AMEX Blu-ray disc recorder set for European market

[Pebb]

Source: HDTV UK

AMEX have announced that their new Blu-ray disc burner will be available to the European market from August 28th, and will be shown off at the forthcoming IFA Berlin show.

As seems to be the way recently, they've claimed a first. Now, it surely isn't the first Blu-ray burner ever (though that's how some reports read). More likely is that the M505-BDR is the first standalone unit (ie not a burner in a PC) shipped to Europe. That makes more sense. Still, it makes for a more interesting press release...

Effectively what we've got here is a PC in a box. According to Aurum3 Newtech:

The AMEX 505-BDR will feature an Intel Core Duo 2 CPU, Intel 945P Express chipset, ATI X1600 GPA with full HD 1080p HDMI out, 8.1 Channels Onboard Audio, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 1.5TB hard-drive storage, 100/1000 Base-T LAN, Wi-fi and Dual Hybrid digital TV turner with PIP.

It has Microsoft's Multimedia Centre Edition 2005 installed. What isn't totally clear from just looking at the specs (though the hardware would suggest it's possible) is whether this unit can act as a PVR as well. Presumably the massive hard drive is there for a reason - recording TV programmes would be one use though as a media centre it could be for any type of digital content.

Anyway, despite the dubious "we're first" claim (which is even on their website) it should cause quite a stir in Europe. It's set to retail at around $2000 - again we'll see when it hits the UK and at what price.

 

[Sprite]

At last, I hope now that other companies take note, and start to get the wheels on thier own DVR/BD-R then we will se the price drop quite quick, but the price of disks is still a big problem, nice to see a device of this nature, confirming that BD is on the move.

 

[Pebb]

But I know some companies are working on a recorder with both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. However I would choose a recorder with both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray instead of just owning 2 different recorders:

*HD-DVD Recorder
*Blu-Ray Recorder

 

[Sprite]

But I know some companies are working on a recorder with both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. However I would choose a recorder with both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray instead of just owning 2 different recorders:

*HD-DVD Recorder
*Blu-Ray Recorder

Yeh I would rarther have one recoder than two, but only if both formats refuse to become one, then a combi player/recoder would be the way to go, I think the benefits of BD outway HD-DVD, not just for gaming, but also for movies.

I think samsung have re-started their efforts for a combi player, im not sure about recoder tho, I guess if one format dosnt win the so called war, then we may end up with both in the market place, but what happens when some movies look good, but other dont this concerns me more than the players, I think the quality of disks and films on them is more apprent this time around than it was with dvd's, plus with the different types of compression I think it could be a while before this all settles down.

 

[Pebb]

Another thing I would look in for a HD-DVD and Blu-Ray recorder is an option, to record HDCP programs like from the Sky HD boxes.

 

[IH8GWB]

look at the size of it

 

[Sprite]

look at the size of it

Thats not just a recorder, its a full PC running Windows Media Center. Plus if you remember back in the day when dvd players and recoders that go under you tv came out, they were quite big too, thye always come down in size as they learn to shrinck the componants down.

Another thing I would look in for a HD-DVD and Blu-Ray recorder is an option, to record HDCP programs like from the Sky HD boxes.

Yeh , they at least need to do that, whats to point of having HD capability and not being able to record HD sources.