High-speed Line Includes Anti-buffer Under-run Technology and Comprehensive Software Suite for PC and Mac Users

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 20, 2001-- Sony Electronics today introduced four ultra high-speed CD-ReWritable (CD-RW) drives with interfaces and software for PC and Mac® system users. The new drives support 24X maximum write, and incorporate Sony's Power-Burn(TM) technology. Designed to prevent buffer under-run errors, Power-Burn ensures reliable and accurate digital recording.

Sony's premium line of 24X/10X/40X CD-RW drives offers all necessary options and features for those looking to manage and burn their digital images, video, data and original music onto CDs. The new drives are available with internal ATAPI (EIDE), as well as external USB 2.0 and i.LINK® (IEEE1394/FireWire® compatible) interfaces, and are ideal for those who demand exceptional performance and reliability. The external models provide users of i.LINK or USB-equipped computers the convenience of plug-and-play connectivity. The 24X maximum write speed saves time by allowing users to create a full 700MB CD in about four minutes. In addition, Sony's Power-Burn technology ensures trouble-free background recording at up to 24X speeds.

As part of the new line-up, Sony will offer the first CD-RW drive with a Memory Stick® media slot in the CRX175M/A1 internal model. Available in 8MB, 16MB, 32MB, 64MB and 128MB capacities, Memory Stick media allows consumers to seamlessly transfer digital images, videos, data and original music onto a CD-R/RW disc from dozens of different electronics devices including digital cameras, handheld devices and personal computers. The new Sony CD-RW drive is an addition to more than 10 million Memory Stick media compatible products worldwide, enabling consumers to take advantage of the interoperability that the Memory Stick media format offers across a broad range of products and applications.

"With a complete software package and cool features like the Memory Stick media slot, our new drives offer the most options for connecting a high-quality, high-speed 24X CD burner to a computer," said Toshi Naito, vice president of data storage for Sony Electronics' Core Technology Solutions Company.

Sony CD-RW Software Suite

The new Sony CD-RW drives include a software suite that offers feature-intensive applications for Macintosh and Windows® platforms. The software suite also comes with an integrated product installer that provides users the ability to choose the software they prefer. Sony's software bundle includes:

    --  B's Clip (Windows), allows users to drag and drop files and
        folders to a CD-RW disc as easily as to a floppy disk or hard
        drive;

    --  B's Recorder Gold (Macintosh and Windows), lets users create
        back-up copies of CDs as well as customized video, music and
        data CDs from various file formats;

    --  ArcSoft PhotoBase(TM) (Macintosh and Windows), allows users to
        create image, video and audio albums for easy management;
        share files in the form of slide shows, Web presentations or
        video postcards; and to store multimedia files on CDs;

    --  ArcSoft PhotoStudio(TM) 2000 (Macintosh and Windows), lets
        users edit digital images with a wide selection of special
        effects and enhancements;

    --  ArcSoft VideoImpression(TM) (Macintosh and Windows), offers a
        quick and easy way to create and edit videos and image files,
        as well as make desktop video productions for home, office or
        the Internet;

    --  MUSICMATCH(R) Jukebox(TM) (Windows), offers users the most
        complete personal music system to play, record, organize and
        discover new music with a guide to thousands of streams of
        personalized music programming; and

    --  Dantz Development's Retrospect(R) Express (Macintosh and
        Windows), provides users with full-featured unattended backup
        and disaster recovery capability.

The CRX175A/A1 and CRX175M/A1 models include Windows only software, while the CRX1750U/A2 and CRX1750L/A2 drives include both Macintosh and Windows software.

Sony CD-R/RW Media

Sony 24X high-performance CD-R media can be used with the new Sony CD-RW drives for high-quality recording. The drives are compatible with Sony 700 MB/80-minute CD-R discs, which provide an additional 50MB of data storage, or six more minutes of audio storage, when compared to typical 650 MB/74-minute CD-R discs.

Availability, Pricing and Warranty

The Sony CD-RW ATAPI (EIDE) internal drive (CRX175A/A1) will be available in October while the Memory Stick model (CRX175M/A1) will be available in November with estimated U.S. retail prices of $179 and $229 respectively. The USB 2.0 (CRX1750U/A2) and i.LINK (CRX1750L/A2) external drives will also be available in November. The CRX1750U/A2 will be offered at an estimated U.S. retail price of $279, while the CRX170L/A2 will retail at an estimated $299. Sony CD-RW drives are available through resellers and retailers nationwide, mail order catalogs, and online shopping sites including SonyStyle.com. Sony supports "worry-free" installation and easy operation with toll-free customer and technical service, Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., along with a one-year limited warranty from original date of purchase.

