Pioneer launches sub-$300 Blu-Ray drive

Reflecting the slowly-growing prevalence of Blu-Ray, Pioneer is rolling out its first computer drive to crack the $300 barrier, the BDC-S02. It is actually priced at $299, and is initially shipping to China and Taiwan, with worldwide sales beginning later this year. Few specifications have been released outside of east Asia, but it is known that it will be able to play BD-ROM, BD-R/DL (double-layer) and BD-RE/DL discs, as well as a standard assortment of CD and DVD formats. The initial audience for the S02 is expected to be IT professionals; with such a price however, it may create an in-road to the difficult home market.