NOW YOU CAN BURN YOUR OWN BLU-RAY HD DISCS,ON MAC OR PC, FOR LESS MONEY
The high-definition format wars are over, but if all that corporate combat got you excited for Blu-ray HD DVDs, you’ll be pleased to see the relatively low-cost BDR-2 by Amex, a US$389 portable
Blu-ray recorder for Macs and PCs.
The drive burns CDs, DVDs and
Blu-ray discs at standard speeds. It plays back all Blu-ray discs and even supports double-layer Blu-ray disc reading and writing, for storing up to 50 gigabytes on one disc.
The drive requires Mac or Windows software — it includes only a cable and drivers — and connects to any USB port. It weighs 340g and is 12.7cm wide by 12.7cm long. It comes in black or white.
Amex is a small company that sells home media devices including larger Blu-ray players for the Asian market. Most of its products, including the BDR-2, are expected to be available online next month. Blu-ray may not have a terribly long future (because of the increasing availability of HD downloads), so buying a BDR-2 for less than other Blu-ray burners cost may be a smart move.
LAPTOP LITE WITH WINDOWS XP (AND SOON LINUX)
Hewlett-Packard is getting small. A gaggle of miniaturized notebooks, announced last week and collectively called the Mini 1000, will be available in various configurations that begin at US$379. The group is described as less capable than full-fledged laptops, but ideal for using the Internet on the go.
Most models operate with Windows XP, including a US$399 version available this week, fitted out with an 8.9-inch screen and an 8-gigabyte solid-state drive. For US$50 more, buyers can get a 10.2-inch screen without increasing the case size (26cm by 16.8cm by 2.5cm). Other variations include larger-capacity solid-state and revolving hard drives.
A Linux version with mobile applications will be US$379 when it ships in January. All have Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth is an option. A cellular-data version is due out next month. Weighing in at 1kg to 1.08kg, depending on screen size, these devices can almost go from shoulder bag to purse — or even a generously sized pocket.
TURNING NEGATIVES AND OLD SLIDES INTO DIGITAL MEMORIES
Preserving memories made in the digital age is easy and inexpensive. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about that pile of slides and negatives from your 1984 Halloween party.
The iConvert Slide and Negative Scanner from Brookstone is a welcome alternative to paying a professional to do such work for you. Plug the 35mm scanner into your computer’s USB port, hit scan and the iConvert will use its 5-megapixel sensor and 3,600-dots-per-inch enhancement to save the images to your desktop.
The digital converter works with both Windows XP and Vista and comes with its own photo-editing software (though serious photo enthusiasts might be better off using Adobe PhotoShop or a similar program). Patience is definitely a virtue when using the scanner because the holder accommodates only three slides at a time. You can buy additional slide trays from Brookstone’s Web site.
The iConvert Slide and Negative Scanner is US$130. The picture of you as a member of Prince and the Revolution is, of course, priceless.
DVD BURNER FOR VIDEOS AND SLIDE SHOWS
Samsung expanded its TruDirect line of DVD burners last month with a low-profile external drive. The Slim External TruDirect DVD recorder (US$109), which started shipping last week, works only with the Windows operating system. No A/C adapter is needed to power the drive. Instead, it connects to a PC with a USB connection (but it requires the use of two USB ports).
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