Primeras announces all new Bravo Pro Xi-Series – Less expensive than before!

The new Xi models are touted as being faster, and more feature packed.

The new printers are the:

*BravoPro Xi AutoPrinter:* 100-disc capacity for print-only applications; US$1995 (MSRP).

*BravoPro Xi Disc Publisher:* 100-disc capacity and _one_ high-speed CD/DVD drive; US$2995 (MSRP).

* BravoPro Xi2 Disc Publisher:* 100-disc capacity and _two_ high-speed CD/DVD drives; US$3295 (MSRP).

You can find out more about the new Xi-Series Disc Publisher at www.primera.com and watch a video of the new features at www.primera.com/bravopro_videos.html

Nice to see Primera step up with faster models, more features all at a lower price point than the models they replaced.

Call us today to learn about the benefits of these all new printers and how we can help your organization save time and resources utilizing Primera disc publishers.

TDK Announces Breakthrough!

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Potential new technology could yield a rewritable optical disc that could contain up to 320GB of data. As more and more content is created in higher and higher definitions it has become apparent that BluRay storage discs may not be large enough.

TDK has always been one to push the limits. Back in August, we heard that the company’s roadmap included 960GB laptop drives and 3.2TB desktop drives. Now, we’re also hearing that it’s looking to push the same boundaries in the optical media realm. How does a 10-layer, 320GB disc sound? Sounds like Blu-ray whimpering.

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It will be interesting to see if this is different technology than GE was discussing with the press released referenced here If not it may be a race to the consumer market to monetize this research.

The Techware Turbos are playoff champions.

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The Techware Turbos recently emerged as playoff champions in the Edina Monday Doubleheader Men’s Softball League at VanValkenburg Park…Finding a sponsor for the softball team was never a problem because Gabrik is president of Techware, an Edina-based company that duplicates CD’s and DVD’s. Nelson is vice-president….

via MN SUN

Pioneer Introduces new DVD Burner for Netbooks

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Recognizing the growing popularity of netbook and notebook products, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today announces a new slim portable DVD/CD writer, the DVR-XD09, that features the industry’s most compact design to date.

The new DVR-XD09 weighs approximately eight ounces and has an overall size that is slightly larger than a music CD case.

This new drive is targeted specifically towards the subset of computer users that have adopted the smaller more portable netbook style of computing that eschews traditional optical drives and sometimes even spinning magnetic hard drives. The drive connects over USB 2.0 and gives users access to traditional software and entertainment input methods on ever smaller computing devices. It is expected to be available next month.
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G.E.’s Breakthrough Can Put 100 DVDs on a Disc Article Tools

GE healtcare

Researchers at GE at work to create 500gb optical discs for next generation data storage using holograms.

Published: NY Times online
April 26, 2009

General Electric says it has achieved a breakthrough in digital storage technology that will allow standard-size discs to hold the equivalent of 100 DVDs…“This could be the next generation of low-cost storage, ”said Richard Doherty, an analyst at Envisioneering, a technology research firm…Holographic storage has the potential to pack data far more densely than conventional optical technology, used in DVDs and the newer, high-capacity Blu-ray discs”
….When Blu-ray was introduced in late 2006, a 25-gigabyte disc cost nearly $1 a gigabyte, though it is about half that now. G.E. expects that when they are introduced, perhaps in 2011 or 2012, holographic discs using its technology will be less than 10 cents a gigabyte — and fall in the future. More

With medical imaging data sets growing exponentially, look for this technology to first find its way into storage solutions for GEs healthcare line of CT and PET and 3D scanning technology. Eventually this technology could ultimately end up as a successor to blueray and in consumers hands as an affordable way to archive high definition video and personal data. For more information head over to the full article

**techwaredist is not affiliated with GE or GE Healthcare.

Rimage 8100 Systems with PrismPlus Printers

8100_rimage2Has your research led you to the durability, high throughput and indelible printing features of the top of the line Rimage 8100 printer but the sticker price has you a little shell shocked?

Save thousands of dollars on an almost new Rimage Producer 8100 system with a PrismPlus thermal printer. This system was acquired from a company that ran less than 200 discs and still has the original ribbon install at the factory. We have fully tested and updated the firmware on the (4) CD/DVD burners, robotic autoloader and printer.

