3M enters dual-use PD market with new 650 MB rewritable optical disk; first preformatted 650 MB PD disk.ST. PAUL St. Paul as a missionary he fearlessly confronts the “perils of waters, of robbers, in the city, in the wilderness.” [N.T.: II Cor. 11:26] See : Bravery , Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 1995--3M has entered the PD market by introducing the 650 megabyte (MB) 3M PD650 rewritable optical disk See rewritable optical disc. for use in dual-function PD drives that also can read 1X, 2X and quad-speed CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). disks. PD is a new optical technology that eliminates the need for separate data storage drives and CD-ROM drives CD-ROM drives, which today typically means a CD-RW drive that is a combo CD-ROM, CD-R and CD-RW drive, come in a variety of speeds. The original drive (1x) transferred data at 150KB per second. in PCs. The new 3M PD650 rewritable optical disk matches the capacity of many PC hard drives and provides fast, random access data storage. It is ideal for creating and editing multimedia files where video, graphics, sound and text come together, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. 3M. The disk can also be used for backup/restore, archiving, conserving valuable storage space on PC hard drives and file transfer. 3M, working through its product development and marketing alliance with Software Architects Inc. (Bothell, Wash.), is the first to offer high-level preformatted PD disks for DOS/Windows or Macintosh operating systems. This saves users about 30 minutes of formatting time per disk. 3M licenses the DOS/Windows and Macintosh formatting utilities from Software Architects. A PD drive uses a laser to read and write PD disks, and to read CD-ROM disks. PD drives transfer data from 3M's PD650 rewritable optical disks at 875 KB/second on average. 3M's PD650 rewritable optical disk is 120 mm in diameter, the same size as a CD-ROM disk, so each fits in the same loading tray in the PD drive. Each PD650 disk is enclosed in a durable plastic cartridge for extra protection. Simply removing the PD disk from the loading tray and replacing it with a CD-ROM disk automatically permits the user to access CD-ROM titles at up to quad speed. The PD drive supports major CD formats such as Video CD, Photo CD, Audio CD, CD-ROM XA (CD-ROM eXtended Architecture) A CD-ROM format enhancement introduced in 1988 by Philips, Sony and Microsoft that helps to synchronize text, audio and video more accurately on multimedia discs. The original CD-ROM format is known as Mode 1, and XA is known as Mode 2. , CD-Enhanced (CD+) and CD-R (CD-Recordable) A writable CD technology using a type of compact disc that can be recorded, but not erased (CD-Rs are "write once" discs). CD-R discs are used to master CD-ROMs, to back up data and to make copies of data for distribution. (read only). The PD drive installs in a standard half-height CD-ROM slot. 3M's PD650 rewritable optical disks are now available from authorized 3M resellers. The suggested list price is $59 per disk. PD drives are available from Panasonic Communications and Systems Co., a division of Matsushita Electric Corp. of America (Secaucus, N.J.), and from NEC (NEC Corporation, Tokyo, www.nec.com, www.necus.com) An electronics conglomerate known in the U.S. for its monitors. In Japan, it had the lion's share of the PC market until the late 1990s (see PC 98). NEC was founded in Tokyo in 1899 as Nippon Electric Company, Ltd. Technologies (Boxborough, Mass.). The external LF-1000AB Panasonic PowerDisk2 has a list price of $995, and the internal LF-1004AB drive is $895. The NEC ODX ODX Olympic Dam Expansion Project 651 internal SCSI SCSI in full Small Computer System Interface Once common standard for connecting peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, etc.) to small and medium-sized computers. SCSI has given way to faster standards, such as Firewire and USB. drive lists for $895. "Graphics designers, multimedia developers, network administrators and other power users now have a total optical solution with this PD technology," said Jim Milligan, business development manager, 3M Data Storage Optical Technology Division. "PD drives are such a natural enhancement to popular CD-ROM technology." "Panasonic expects PD to become the standard drive and media for future multimedia computing," said Toshikazu Yosumi, director of the Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., Optical Disk Systems Division. "We expect PC original equipment manufacturers to begin offering PD drives in their computers in the near future because PD enhances popular CD-ROM technology so well. As encouragement, Panasonic is working with leading manufacturers and software developers to support the PD format." "NEC predicts endorsement from additional PC OEMs who, like NEC, believe PD technology fits the customer's paradigm of the perfect storage solution," said Jack O'Gorman, senior product manager, storage products, NEC Technologies. "PC OEMs are excited about the synergy created by the marriage of mainstream CD-ROM technology with the reliability, portability and unlimited storage capacity of removable, rewritable optical technology. By developing PD products, NEC plans to capitalize on Cap´i`tal`ize on` v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes s>. the growing demand for new multimedia hardware and software." Technology The recording layer of the 3M PD650 disk is made of a special rewritable material. Its greater sensitivity and carrier-to-noise ratio In communications, the carrier-to-noise ratio, often written CNR or C/N, is the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a modulated signal. The CNR is the quotient between the average received modulated carrier power C and the average received noise power P allow more economical use of the laser. When writing and rewriting data, higher-power laser energy heats a small area of a recording track's surface to change its physical structure and reflectivity re·flec·tiv·i·ty n. pl. re·flec·tiv·i·ties 1. The quality of being reflective. 2. The ability to reflect. 3. . To read data, lower-power laser energy is used to illuminate the patterns of brighter and darker areas, and a detector translates the reflections into computer data. A CD-ROM disk contains microscopic pits that are molded into the surface and guarded by a protective overcoat. To read the information, the drive's lower-power laser energy is used to illuminate the pits, and a detector converts the reflections into computer data bits. PD drives are MPC (1) (Mobile PC) A handheld or laptop computer. See handheld computer, laptop computer and Ultra-Mobile PC. (2) (MultiPath Channel) See multipath. Level 2 compliant and have a SCSI-2 interface. Drive purchasers can order optional device drivers for the DOS/Windows, Windows 95, Windows NT and OS/2 Warp operating system on PCs or System 7 on Macintoshes. 3M offers a lifetime warranty with the PD650 cartridges. The company is the world's leading supplier of branded recording media for data storage. For more information about 3M rewritable optical media See rewritable optical disc. or 3M's CD-ROM commercial services, call 800/888-1889, ext. 33. In the United States, Panasonic markets an extensive line of office automation equipment, including optical disk and storage devices. Sales information is available to end users at 800/742-8086. NEC Technologies markets a full line of optical drives, floppy diskette The official name for the floppy disk. See floppy disk. diskette - floppy disk drives, hard disk drives and disk arrays. For more information, call NEC at 508/264-8941. -0- NOTE: Graphics are available on request from 3M: -- Color transparency of end user operating a PD650 disk end drive -- Color transparency closeup of drive with PD650 disk and CD-ROM disk -- Color print of how PD650 disk laser system operates -- Color print of how CD-ROM disk laser system operates PD and PowerDisk2 is a trademark of Panasonic Communications and Systems Co. DOS, Windows, Windows 95 and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft. System 7 and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer. CONTACT: 3M Data Storage Products, St. Paul Larry Teien, 612/736-5961 or Panasonic Communications and Systems Co., Secaucus Tom Kivett, 201/271-3098 or NEC Storage Products, Boxborough Neil Teachout, 508/263-8941 or Software Architects Inc., Bothell Michael Irvin, 206/487-0122 or Fleishman-Hillard Inc., Minneapolis/St. Paul Brent Bauer, 612/222-4885 fhbauer@aol.com or Readers contact: 3M, 800/888-1889, ext. 33 |
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