Plextor Announces the UltraPleX 14 to 32X SCSI CD-ROM Drive.SANTA CLARA Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 20, 1997--Plextor Corp., a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance CD-related equipment, today introduced their high performance 14 to 32 speed 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. CAV (1) (Component Analog Video) See YPbPr. (2) (Constant Angular Velocity) Rotating an optical disc or hard disk at a constant speed. Contrast with "constant linear velocity" (CLV), in which the platter rotates at varying speeds. CD-ROM drive A device that holds and reads CD-ROM discs. CD-ROM drives generally also play audio CD discs by sending analog sound to the sound card via a 4-pin cable. For specifications of 10x, 20x, etc. drives, see CD-ROM drives. See CD-ROM, CD-ROM changer, CD-ROM server and CD-ROM audio cable. , the UltraPleX(TM). Breaking new ground, the UltraPleX supports Ultra SCSI The designation for various high-speed SCSI interfaces. The original specification was Ultra SCSI, followed by Ultra2, Ultra3, etc. For details, see SCSI. burst transfer rates of 20MB/sec. High speed burst rates increase effective data transfer rates and enhance overall system efficiency. The UltraPleX is also the first drive to reach rotational speeds of 6890 rpm throughout the disc. As a result, it features a maximum sustained transfer rate of 4.8 MB/sec and minimum transfer rate of 2.0 MB/sec. It also delivers an industry leading 85ms average random access time. Compatible with CD-R/W (re-writable 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). ) media and variable packet writing, the UltraPleX allows worry-free use of the latest generation of re-writable CD media. Like its predecessors, the UltraPleX also reads standard 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. media without difficulty. Superior management of the drive's 512KB buffer allows for low CPU CPU in full central processing unit Principal component of a digital computer, composed of a control unit, an instruction-decoding unit, and an arithmetic-logic unit. usage (less than 20%), and offers increased system efficiency and improved audio/video playback. The UltraPleX enables fast transfers of huge files to hard disk and loads new programs quickly and efficiently. Using CAV (Constant Angular Velocity (storage) constant angular velocity - (CAV) A disk driving scheme in which the angular velocity of the disk is kept constant. This means that the linear velocity of the disk be larger when the reading or writing the outer tracks. ) technology, the UltraPleX offers up to four times more data throughput at the outer rim of the disc than an eight speed drive. "The UltraPleX is the ultimate in a `professional users' CD-ROM drive," said Paul Lowrey, director of marketing. "In addition to supporting Ultra SCSI -- the new standard for SCSI interface in the workplace -- this drive reads at up to a maximum of 32X on the outside of the disc and 14X at minimum on the inside. "Our customers will truly get their work done faster with the UltraPleX. And they'll get what they expect from Plextor products, a real performance boost, not `X-rating' hype -- that's the best reason to upgrade from their existing CD-ROM drive. The UltraPleX is quite likely the last CD-ROM drive they'll ever need to buy." Felix Nemirovsky, VP engineering, added, "Plextor drives are designed to improve real world performance. Since most data on CD is located on the inner and middle tracks of a CD, other factors -- not maximum transfer rate -- are actually the most important measures of performance. I suggest customers identify the minimum transfer rate, consistency of performance across the entire disc and the efficiency of data transfer of a CD-ROM drive. "Don't be misled by the marketing of our competitors' CAV drives, which focuses on maximum transfer rate. We've tested the UltraPlex using CD-Tach's benchmark test and achieved a real world drive rating of 21.5X -- that's the best we've seen in any drive so far and results in part from Ultra SCSI burst rates. In contrast, we've seen 24X IDE drives receive as low as a 14X rating." He continued, "This rating provides a method for users to compare any drive, CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) Rotating a disk at varying speeds. By changing speed depending on which track is being accessed, the density of bits in each track can be made uniform. or CAV, with one number. For example, our 12PleX CLV drive delivers 12X throughout the disc -- a drive rating of exactly 12X -- this test shows that our UltraPleX delivers nearly twice the real world performance of our 12PleX!" Pricing and Availability Available in either a tray or caddy A plastic container that holds a CD or DVD disc for added protection. The bare disc is placed in the caddy, and the caddy is inserted into the drive. A caddy is not a jewel case. A jewel case protects the disc for transportation. A caddy protects the disc while reading and writing. version, units will start shipping Nov. 1. The UltraPleX's introductory list price is the lowest ever for a Plextor CD-ROM -- $249 for the bare internal tray drive, $339 for the bare external tray drive. The caddy version bare internal drive is priced at $289 and the bare external at $379. Fully kitted versions with bus-mastering controllers are also available. Plextor Background Information Since opening its Silicon Valley headquarters in 1990, Plextor has introduced 12 generations of CD-ROM drives, two CD-R drives, and a complete line of CD-ROM networking products. In 1994, Plextor began selling modular CD-ROM towers of its own design. In 1995, Plextor introduced its first fault-tolerant dedicated CD-ROM server, the PlexServer. In 1996, Plextor introduced the MegaPleX, a 200-disc CD-ROM jukebox, and the PlexServer II, a dedicated CD-ROM server that supports either NetWare or NT networks. Plextor's NetPleX, network attach tower and REPleX, CD-tower replicator See port replicator. replicator - Any construct that acts to produce copies of itself; this could be a living organism, an idea (see meme), a program (see quine, worm, wabbit, fork bomb, and virus), a pattern in a cellular automaton (see life), or (speculatively) a robot or , were introduced in April 1997, and the UltraPleX, the first Ultra SCSI CAV CD-ROM drive, began shipping in November 1997. Plextor supports its entire product line by developing customized software utilities and device drivers. Its parent corporation, Shinano Kenshi of Japan, a developer and manufacturer of advanced technology hardware and precision electronic equipment, privately owns the company. Shinano Kenshi is best known for its expertise in motor manufacturing. CONTACT: Plextor Marketing Communications, Santa Clara Susan Sherman, 408/980-1838 x111 ssherman@plextor.com www.plextor.com |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion