HP adds Blu-Ray, HD DVD options to towers

HP on Friday quietly updated its Pavilion media center PCs with the option of mixed-format Blu-Ray and HD DVD drives that let the towers read either format without fear of their becoming obsolete. The d4995t, as well as the system builder's m9000z and m9000t Pavilion Elite models, all have the option of two HD-ready optical drives. A basic version of the drive is capable of full Blu-Ray burning but will only read its rival HD DVD format. A top-end drive will write both formats. Both drives also incorporate HP's LightScribe feature for burning a label graphic directly to each disc; each also records to legacy CD and DVDs.

The cost of the upgrade varies depending on the system but typically adds $250 for the more limited combo drive and $400 for the dual-format burner. All but the m9000z can also add AMD's ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner to bring CableCARD viewing and recording of HDTV. Core specifications remain the same with an AMD-based m9000z starting at $800 and the Intel-based m9000t and d4995t climbing to $850 and $900 respectively. [via Engadget]