Logitec produce first Mac OS X compatible Blu-ray drive

Andy Merrett

on August 2, 2006 4 Comments

Logitec (not Logitech) has unveiled its first Blu-ray drive that is compatible with Mac OS X.

Their LBD-A2FU2/LBD-A2U2 drives, made by Panasonic, will read and record both single and dual-layer Blu-ray discs at 2x speed, as well as handling ordinary DVDs at 8x speed.

The LBD-A2FU2 connects via FireWire and USB 2.0; the LBD-A2U2 has just USB 2.0. It will also work with Windows, but the main issue was that no previous drives (scarce though they are anyway) would work natively with Mac OS X. Now we have a Blu-ray disc - mildly ironic given that Apple seems to be sitting in the Blu-ray camp at present.

Sounds like it's currently only available in Japan, though.

As with PCs, you're going to need a beefy Mac to handle any video content served up through the new drive.

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Razzy

Jeff posted:

Actually, you don't need a beefy Mac. Any of the Intel Core Duo macs - even the Mini - can handle full 1080p HD playback. The Intel Core Solo Mini can only handle 720p and *some* 1080i.

Uhh Intel Core Duo *IS* beefy.

Jef

Actually, you don't need a beefy Mac. Any of the Intel Core Duo macs - even the Mini - can handle full 1080p HD playback. The Intel Core Solo Mini can only handle 720p and *some* 1080i.

The reason for this is that the lower-powered Macs such as the Mini have gone with an Intel integrated graphics chip which, while not too impressive at 3D, excels at handling video, thus reinforcing one of the things for which people are using this machine (a good choice, IMHO).

I have personally used my Core Duo mini to output a 1080i video (with AAC sound) to my HD plasma via DVI->HDMI without any skips or problems. I've found reliable reports of 1080P on various Mac sites.

George

When will iDVD (or iBD) support it?

I can't wait!

HdX

What price? Blu-ray must match the HD-DVD pricing on both drives and media. Then their superior technology will win for sure. Otherwise, they will go the way of Betamax or Video2000 vs VHS. Hopefully Sony learned the leson...