Sony introduced two of their "Professional Disc for DATA" (23.3GB) optical disc drives today, for "professional" use. There is an external USB 2.0/SCSI model, as well as an auto-changer that can hold up to 60 medias....1.56TB.
More information inside.

Sony will release 2 types of external optical drives, for a total of 4 models, where o­nly 1 disc holds 23.3GB.

SCSI and USB external drive

This is an external drive that uses a laser with a 405nm wavelength and utilizes "Professional Disc for DATA." Professional Disc for DATA is an optical disc media format with a 12cm diameter and can hold 23.3GB o­n o­ne side. Supported writing media is the rewriteable "PDDRW23" and the write-once "PDDWO23."





The "BW-RS101" is an external drive model supporting Ultra 160 LVD/SE SCSI. It will be released o­n May 20th for 420,000 yen. The "BR-RU101" is a USB 2.0 supporting external drive, to be released o­n June 10th for 440,000 yen.

The device is furnished with two modes: "CAV (Constant Angular Velocity)" which standardizes disc rotation speed stressing the importance of seek time, and "CLV (Contstant Linear Velocity)" which will standardize disc velocity according to the lens, stressing data transfer speed. The device will automatically detect the optimum setting. Also, using the DIP switch, users can fix the device o­n o­nly o­ne mode.

CAV mode's seek time is an average 110ms. CLV mode's transfer rate is max 11MB/sec.

The cache is 16MB. It also includes a function to go into sleep mode when the disc is not being accessed. Dust protection, and an automatic cleaning brush are also included.

The main body dimensions are 199.3 x 306.3 x 59 mm (W x D x H) and it weighs 4.5kg.

Max 1.56TB auto-changer

This is an auto-changer than can use up to 4 of either BW-RS101 or BW-RU101 drives.

The standard "BW-J601-10" includes 1 drive. It will be released May 20th for 1,580,000 yen. The "BW-J601-20" includes 2 drives. It will also be released May 20th for 2,000,000 yen.

At the standard setup, the maximum number of discs (in storage) and maximum capacity is, for the BW-J601-10, 67 discs at 1.56TB, and for the BW-J601-20, 62 discs at 1.44TB.

When inserting 4 drive units inside of the auto-changer, the disc storage will fall to 52 discs, but access time will be increased.

Disc insertion/removal is like a mail-slot. Transportation time from the drive to mail-slot is 9.5 seconds, and from mail-slot to drive 8.5 seconds. The maximum exchange time is 19 seconds. It is connected to PC via Ultra 160 LVD/SE SCSI.

The main body size is 445 x 667 x 260mm (W x D x H) and without discs, it weighs 30kg.

Inspired by:
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2004/0202/sony2.htm

News Release:
http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200402/04-0202/