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Posts with tag lightscribe

Samsung ups the ante with the X460 laptop; X360 feels neglected

by Tim Stevens, posted Sep 23rd 2008 at 1:09PM

Samsung ups the X360 ante with the X460
Is Samsung's Air competitor, the X360, a little too delicate for your tastes? Perhaps you'd be in for its slightly heavier cousin, the newly announced X460. It weighs in at 4.1 pounds and offers a larger 14.1-inch (though still 1280 x 800) screen, yet still manages to come in at just 1.2-inches thick. An Intel Centrino 2 handles the number crunching paired with up to 4GB of RAM, while up to a 320GB HDD (alas, no SSD) and a Super Multi Drive DVD burner with LightScribe handle storage. An nVIDIA GeForce Go 9200M GS chipset will cover (lightweight) gaming duties, while connectivity is offered via 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, gigabit ethernet, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, a 7-in-1 card reader, and HDMI output to boot. A 6-cell battery will keep it juiced for up to 5 hours (7.5 if you opt for the 9-cell), and the ever-trendy anti-bacterial keyboard will keep you healthy. No price or availability yet, but just look at that lovely shade of rose.

Update: TrustedReviews already has a quick preview of the X460, looking a little less hot in black. [Thanks Howard]

LG unveils 6x Blu-ray burners: BE06, GBC-H20L, and GBW-H20L

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 3rd 2008 at 8:01PM


Not even a week after LaCie trumpeted its latest 4x external Blu-ray writer, along comes LG to re-up the ante. Its latest trifecta -- the BE06 (pictured), GBC-H20L and GBW-H20L -- all offer SecurDisc capabilities and LightScribe technology, not to mention the ability to toast BD-Rs at 6x (and BD-REs at 2x). As for the external USB 2.0 BE06, you'll be looking at $379.95; for the GBC-H20L and GBW-H20L, however, you can expect to pay $199.95 / $279.97 respectively. The trio is available as we speak.

Aleratec launches three-drive LightScribe Blu-ray Disc duplicator

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 12th 2008 at 12:19PM


Blu-ray duplication systems have been on the block for a good while now, but apparently, Aleratec's flavor does something that none of the other cool kids can even dream of: it supports LightScribe. The 1:3 Copy Cruiser Blu LS houses a trio of LightScribe-enabled SATA Blu-ray burners that can toast BD-Rs at 6x as well as vanilla DVDs and CDs at much higher speeds. You'll even find a built-in eSATA connector and a dual channel eSATA host adapter bundled in for those who need one. Here's the rough part -- this critter will set you back a staggering $3,199, so you best be making some serious coin on whatever you're duplicating for this to be even close to a sound investment.

HP announces Pavilion a6330f desktop PC

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 3rd 2008 at 1:02AM


Feeling a touch overwhelmed by HP's outpouring of media center PCs? If so, the Pavilion a6330f should calm those nerves quite a bit, as this humble rig is designed for those not quite ready to drop a grand (or more) on a new desktop. Check the innards below:
  • 2.8GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core 5600+ processor
  • NVIDIA's nForce 430 chipset
  • 3GB of DDR2 RAM
  • 500GB 7,200 RPM SATA hard drive
  • HP Pocket Media Drive Bay
  • SuperMulti DVD burner (LightScribe-enabled)
  • NVIDIA 128MB GeForce 6150 SE graphics set
  • Front-mounted 15-in-1 multicard reader
As for the port assortment, you can count on six USB 2.0 sockets, a pair of FireWire connectors, audio in / out and VGA. Additionally, you'll find an HP mouse and multimedia keyboard tossed in for good measure, and you can spec yours out later this month starting at $649.

HP Pavilion Elite m9150f PC handles HD DVD, OTA TV

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 3rd 2008 at 12:50AM


Not pleased with any of HP's other offerings? Fret not, as we've got yet another one coming your way. The Pavilion Elite m9150f PC comes ready to handle those HD DVD / PVR duties, and it may even withstand a e-mail or two. Here's the dirt:
  • 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor
  • Intel's G33 Express chipset
  • 3GB of DDR2 RAM
  • Dual 360GB (720GB total) 7,200 SATA hard drives
  • HP's Personal / Pocket Media Drive Bays
  • HD DVD (read-only) drive
  • LightScribe-enabled SuperMulti DVD burner
  • Gigabit Ethernet / 802.11b/g WiFi
  • NTSC / ATSC / FM tuners
  • HP Media Center remote control with IR receiver
  • Front-mounted 15-in-1 multicard reader
If you couldn't already guess, this one also packs six USB 2.0 ports, twin FireWire sockets, audio in / out, a wireless keyboard / mouse combo and HDMI / DVI outputs. As with HP's other newly announced media PCs, the m9100 series is set to ship this month and start at $1,159.

