Plextor gets all zen with PlexMedia: a modular, network-attached Blu-ray player

It's not often we come across an external drive that looks like anything but a brick, so we were pleasantly surprised to see Plextor demoing something a little more svelte at Computex. We can tell the PlexMedia network attached media player (bottom) is a looker right off the bat, but it truly becomes useful when you plug in the PX-B120U (top) designed to go with it. The combination is a fully-functional Blu-ray disc player that apparently outputs to a TV, but the smaller box can also detach, slip into your bookbag and become an external Blu-ray drive for your PC. Since there's no specs or pics of the unit's rear, we honestly have no idea how it accomplishes either, but we imagine the info will spontaneously pop into our being if we stare long enough at those azure ripples, and thus complete our meditation. On the off-chance that doesn't work, we've also dispatched a carrier pigeon to Plextor HQ for the answers; in the meanwhile, you can peruse the presser after the break.

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Plextor Launches New Blu-Ray Solutions at Computex 2010

New networked media player and compatible external BD-ROM let you enjoy Blu-ray without a Blu-ray player

June 1st 2010 – Plextor, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media equipment, announces its new networked media player PlexMedia, as well the compatible PX-B120U external BD-ROM drive, at Computex 2010 in Taipei, Taiwan.

Visitors can take a first look at Plextor's new networked media player, the PlexMedia, while at the show. This is the first networked media player that can be connected to an external USB BD-ROM drive, making it possible to watch high-definition Blu-ray discs in your living room without having to purchase a Blu-ray disc player.

Simultaneously with the media player, Plextor also launches the PX-B120U, a compatible external BD-ROM drive. This portable drive can be connected to the media player to become your living room Blu-ray disc player, but is versatile enough to carry in a notebook bag or connect to a desktop PC – allowing you to enjoy High Definition content everywhere.

Also at Computex, Plextor will showcase its complete Blu-ray disc drive portfolio, including its PX-B940SA 12X BD Writer and PX-B320SA 8X BD Combo.

Also being showcased are the recently-introduced Networked Attached Storage device (NAS), and a new portfolio of Solid State Drives (SSD). The two-bay NAS drive will be followed up with a four-bay NAS solution for small to medium-sized businesses. By adding this new NAS system, Plextor aims to provide storage solutions for both home users as well as professionals.

Plextor also recognizes the growing demand for faster and more reliable storage solutions and announces its new portfolio of SSDs at Computex. Plextor will launch both MLC and SLC format SSD drives later in 2010.

The SSD drives complement Plextor's range of storage products, which will also consist of a new lineup of external Hard Disk Drives. At Computex, Plextor will showcase its new generation of portable USB 3.0 and e-SATA Hard Disk Drives.

Plextor welcomes Computex visitors to visit the Plextor booth – G220-224 and G319-323 in TWTC Hall 3 from June 1 - 5. Contact Plextor now to schedule an appointment or feel free to visit the Plextor booth anytime during the event.

For more information, please visit www.plextor.com.

[NewL Posted Jun 3rd 2010 8:51AM]

Why does that power button on the lower unit look like it's about to fall off?

[crapNstuff Posted Jun 3rd 2010 9:03AM]

@NewL
yeah and why does the eject button on the player cover where the drawer would slide out?
maybe it opens up like sega CD

[joelaf Posted Jun 3rd 2010 9:33AM]

@crapNstuff

looks like the drawers slide from the righthand side

[r34p3r Posted Jun 3rd 2010 8:51AM]

32X WAT

[Threlly Posted Jun 3rd 2010 8:51AM]

That doesn't look too good !
Frankensteiny ?

[ArhcAngel Posted Jun 3rd 2010 9:13AM]

If the media extender has a good UI and is priced ~$99.99 or less This would be {looks around for the bitten fruit police} MAGICAL...

[ondacuantica Posted Jun 3rd 2010 9:36AM]

If this thing's svelte, does that make Opera Winfrey lithe?!

[szamot Posted Jun 3rd 2010 9:58AM]

Wow that is a stack all right, stacked with ugly from bottom up.

[tosvus Posted Jun 3rd 2010 11:25AM]

The problem is that they will most likely charge $100 or so for the bd-rom on top of the cost of the mediaplayer. I suppose it gives some people a chance to acquire functionality in two steps, and in honesty, if the total ends up around $200 it's pretty cool and would do much of what a mediacenter setup is supposed to do. (just don't think both boxes will only cost you $100 total)

[simbr Posted Jun 3rd 2010 12:30PM]

Our first CD writer was a Plextor. I don't recall having seen anything from them since that wasn't an internal optical drive of some sort so this is a bit out of the blue.

[Zzephyr Posted Jun 3rd 2010 1:31PM]

I have good memories of my old Plextor CD burner. I hope these are as well made.

[mnhthebest Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:06AM]

@Zzephyr

Hope they are... unlike your teeth

[modularlife Posted Jun 4th 2010 1:22AM]

That's svelte? Looks like a Pontiac Aztek.

[dgburns Posted Jun 4th 2010 8:06AM]

Looks like crap stacked like that. Make 'em the same width.

[jfcarbel Posted Jun 5th 2010 3:00PM]

Question is does that external drive and media box support playing MKV files from a BD data disc? So far there is no media tank out there that does this without hacking it. Since MKV is a great container, I have begun using it for all my media archives, but these files can take up some large space if the files are of the HD kind, so being able to store then on a Blu-Ray Data disc (BD-R) would be great.