Key Specifications

 Sony CD-RW ATAPI Internal Drive     Sony CD-RW ATAPI Internal Drive
       CRX175A/A1                    with Built-in Memory Stick
                                              Media Slot
                                              CRX175M/A1

-- ATAPI (EIDE) Internal Interface -- ATAPI (EIDE) Internal Interface

-- 24X Z-CLV recording (CD-R),     -- 24X Z-CLV recording (CD-R),
   10X recording (CD-RW), 40X         10X recording (CD-RW), 40X
   (max.) reading                     (max.) reading

-- Drive dimensions:               -- Drive dimensions:
   5.8 x 1.7 x 7.8 inches             5.8 x 1.7 x 7.8 inches
   (W x H x L)                        (W x H x L)

-- Platform support:               -- Platform support:
   Windows 98SE/2000/Me and soon      Windows 98SE/2000/Me and soon
   Windows XP operating system        Windows XP operating system

-- Sustained Data Transfer Rates:  -- Sustained Data Transfer Rates:
   6MB/s max read, 3.6MB/s max        6MB/s max read, 3.6MB/s max
   write                              write

-- Burst data transfer rate:       -- Burst data transfer rate:
   16.7MB/s max                       16.7MB/s max

-- Random access time: 150 ms(ave.)-- Random access time: 150 ms(ave.)

-- Buffer memory: 2MB              -- Buffer memory: 2MB

-- Recording method: disc at once, -- Recording method: disc at once,
   track at once, session at once,    track at once, session at once,
   fixed and variable packet          fixed and variable packet
   writing                            writing

-- Compatible disc format: CD-DA,  -- Compatible disc format: CD-DA,
   Video CD, Photo CD                 Video CD, Photo CD
   (multisession), CD TEXT,           (multisession), CD TEXT,
   CD Extra and others                CD Extra and others

-- Availability -- October 2001    -- Availability -- November 2001

-- ESP -- $179(a)                   -- ESP -- $229(a)




 Sony CD-RW USB 2.0 External Drive   Sony CD-RW i.LINK External Drive
           CRX1750U/A2                       CRX1750L/A2

-- USB 2.0 External Interface(b)   -- i.LINK External Interface

-- 24X Z-CLV recording (CD-R),     -- 24X Z-CLV recording (CD-R),
   10X recording (CD-RW), 40X         10X recording (CD-RW), 40X
   (max.) reading                     (max.) reading

-- Drive dimensions:               -- Drive dimensions:
   6.5 x 2.1 x 9.8 inches             6.5 x 2.1 x 9.8 inches
   (W x H x L)                        (W x H x L)

-- Platform support:               -- Platform support:
   Windows 98SE/2000/Me and soon      Windows 98SE/2000/Me and soon
   Windows XP operating system        Windows XP operating system
   OR Mac OS 9.0.4 or higher          OR Mac OS 9.0.4 or higher

-- Sustained Data Transfer Rates:  -- Sustained Data Transfer Rates:
   6MB/s max read, 3.6MB/s max        6MB/s max read, 3.6MB/s max
   write                              write

-- Burst data transfer rate:       -- Burst data transfer rate:
   480MB/s max                        400MB/s max

-- Random access time:             -- Random access time:
   150 ms (ave.)                      150 ms (ave.)

-- Buffer memory: 2MB              -- Buffer memory: 2MB

-- Recording method: disc at once, -- Recording method: disc at once,
   track at once, session at once,    track at once, session at once,
   fixed and variable packet          fixed and variable packet
   writing                            writing

-- Compatible disc format: CD-DA,  -- Compatible disc format: CD-DA,
   Video CD, Photo CD                 Video CD, Photo CD
   (multisession), CD TEXT,           (multisession), CD TEXT,
   CD Extra and others                CD Extra and others

-- Availability -- November 2001    -- Availability -- November 2001

-- ESP -- $279(a)                   -- ESP -- $299(a)

(a) Estimated U.S. retail selling prices. Actual prices may vary.

(b) USB 1.1 compatible at 4X recording (CD-R), 4X recording (CD-RW),
    6X (max.) reading