HP's Phenom 9500-powered Pavilion Media Center m8330f PC

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 3rd 2008 at 12:37AM


Remember those tasty Phenom chips AMD loosed back on November? We sure hope so, because that's the CPU HP's relying on in its forthcoming Pavilion Media Center m8330f PC. Here's the specifics:
  • 2.2GHz AMD Phenom 9500 quad-core CPU
  • NVIDIA's nForce 430 chipset
  • 3GB of DDR2 RAM
  • Twin 320GB 7,200 RPM SATA hard drives
  • HP's Personal Media Drive Bay
  • LightScribe-enabled SuperMulti DVD burner
  • NTSC / ATSC / FM tuners
  • HP Media Center remote control with IR receiver
  • Front-mounted 15-in-1 multicard reader
Beyond that, you can expect six USB 2.0 ports, a pair of FireWire connectors, audio in / out, HDMI and DVI sockets and an HP mouse / keyboard combo. Like the s3330f PC already mentioned, this too will be landing real soon with a price tag starting at $959.

HP's Pavilion Slimline s3330f PC does Blu-ray and HD DVD

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 3rd 2008 at 12:23AM Breaking News


A slim PC destined to handle both of the major high-definition movie formats? Say it ain't so! Turns out, HP is indeed doling out such a machine, and it's so eloquently dubbed the Pavilion Slimline s3330f PC. Here's a look at what this mighty mini-tower will be packin':
  • 2.8GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor
  • 2GB of DDR2 RAM
  • 500GB 7,200 RPM SATA drive
  • HP Pocket Media Drive Bay
  • Single LightScribe-enabled optical drive that reads Blu-ray / HD DVD and writes to dual-layer DVDs
  • NVIDIA's 256MB GeForce 8500 GT
  • 802.11b/g WiFi
  • Built-in NTSC / ATSC TV tuners
  • Front-mounted 15-in-1 multicard reader
Furthermore, you'll find 6 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire, audio in / out, DVI / HDMI ports and a wireless keyboard / mouse bundled in along with a whole suite of software. Intrigued? Be on the lookout for this one to land later this month starting at $949.

Verbatim offers up color-background LightScribe DVD±Rs

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 23rd 2007 at 7:31AM


We're beginning to think that this is some type of holiday tradition for Verbatim, as nearly a year after the firm waved color-background CD-Rs in our faces, now we've got vivid DVD±Rs to tempt us, too. As expected, these new 4.7GB discs are fully compatible with all LightScribe-enabled drives, and they're currently shipping in packs of 25 for around $25. Yeah, it's costly, but it's hard to put a price on the joy you'll receive when finding yellow, blue, red, orange and green discs within your next spindle.

Samsung unveils Super-WriteMaster 16x DL DVD burner

by Conrad Quilty-Harper, posted Oct 29th 2007 at 7:30PM

Samsung has rolled out its fastest DVD burner yet, with the Super-WriteMaster (ha!) SH-S203N running at 20x for DVD±R discs, 16x for dual layer DVD+R variants, 12x for DVD-RAM, and progressively slower for other disc standards. It's all kitted up with a SATA connection standard, and supports LightScribe burning so you know what the hell's on that disc you just burnt. Samsung says this is the fastest dual layer DVD burner out there: we don't know if that's true, but we do know it's faster than our crappy 8x DL burner. Pick it up anywhere from now for $79.99.

LG launches ultrathin USB-powered external DVD burner

by Darren Murph, posted Aug 29th 2007 at 4:14AM


For those not quite ready to take the high-definition plunge, LG is looking to make burning those vanilla DVDs a whole lot easier whilst on the road. The uber-slim GSA-E50N (and LightScribe-equipped GSA-E50L) measure in at just 6.14- x 6.5- x 0.84-inches and weigh 0.84-pounds, come in black or white motifs, and play nice with Windows Vista. Moreover, the unit is powered completely via USB, and can burn DVD+R / RW, DVD-R / RW, and DVD-RAM discs at up to 8x speeds. Both units are slated to hit the streets soon, and while the GSA-E50N will ring up at €89 ($122), the GSA-E50L will demand an extra €10 ($14).

