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Sony to debut Blu-Ray PC drive, show prototype

TOKYO - Sony Corp plans to start selling this year a personal computer external drive that can play and record both Blu-ray and conventional DVD discs.

A prototype measuring roughly 20cm wide, 6cm high and 31cm deep is expected to be displayed at the CeBIT international consumer electronics show slated to open in Germany on Thursday.

Sony has yet to set a price for the external drive, but the company aims to sell similar drives for around US$300 by the time it begins mass-producing such products in around 2007.

Sony has been selling a home-use digital recorder that supports Blu-ray discs, but they are rather expensive, with street prices staying at around 250,000 yen (US$2,403) apiece.

Mass production of Blu-ray compatible PC drives will likely enable the firm to sell home Blu-ray digital recorders for less because volume output will push down the prices of core parts such as blue laser modules.

As for the HD DVD, a rival next-generation DVD format whose major supporters include Toshiba Corp, NEC Corp, has already developed a prototype HD DVD-compatible drive.