Plextor claims to be offering the fastest external dual-format DVD writer on the market, following the release of its new PX-712UF drive.

The firm claims the drive can write to DVD+R media at a super-quick speed of 12x, which equates to burning a 4.7GB DVD in roughly six minutes. Plextor also quotes a DVD-R burn speed of 8x.

Featuring both USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 (FireWire) interfaces, the new drive reads and writes CDs at 48x and re-writes at 24x. Plextor also says the PX-712UF can write to Plextor 8x DVD+R media at an actual speed of 12x. To ensure that data is written to DVDs and CDs without error, the PX-712UF includes 8MB of buffer memory as well as Buffer Underrun Proof (for CD), Lossless Linking (for DVD+R/RW) and Zero Link technologies (for DVD-R/RW).

Continuing the feature packed theme, 'Plextor Optimised Writing Error Reduction Control' (PoweRec) technology means the optimum burn speed is always used when writing each disc, while Plextor's 'VariRec' technology lets users optimise the sound quality of each recording and the Background Formatting function carries out disc formatting at the same time as data is burnt.

The PX-712UF supports the 'Mount Rainier' technology, which turns a CD into a universal storage disc. Plextor’s 'GigaRec' function also enables users to store up to 1GB of data on a 90-minute CD recordable disk, and Plextor’s proprietary data encryption, named SecuRec, secures data by demanding users enter a password before they can open the files on a DVD or CD.

Plextor’s new drive comes with a substantial software bundle, which includes data, photo and video titles such as Ahead Nero and InCD, Nero BackItUp, Pinnacle Studio 9 video editing software, CyberLink PowerDVD and PlexTools utility software.

The PX-712UF will be available in the Middle East from September onwards at a cost of $344. Its release follows Plextor’s March launch of the PX-712A, a $220 internal version that offers identical write speeds of 12x for DVD plus and 8x for DVD minus.

From ITPTechnology