[Via The Inquirer]

HP's widescreen TX1000 convertible tablet reviewed

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 8th 2007 at 11:25AM


If you're in the market for an ultralight, sexy, and multimedia-centric convertible laptop, it looks like the TX1000 might not be such a bad choice. According to LAPTOP Mag's review on the pre-production convertible tablet, HP's design team did a bang-up job here, and all the multimedia sweetness (like a dual-layer DVD burner, webcam, "great" speakers, and HP's Media Center) you'd expect in a Pavilion unit still appears even in the 12.1-inch frame. Also praised was the potent 1.8GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 processor, generous 2GB of RAM, and a rather spacious 160GB hard drive; opening and operating applications was noticeably quick, and the dedicated NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 graphics card did wonders when playing back DVDs and rendering Vista's Aero interface. The biggest digs came (unfortunately) from the glossy touchscreen LCD, as reviewers noted that the screen felt "quite flimsy" when switched into tablet mode, but was assured by HP that finalized units wouldn't suffer the same issue. Additionally, fan noise was (understandably) louder than similar, less-spec'd units, the touchpad was "an acquired taste," it lacked a hover zone found on many other tablets, and the entire touchscreen was simply less responsive than expected. Overall, however, the machine seemed to do more impressing than disappointing, and if you're looking to use this more like a laptop and less like a tablet, this 4-star rated machine would probably suit you just fine.

Verbatim adds background color to LightScribe discs

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 14th 2006 at 5:19PM

Nothing adds a dash of holiday cheer like a little color to brighten things up, or at least that's the mantra Verbatim is banking on you believing as it "ramps up shipments" of its recently-unveiled LightScribe-compatible CD-Rs. While we figured color would come this way awhile back, we were honestly hoping for actual color etching technology to be a part of LightScribe by now, but we guess a spindle of "red, green, blue, yellow and orange discs" will have to suffice for the time being. Notably, these discs utilize the same ole LightScribe burner you've already got, but adding color silkscreens to your laser drawings certainly won't prove cheap, as these stocking stuffers will run you $19.99 for a 25-pack.

[Via Chip Chick]

Asus officially unveils its G1 and G2 gaming notebooks

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 12th 2006 at 11:34PM

If you've been holding off on picking up a mobile gaming machine, Asus has officially launched two gamer-focused designs that should pack the power those FPS freaks want need. The 15.4-inch G1 and 17-inch G2 sport common innards and unique styling cues, as the G1 rocks green outer LEDs while the G2 is complimented in red. Beneath the hood of these beasts is your choice of Intel's T7600/T7400/T7200/T5600/T5500 Core 2 Duo processor, up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, up to 160GB SATA hard drive, LightScribe-compatible dual-layer DVD burner, built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam, Bluetooth, and 802.11a/b/g. The G1 sports WXGA / WSXGA Color Shine LCD options and a 512MB NVIDIA GeForce Go7700 graphics set, while the G2 gets a WXGA display and the 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1700 card. You'll also find a fair assortment of ports, including video output, an ExpressCard slot, a flash card reader, and a few USB 2.0 ports to boot; additionally, the outer casing is built to withstand the less-than-gentle travels a mobile LAN machine is bound to endure, and the customizable "OLED instant display" can presumably showcase battery life, performance statistics, or available updates on the fly. While concrete pricing hasn't quite been nailed down yet, both notebooks will supposedly come with the pictured backpack and mouse combination, but we're sure this fairly well-loaded laptop will demand a hefty premium when it hits the market.

[Via Electronista, thanks Jonathan]

LaCie announces LightScribe for Macs

by Josh Fruhlinger, posted Oct 19th 2006 at 2:14AM

MacBooks and Mac minis use slot-loading drives. Slot-loading drives like to eat labels (they say they're delicious). While some Mac users have been using LightScribe drives on their systems for some time in order to avoid the dreaded label jam (and to make pretty label-less labels), they can finally -- officially -- get in on the label-free disc-etching thing with LaCie's software support. The drive company announced that their LightScribe drives and labeling software are now Mac compatible and ready to go. The drives are $99.99 and come with LightScribe Labeling software v1.4.105.1 for 10.3.9 or higher (check those dots, yo).

Lightscribe to get color?

by Stan Horaczek, posted Jul 13th 2006 at 6:48AM

Apparently, the staff at TGDaily were flipping through the user's manual for one of their Lightscribe-equipped drives when they stumbled across a rather oblique mention of an upcoming color version of the current monochrome technology. They did a little journalizing and eventually contacted an HP PR staff, who informed them that "Lightscribe color background CDs are expected to be available later this year." This could be referring to the different colored Lightscribe discs that have seen release here and there, but when it comes to truly color laser CD imaging, obviously no official announcements have been made yet. We wouldn't be entirely surprised if the launch so many a Lightscribe fans have been waiting for winds up being timed to coincide with the announcement of an HP HD DVD drive or two. For right now though, we'll be sticking to our analog CD and DVD labeler, or as you may know it by its other name: a Sharpie marker.

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