CompuServe Thread

#R/W CDrom

12 messages in this thread
#30517From: Bill BeritNov 8, 1992 12:01 PM
From what I have read and heard from tech reps, CD platters can be over written if the laser first smoths the surface then writes to it!?! That sounds sorta hairy to me! Even if the CD disc is used as a WORM, with appx. 680 mb of space and a mass production coat per disc of under .10 cents, the retail cost should be around .59 cents each, barring the normal overinflationary markup of venders. That in it self would kill the HD and FDD industry and a user can't loose data I'd love to see it happen! The cost on production of a std CD from the pressers, is about $2.50 ea at orders of 10,000+, that's with the data on it and licensing. A blank disc is cheep. Bill
#30534From: Rich Bowers/OPANov 8, 1992 3:22 PM
Bill: I'm not familiar with the announcement you referred to but: 1) there are no erasable CD systems on the market today, and I know of no plans for release of such a system. The best we can do is the so-called CD-R (for recordable), which is available from Sony, JVC, Philips and Toshiba. The price point, however, is $8-12K today. (there were some wild announcements at the 1-2k level you mentioned, but these products materialized much more expensive!). It is true that "writing" on a CD requires "burning" the data, and is not changeable. And there is a lot of confusion over M-O media vs CD, but they are quite different technologies today! 2) Don't count too many chickens over the price of the media – currently blank write-once media goes for about $25 in quantity. I understand there is an issue that goes beyond simple mfg costs here – such as the fear of record companies losing big $$ from the copying of audio discs. I suspect it will take some time for the price of media to drop to under $10. But still, as you point out, 650 mbs even at $25, is a deal! Rich Bowers
#30669From: Katherine CochraneNov 10, 1992 9:25 AM
Rich, Where can you get CD-Rs for just $25? Our costs are at least $10 more than that, in quantity. Also, you might point out to inquirers that the cost of the media is not the driver in the price of one-off CDs — the costs of the writer & formatting software, plus developing expertise and running a business have to be covered somehow. You're absolutely right — the day of $10 CD-Rs is still far away, and even when it arrives it's not going to mean one-offs for $25 each! Kathy <<– The One-Off CD Shop MidSouth, Inc.
#30683From: Rich Bowers/OPANov 10, 1992 2:29 PM
Kathy: I was just trying to respond to a single point in the message, but you are certainly right! Too often we get hung up in the cost of the medium (whether it's paper or sky-writing) without considering the effort to create the content and get it on the medium. Point well taken. Rich
#30695From: Bill BeritNov 10, 1992 5:26 PM
For your Ref: Sony CD Recording Unit-CDW-900e Sony Electronic Publishing Co. Monterey CA 93940 408.372.2812 Dirk Peters, Sales Engr. Domestic Price List CD Rom Development Tools FTR Authoring Sys Std License Fee for FTR & MS dos API-$12,500.00 Appl Pg Interfaces API-$2,500.00 Royalties & Maintance choose Opt A,B,or C Opt A Per title Annual Advance Royalty=$2500.00 (due upon tital release, incl maint) Per disc royalty after first 250 discs-$10.00 (quarterly reporting, see lic agreemt) Opt B First Royalty Fee-Free License Fee-$72,500.00 (incl 2 yrs free maint) Subsequent Title Royalty-Free Lic-$22,500 (incl anl maint) Opt C Unlimited Royalty-Free Lic-$275,000.00 (incl scource code + 3yrs maint) Premastering Systems CD Writer Premas sys & ISO formatter-$11,995.00 (mod CDW-900e) 4mm DAT Pre Sys-$3500.00* (mod SDT-2000) Rewritable Mag/Opt Dr Pre Sys-$4300.00* (Mod SMO-S501) ISO Formatter-$595.00 (Mod-ISO 9660) Multimedia Formatter-$995.00 (incls Formatting for ISO 9660,EBXA,MMCD,CD-Rom XA + interleaver & Audio Caption Tools) CDM-1 Blank Media,ea-1-499=$31.50 500 or more=$28.00ea *these premastering sys incl:hdw writing unit,ISO formatter s/w,SCSI Interface card & cable. Personal Info Pdts (PIP) CD Dev Tools, domestic price list DATA Discman Electronic Book Auth Sys SEBAS 1.5 Non-audio Lic-$4500.00 ode 2, From 1 Mulitmedia formatter Lic-$7500.00 Per Title Rel Fee-$1500.00 Opt Anl Maint fee-$1000.00 Multimedia CD Player Bookware 1.0 lic $6500.00 Per title rel-$1500.00 anl maint fee-$1000.00 MTS Pro 2.0 lic-$6000.00ewer Lic-$495.00 you wonder why there's nom R/W CD drive for us PC'ers!
#30705From: Rich Bowers/OPANov 10, 1992 8:53 PM
Bill: Thanks for the general info…you got any details <g>!? Rich
#30746From: Bill BeritNov 11, 1992 2:05 PM
You'll have to call Mr. Peters for the heavy stuff! All I know is it's big $$$$, Bill.
#30759From: Rich Bowers/OPANov 11, 1992 9:32 PM
No, Bill, I was joking! Besides, why would I call Sony – you provided more information in one lump than I have ever seen from Sony. You ought to be charging *them*! Take care – Rich Bowers
#30824From: Bill BeritNov 12, 1992 6:10 PM
But just think of of all the fun your missing not playing "phone tag" with the Sonieites!!! Bill
#30832From: Rich Bowers/OPANov 12, 1992 10:31 PM
The biggest problem I've found playing phone tag with those guys is that they never seem to know when they're "it"!
#31026From: Bill BeritNov 15, 1992 7:57 PM
Yaaaaaaa! The best way I'v found is to ask for tech help or name a tech rep if known or ask for shipping or a parts man. It seems if one gets to a human one gets answers. Tech lab people will tell you anything once you have established a "regular guy" feeling. They are usually lonly and will gabb about aanything, including "new" products that "ain't out yet". I shouldn't give away trade secrets, Bill.
#30789From: Frank/Lisa RichardsNov 12, 1992 8:02 AM
Katherine, Kodak has been very solidly touting $25 as the cost of their blank media. (CD-ROM Expo, and over their 800 number, which seriously undersells their software). I haven't actually tried to order any, but…. Frank