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Panasonic today announced its Slim DVD Multi Drive, a combination DVD/CD burner drive offering all multi-media functions in one laptop-size tailored unit. The new drive shares key features with the company's standard half-height DVD Multi Drive (DVDBurner II), including read/write support for all DVD Forum approved recordable DVD formats; as well as read/write support for CD-R/RW discs. The Slim DVD Multi Drive enhances any laptop by delivering the convenience of high-speed writing and playback capabilities, universal DVD-R compatibility, the benefits of RAM technology and all with easy switching capabilities between media formats.

"Panasonic's new Slim DVD Multi Drive is the latest testament to our dedication and innovation for the DVD industry," said Dana Berzin, Product Manager for Panasonic's OEM computer drives. "By incorporating our proven Multi Drive technology into a laptop-friendly unit, Panasonic brings power and portability to the DVD recordable industry. Panasonic's recordable DVD drives encompass the best of all mediums while, simultaneously, answering basic end-user concerns regarding flexibility, compatibility, reliability and cost-effectiveness."

The Slim DVD Multi Drive is compatible with all DVD Forum approved formats, including DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, as well as CD-ROM, and video and photo CDs. The unit weighs a minimal half a pound, a critically minor add-on to a laptop's total weight. Offering broad read/write capabilities, the Slim DVD MULTI Drive provides consumer and professional audiences with flexibility and convenience, regardless of where they may require DVD support. And, users can choose the security of write-once technology or the flexibility of multiple write at capacities including 9.4GB, 4.7GB, or 650MB.

To highlight the new Slim Multi Drive and its cross-device interoperability with other innovative Panasonic DVD products, Panasonic will demonstrate the Slim Multi Drive during COMDEX in Las Vegas from November 18- 20 at the Recordable DVD Council Pavilion, Booth #L7064. In addition, Panasonic products will be shown at Pepcom's Digital Focus on November 17, 2002 at The Mirage Hotel and Casino from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM; and by appointment at the Las Vegas Hilton from November 18-20.

When using Panasonic's Slim DVD Multi Drive to write to a 4.7GB DVD-R General disc, the new drive achieves speeds of 1x, with DVD-R playback at 4x. Reasonably priced and readily available, the write-once DVD-R is considered the most compatible of all DVD formats. The DVD-R discs can be played back on most of the DVD legacy video players and DVD-ROM drives in use throughout the world today. With huge storage capacity, reliable data management and rewritability up to 100,000 times, DVD-RAM discs are optimally suited for PC applications. The disc's 2x write speed is equivalent to at least 18x CD rate.

Smaller files can be stored on low-cost 650MB CD-Rs at up to 16x speed or on CD-RW discs at up to 8x speed. CD playback is at 24x and DVD-ROM playback is at 8x. To ensure error-free CD recording, Panasonic's new multifunction drive includes buffer under-run technology.

Pricing, Availability

Premiering at COMDEX, Panasonic's Slim DVD MULTI Drive will be available in November 2002.