ASUS unleashes USB 2.0 Blu-ray drive -- government denies knowledge

ASUS has taken a pretty basic USB Blu-ray drive and given it a fine veneer of high-gloss looks. The SBC-04B1S-U isn't fancy stuff -- 4.8x maximum Blu-ray disc reading, 8x DVD burning, a USB 2.0 connection, and Windows (but not OS X) compatibility. The bright blue 'X' on the side also flashes and has a dedicated app just to control its brightness. None of this will help, of course, when the strobing 'X' attracts the attention of the entire underground world of paranormal conspiracy theorists to your bedroom as if you threw up the alien Bat-Signal -- but, you know, whatever. There's no word yet on pricing or availability for this attractive, skinny dude.
[Via SlashGear]
[Via SlashGear]























Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
EatingPie @ Jun 29th 2009 6:29PM
No support for the platform that really needs it? This makes me as sad as a bag of hurt.
-Pie
Dark Morford @ Jun 29th 2009 10:53PM
"Unsupported" doesn't necessarily mean "doesn't work," though. It's more along the line of "We didn't test it. You're on your own."
I wouldn't be surprised if it worked out-of-the-box on a Mac; if not, there's little doubt it will be made to work in short order.
Krisjohn @ Jun 29th 2009 7:12PM
It looks cool enough, but I bet the price makes you run away screaming.
JimC @ Jun 29th 2009 10:04PM
Well according to some idiot logic that is spouted in the comments often here, this player better not be anymore expensive than a normal external DVD drive, otherwise is just stupid...
Of course I'm talking about the HD DVD fanbois who still claim Blu-ray is just on the verge of utter failure any minute now...
Happy BD Owner @ Jun 30th 2009 3:49AM
Uh oh, now you've done it, I can almost hear Multi and Bozsters keyboards warming up for a new set of spin.
psydeways @ Jun 30th 2009 8:25AM
Hmmm. I could velcro this to the back of my HDTV and connect it to a baby Atom computer velcroed to the back of my TV and have an invisible hdpc with blue ray I can control with my wireless keyboard. Hopefully it's cool & quiet.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Jun 30th 2009 1:04PM
I'm just surprised that the 'X' on the side and Windows-only compatibility hasn't sparked a huge torrent of rumours that Xbox is getting a Blu-ray add-on.
Surely it's about time for that laughably idiotic garbage to get another trot out?
Its been a while.
:P
philip @ Jul 8th 2009 3:02AM
I'm surprised that the 'X' on the side and Windows-only compatibility hasn't sparked a huge torrent of rumours that Xbox is getting a Blu-ray add-on.
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philip
forclosed homes