Maxtec burns four hours of high-quality movies on Plextor double-layer DVD

Maxtec today in corporation with Plextor launched the PX -716UF. This is the first Plextor external double layer, dual format DVD burner that sets the standard for external writing speeds - following on form the recently announced internal PX716A drive.

It is capable of burning four hours of high quality MPEG 2/DVD, up to 8.5GB and burns a single layer DVD under six minutes. The stylish, silver external USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 (FireWire) DVD burner is ideal for users who want the convenience of an external unit together with ultimate performance - 16x for DVD =/- and 4x for DVD + R DL (Double Layer).

"Not only is this one of the fastest external drive in the market, but as Plextor is renowned for premium quality equipment, it comes complete with new intelligent recording technology to ensure the quality for reading and writing," explains Christine Nel, product manager of Plextor at Maxtec.

The reading and writing functions include:

AutoStrategy is a self-learning writing technology to optimise the writing quality on any type of media.

IntelligentTilt controls the laser in three dimensions, to ensure high quality writing and reading if the disc surface has imperfections.

Finally, PoweRec is a complex piece of writing intelligence ensuring superior recording quality at high speeds on certified media.

"The double layer format means that you can burn four hours of high-quality MPEG-2/DVD video on one 8.5GB DVD, almost double the capacity of standard DVDs. So now you needed fewer discs to back your favourite DVDs, CD collections, MP3 collections, photo albums and other data. The PX716 is also a fast CD burner - writing and reading at 48x and rewriting at 24x, Nel points out.

The PX-716UF is available in SA by the end of November 2004 and includes useful technology that enables older 8x media to be burnt at a speed of 16x (see recommended media list at www.plextor.be).

In addition to Plextor`s own PlexTools Professional software, a comprehensive range of full and trial software versions from Ahead, Pinnacle, Cyberlink, Sonic and Ulead is provided.

To prevent under-runs, the PX-716UF uses Buffer Under-run Proof technology. Direct recording on a DVD is possible with DVD+/-VR (Video Recording). Also to save time, the Background Formatting function and an 8MB buffer memory enable the PX-716UF to format while writing.

VariRec technology allows the user to change the laser intensity to improve and personalise sound recordings. GigaRec also allows the storage capacity of CDs to be decreased or increased by between 60% and 130% of the stated media capacity.

Data protection is also possible via SecureRecording hardware password protection. This key directly burns an inscription on the CD, ideal for creating and saving master copies of important data, for example.

To lengthen the life of the drive and to reduce the sound of the drive in operation to near silence, Silent Mode can be used, which determines the access time, reading and writing speed and ejection time. Additionally, a Q-Check or quality control check before or after the burning process produces the necessary information about the quality of the DVD/CD. The following tests are available: C1/C2 error test, FE/TE test, Beta/Jitter test, PI/PO error test and Time Analyser (TA).

Write ReWrite Read
DVD+R/RW 16x 8x 12x
DVD-R/RW 16x 4x 12x
DVD+R DL 4x 8x
DVD-ROM 16x
CD-R/RW 48x 24x 48x