Plextor Drive Offers Secure, Environmentally Friendly Way to Destroy CD/DVD Discs.

Computer Industry's First Device to Safely Destroy Data on CD/DVD Discs

FREMONT, Calif. -- Plextor[R] LLC, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media equipment, today announced PlexEraser (PX-OE100E), the world's first CD/DVD drive to enable security-conscious organizations to destroy discs using a method that is both environmentally friendly and secure.

PlexEraser is a standalone unit that does not require a personal computer to operate. This high-tech alternative to the disc shredder was designed for organizations in such industries as finance, government/military, and research - as well as any company with commercially sensitive data. PlexEraser enables discs to be destroyed without the organic dye leaking from the disc - something not possible with a disc shredder/manual shattering - and leaves them ready to be recycled without any data being recoverable.

"Physically breaking the discs means the organic dye can escape, which can damage the environment," said Michael Arbisi, vice president of channel sales for Plextor. "PlexEraser is ideal for businesses that want to permanently destroy data in an easy-to-use and 'green' manner."

PX-OE100E PlexEraser Drive

Plextor's new PlexEraser technology uses a laser beam to destroy the data-logging portion of a CD/DVD disc. This directly obliterates the data recording layer in the disc, which means the data is unreadable and unrecoverable. After the data is destroyed, the drive automatically marks the disc to show which ones have been destroyed and which have not. The robust, professional drive is designed to be used continuously if necessary.

PlexEraser destroys eight types of disc formats in both 12cm and 8cm sizes: CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-R/DVD+R/DVD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD-R DL/DVD+R DL. It takes, on average, three minutes to destroy data on CD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, and DVD-R/RW discs and six minutes for dual layer discs (DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL).

PlexEraser is easy to operate - simply insert the disc that you want to dispose of and it starts automatically. When it finishes, the disc is automatically ejected. PlexEraser has low power consumption and very low operating noise, just 35 decibels - barely noticeable, even in a quiet office. To prevent accidental destruction of valuable data, PlexEraser features a highly distinctive bright-orange tray and two highly visible bright-yellow warning stickers.

In addition to destroying discs in an environmentally-friendly way, the PlexEraser unit itself is manufactured to WEEE and RoHS directives. Regarding the Restriction on Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Plextor has adhered strictly to the poisonous substance restriction that limits the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, biphenyl (PBB), and diphenyl ether (PBDE) to protect the environment.

Pricing and Availability

Plextor's PlexEraser PX-OE100E drive will ship to North and South American distributors in November 2006, with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $249.99 USD. All retail packages include one-year full warranty and unlimited toll-free technical support.

About Plextor

Plextor LLC is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media equipment for professionals, consumers, and enterprises. Headquartered in Silicon Valley since 1990, Plextor has introduced generations of award-winning products, including digital video converters and CD-R/RW, DVDR/RW optical disk drives, and Network Attached Storage products. Contact Plextor at www.plextor.com.

Plextor and the Plextor logo are registered trademarks of Shinano Kenshi Kabushiki Kaisha. Other brands and products are trademarks of their respective holder/s.