Plextor Introduces DVD+R/RW Drive with Dual-Interface: High-Speed USB 2.0, IEEE 1394 Firewire

FREMONT, Calif. - Plextor Corporation, a leading developer andmanufacturer of DVD and CD recording equipment, announced the newPX-504UF DVD+R/RW drive. The external DVD/CD burner delivers fast 4XDVD+R Writing, 2.4X DVD+RW Rewriting, and 12X max DVD-Reading; theversatile 6-in-1 drive also supports 16X CD Writing, 10X CD-Rewriting,and 40X CD-Reading.

The PX-504UF DVD+R/RW drive features Plextor's first dual interfaceto support both Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and full-speed compliant IEEE-1394FireWire for high-speed data transfer. Now PlexWriter customers caneasily share a single DVD/CD recorder among multiple Apple Macintoshand Microsoft Windows-based personal computer systems. The new Plextordrive also bundles a package of premium digital media software fromRoxio (Nasdaq:ROXI), including Easy CD Creator 5.3 DVD Edition, andPhotoSuite 5 SE and Toast 5 Lite.

"Many of the people who purchase PlexWriter drives also use AppleMacintosh computers, and we want them to be able to take advantage ofthe performance and convenience of FireWire connectivity," said HowardWing, vice president of sales and marketing for Plextor. "It's notuncommon for a single household to have both Windows PCs and AppleMacintoshes. With the new PX-504UF, Mom and Dad can use the PlexWriterdrive on the Windows PC to backup work data to a CD, and then fiveminutes later the kids can use the exact same external drive to play aDVD on the Macintosh in their room."

"We're pleased to be expanding our relationship with a leader in theCD and DVD burning market, " said Brad Duea, vice president ofworldwide OEM sales for Roxio. "By integrating Easy CD Creator 5.3 DVDEdition, PhotoSuite 5 SE and Toast 5 Lite with its new externalPX-504UF drive, Plextor is providing its customers with a flexible andpowerful package of hardware and software so users can easily createand manage their digital media, whether they have a Mac, a PC orboth."

Plextor PX-504UF DVD+R/RW Drive

The Plextor PX-504UF is a highly versatile DVD/CD burnerspecifically designed to deliver high-quality recording performance.The drive gives users the ability to create, edit, and share customizedDVDs and CDs using video, photos, audio, and data. Users can use theRoxio applications to back up and archive up to 4.7GB on a single-sidedRecordable DVD disc and create photo albums for viewing with DVDplayers.

Lossless-linking technology enables users to perform basic editingtasks directly on the DVD disc, so there is no need to reload DVDcontent back to a PC to make minor changes, and no need to re-burn anentire DVD after making small edits. The unit features a 2MB databuffer and burst data transfer rates of 5.5 MB/sec., allowing users toburn a 4.7GB CD disc in less than fifteen minutes.

Software Bundle - Roxio Easy CD Creator 5.3 DVD Edition,PhotoSuite 5 SE, and Toast5 Lite

Roxio Easy CD Creator 5.3 DVD Edition includes DVD Builder, Roxio'sDVD authoring application that allows consumers to capture digitalvideo, add transitions and background music, create animated menus,organize clips and photos into custom slide shows, and burn to a DVD orCD that can be played in set-top DVD players. Easy CD Creator 5.3 DVDEdition combines the power of Easy CD Creator Basic and DVD Builderinto one complete, easy to use, integrated solution. Easy CD Creator5.3 DVD Edition includes DirectCD (packet writing), CD and DVDpre-mastering, DVD video authoring, one-button CD copier, and theability to create enhanced and mixed-mode CDs. Easy CD Creator 5.3 DVDEdition simplifies the production of DVD videos while also providingthe ability to create music CDs, photo slide shows synchronized withmusic, data CDs and DVDs, and back up copies of personal discs.

Roxio PhotoSuite 5 SE allows consumers to capture, organize, editand share digital photos. It includes simple electronic albums and acombination of automated and advanced photo editing tools, includingthe ability to easily remove red-eye and wrinkles, lighten or darken,crop and rotate. Consumers can also print and share online or quicklyE-mail them without leaving the program. With PhotoSuite 5 SE'sintegrated Easy CD Creator burning technology, Plextor consumers willbe able to burn photos to CD, Video CD or DVD.

Roxio Toast 5 Lite is a limited version of Toast 5 Titanium, thecomprehensive, all-in-one DVD and CD burner software that enablesconsumers to create, organize, share and store all of their digitalcontent on CDs or DVDs. Roxio's award winning Toast DVD and CD burnersoftware works with Mac OS X and Mac OS 9.1

Pricing and Availability

The Plextor PX-504UF DVD+R/RW drive is scheduled for shipment todistributors and resellers in North and South America in June 2003. Itwill also be available nationwide through Best Buy stores. The PX-504UFdrive has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $329.00USD. All retail packages include unlimited toll-free technical supportand one-year full warranty. Reservations for the PX-504UF drive are nowbeing accepted at www.plextorshop.com.

About Plextor

Plextor Corporation is a leading developer and manufacturer ofhigh-performance DVD and CD equipment for professional use in consumerand business environments. Since opening its headquarters in SiliconValley in 1990, Plextor has introduced numerous generations ofaward-winning optical storage products, including CD-ROM,CD-Recordable, CD-ReWritable, and DVD+R/RW drives. Plextor is privatelyowned by Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd., a developer and manufacturer ofadvanced technology hardware and precision electronic equipmentheadquartered in Japan. Shinano Kenshi is best known for its expertisein manufacturing motors