July 3rd 2006

BenQ Leads Way In Blu-Ray Recorder Price Setting

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Taiwanese Manufacturers Hint At Price War >> BenQ Launches DVD Recorder Product Line That Provides Flexible Home Entertainment Options >> BenQ launches first DVD Recorder >>

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Blu-Ray players are expensive enough, so expect the first Blu-Ray recorders to be bank breakers if and when they arrive in the shops.

However, Taiwanese electronics manufacturer BenQ has shown that the price points set by Sony and Panasonic for Blu-Ray hardware may well be just fleecing the early adopters.

The BenQ BW1000 can write and read 25GB and 50GB Blu-ray discs at 2x speeds, and also supports writing to both DVDs and CDs by incorporating three different lasers. Unfortunately it's a PC drive, not a standalone recorder, but BenQ is showing that the prices that Sony and the like are planning on charging may be 100% more than necessary at the current time. The BW1000 will cost just over £500, compared to the £1000 from the more famous names.

A late August launch is planned. Phillips, Plextor and Pioneer plan to ship their burners later in the year.