them? Only after some serious modding and if you want to increase the loading times.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Sep 17th 2008 6:50PM]

Yes, go ahead and spend that much on a PS2 game...

or just use a REGULAR DVD!

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Sep 18th 2008 1:56AM]

For $32 you may as well just buy the damn game and spare the trouble of modifying hardware and recording pirated games.

[Eli Gundry @ Sep 17th 2008 5:36PM]

On a complete side note, today, I convinced my lab teacher to upgrade all the DVD drives in the computer to Blu-Ray.