Toshiba Debuts Laptop HD DVD Writer

Toshiba said Monday that it had produced the first HD DVD writer for mobile PCs, which would also have read and write capabilities for standard DVD as well as CD discs. At 12.8 millimeters in height, Toshiba says that the unit would be able to be used in most slim form factor laptops. The company plans to demonstrate the drives at an upcoming trade show in Japan, with initial shipments slated to start by the end of the year.

The drive would be capable of write speeds of 1x for HD DVD discs, between 2x and 4x for standard DVDs, and up to 10x for standard CDs. "Toshiba's new HD DVD writer allows mobile PC manufacturers to integrate high-definition digital video editing capabilities into their products, giving consumers a complete high-definition experience for their original content," marketing vice president Maciek Brzeski said in a statement.