SmartDisk Corporation today announced the availability of a 16 x 10 x 24-speed version of its portable FireWire(TM) CD-R/W. The drive, which does not require a battery or AC adapter, is designed for on-the-go users who need to quickly store digital data and music on CDs while traveling or when away from home or the office.

The unit derives its power from a computer's FireWire bus via a standard three-foot FireWire cable. It features buffer underrun prevention for error-free CD writing, even while the laptop or PC is performing multiple tasks. In addition, the drive features "plug & play" support, which allows immediate use upon plug-in without the need to shut down or reconfigure the computer. With minimal wires, a compact size (approximately 5.6" x 7" x 1") and a front-loading/ejection CD tray, the SmartDisk FireWire Portable CD-R/W is ideal for use by busy professionals, including photographers, musicians and business people, on airplanes, in cars or in other restricted work spaces. A headphone jack is built into the drive for private listening.

The new SmartDisk FireWire Portable CD-R/W comes with CD burning software for Windows and Macintosh computers. Also included as a special added value is a fully featured trial version of SmartDisk's award-winning software, SmartDisk MVP(TM) for Windows operating systems. MVP allows users to easily combine a multitude of digital files, including music, video and photos to create personalized presentations that can be burned onto a CD for playback on a PC or a regular DVD player.

Pricing and Availability

The SmartDisk FireWire Portable CD-R/W drive with 16 x 10 x 24 speed will be available in mid-May and is priced at $249.95 SRP. It will be available for purchase through retailers and distributors, as well as through the company's Web site at http://www.smartdisk.com.