Lightweight, Compact Drive Records Custom CDs Anywhere, Anytime

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 27, 2001--Plextor® Corporation, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance CD-related equipment and software, today announced the immediate availability of the portable PlexWriter(TM) 8/8/24U CD-RW drive. The PlexWriter 8/8/24U is lightweight, compact -- almost pocketsize -- and connects via Universal Serial Bus (USB) to any laptop or desktop computer (PC or Mac). Recording and storing music, archiving digital photographs, and copying files on the road has never been easier.

The external drive features 8X CD-Write, 8X CD-Rewrite, and 24X-max CD-Read, making it one of the fastest portable CD-RW drives available on the market today. Housed in a highly stylish yet durable silver-and-blue enclosure case, the portable drive measures just 5.55-inches by .87-inches by 6.73-inches and weighs only 1.10-lbs. The drive is also labeled with the Hi-Speed USB(TM) logo, which allows consumers to verify that the product they are buying has passed the USB 2.0 compliance program instituted by the USB Implementers Forum.

With the new PlexWriter 8/8/24U drive, both business "road warriors" and consumers on the move can now record custom CDs or backup files from any USB-enabled computer located anywhere. With plug and play simplicity and the convenience of hot-plug/unplug capabilities, this portable CD-RW drive makes transferring and storing data much faster and easier from any location.

"The PlexWriter 8/8/24U is one of the most exciting CD-RW drives that Plextor has ever introduced," said Howard Wing, vice president of sales and marketing for Plextor. "It is the very first portable drive to come from Plextor, yet it offers the same high quality and performance as other Plextor CD-RW drives. The PlexWriter 8/8/24U is also the first Plextor CD-RW to support the high-speed USB interface, which means that users can easily share a single drive among multiple PC and Apple Mac platforms for a highly cost effective data storage solution."

Portable PlexWriter 8/8/24U CD-RW Drive

The PlexWriter 8/8/24U CD-RW drive features a Universal Serial Bus interface, making installation faster and easier than ever before. It is Plug & Play compatible with Windows 98SE/ME/XP, as well as Mac OS 8.6 (USB 1.1) and Mac OS X (USB 2.0). Users can typically begin recording custom CDs within minutes of opening the box.

The versatile 3-in-1 drive lets users write, rewrite, and read compact discs at a variety of speeds. With USB 2.0 connections, the drive is capable of 8X CD-recording, 8X CD-rewriting, and 24X max CD-playback. With USB 1.1 connections, the drive records at 4X, rewrites at 4X, and plays at 6X max. The PlexWriter 8/8/24U features a 2 MB buffer and supports a wide variety of writing modes, including Track-at-Once, Disc-at-Once, Session-at-Once, Multisession, and variable/fixed packet writing.

The PlexWriter 8/8/24U drive also features BURN-Proof(TM) (buffer underrun-proof) technology, which ensures fault-tolerant CD burning. BURN-Proof prevents errors from occurring when data flow to the drive is interrupted during the recording process due to slow source drive performance, PC configuration problems, or other active applications. By allowing users to surf the Web, download files, and utilize other applications while a CD records in the background, this error-reducing technology makes CD-recording more practical than ever before.

Pricing and Availability

The portable PlexWriter 8/8/24U CD-RW drive with Universal Serial Bus interface is currently shipping to OEMs, resellers, and distributors with a $289 manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP). All retail packages include unlimited toll-free technical support and one-year full warranty. Plextor has also designed an optional carrying case to transport the drive and its accessories.

About Plextor

Plextor Corp. is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance CD-related equipment for professional use in business and networked environments. Since opening its headquarters in Silicon Valley in 1990, Plextor has introduced numerous generations of award-winning optical storage products, including CD-ROM, CD-Recordable, and CD-ReWritable drives. Plextor's product line is supported by customized software applications such as CD-ResQ and Plextor Manager 2000.

Plextor is privately owned by Shinano Kenshi Corporation, a developer and manufacturer of advanced technology hardware and precision electronic equipment headquartered in Japan. Shinano Kenshi is best known for its expertise in manufacturing motors.

PlexWriter is a trademark of Plextor Corp. BURN-Proof is a trademark of Sanyo Electric Co., LTD. All other trademarks, trade names, registered trademarks, or registered trade names are the property of their respective holders.