First Blu-ray Writer Unveiled

Taiwan’s BenQ electronic company has disclosed its new optical disk writer manufactured to comply with the Blu-ray DVD format. The Blu-ray writer will be released at the beginning of July, making it the first on the market. Sony, Philips, and Pioneer, companies accountable for making and publicizing format, intends to release the writer at the end of August. If BenQ delays its release, then it will be in direct competition with the three companies.

The BenQ Blu-ray disk recorder will be sold for $1,022 (€799). However, competitors’ writers will sell for double the price of BenQ writer, starting at $1,800. HD DVD, created by Toshiba, is competing with Blu-ray. HD DVD started selling for $499. On a DVD-size disk, HD DVD and Blu-ray can offer up to 50 GB of storage. Majority writers will also accept standard DVD and CD formats.