What is included: Four DVD/CD burners, PrismPlus! printer, HP Server with preloaded Rimage 7.5 software, 3.0 Xeon processor, 2gb Ram, (2) 80gb Raid zero hard drives, all cables, original box, Disc Watch light, 300 Taiyo Yuden silver CD-r, at least a 30 day parts and labor depot warranty. FOB Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Extended warranty and on-site warranty options are available. Call Techware for more details on this great Rimage 8100 deal – (800) 295-0083.

Get more information by visiting this Rimage 8100 link.

Used CD / DVD Duplicators and Printers – Save $$ on Used Rimage, Microboards, and Primera.

With the economy slowing, it is important now more than ever to get great value with your next DVD / CD duplicator and/or printer. One way to accomplish this is to seek out gently used, reliable equipment from a trustworthy vendor. And Techwaredist.com is just that.
You will save money on used Microboards Print Factory Pro and Print Factory 1 printers as well as used CD / DVD Duplication Towers. In addition, we have highly reliable and robust used Rimage printers and duplicators in stock. Models like: Everest III autoprinter, Everest 600 autoprinter, 6100N with Everest, Amigo II, Protege II and 8100 with PrismPlus. Primera systems too.
In addition to moving up to a better system for your money, you will get a system that will not only meet your production needs today, but one that can grow with future volume increases. If your production does out-grow your purchase from Techware, you can trade it in for a bigger or better system. And you will get a solid parts and labor warranty with the option to use our professional post warranty repair services, at a discount, for the life of your system.
Contact a friendly Techware representative at 800-295-0083, or email us for more information.

CD Printers – 5 Tips to Use When Buying a CD Printer

By Kevin Gabrik

December 27, 2008

There are many factors to consider when making the decision on which CD printer to purchase for your business. This article will touch on a few of the basics like choosing the right printer manufacturer, cost of CD printers, inkjet or thermal, productivity, speed and durability. Part 2 of this article will dig in deeper on the basic criteria listed above as well as on more advanced points like print quality, color matching, unique printing on each disc, total cost of ownership, used CD printers and buying from a reputable dealer.

For the purposes of this article I’m focusing on just DVD / CD printers, not duplicators with printers that can print and/or copy CDs and DVDs at the same time. I will save that topic for a future article.

The goal of this article is to give you a basis for making the best decision when purchasing a CD printer so you get it right the first time. In this economy, you can’t afford to make the mistake of buying the wrong printer for your CDs and DVDs. Spending money on the wrong CD printer for your needs and wasting time figuring it out is both frustrating and a misuse of your company’s resources.

The research for this article was acquired over 13 years of selling, using, testing, supporting, and repairing CD and DVD printers. My experience is with mid-level and high-end professional disc printers, so these tips may not be relevant for potential purchasers of entry-level hand feed on-disc printers that sell for $300 or less. Sub $300 disc printers clearly have a niche, but for professional CD printing needs they tend to have high consumable costs, poor technical support, slow print speeds and in many cases poor print quality.

Tip #1 – Start with the Big 3 Manufacturers

Rimage, Microboards and Primera have been in the CD printer and duplicator manufacturing business since it’s infancy. In my estimation they have over an 80% market share of the CD / DVD printers sold in the world. The “Big 3” are the leaders in their respective print technologies and offer the most stability in the disc printer marketplace. These three manufacturers are in a better position to be in business and support you than their less stable competitors in the coming months and years. They also have proven technical support and post-warranty support that is superior to the other manufacturers in the CD / DVD duplication and printing market.

Tip #2 – Cost of the CD / DVD printer – Inkjet or Thermal

Costs vary widely, but the main defining points are the type of print engine technology employed in the printer – inkjet or thermal transfer, and whether or not the CD printing system is manual or automated. Inkjet based CD / DVD printers are less expensive than thermal transfer CD printers. A good automated inkjet printer costs $2500, while a good color thermal transfer CD printer costs $8500 or more. Disc capacity and software features also play a role in cost. Part 2 of this article will dive in deeper on the pros and cons of inkjet and thermal based printers.

Tip #3 – Automated or Manual?

Choosing between a printer that you manually hand feed the CDs or DVDs, or picking a automated CD printer with a robotic arm or mechanism that moves and prints the discs for you is a big decision in regards to upfront costs, labor, and productivity. Good hand-fed manual disc printers start at $699, whereas an entry-level automated CD printer with a 20-disc capacity costs about $999. Larger and faster automated systems that hold as many as 300-discs can cost up to $9500. So how do you decide which is best for you?

First, estimate the number of discs you will need to print per week, per month and per year. Factor in any growth in that number quarter over quarter or year over year. I have found that many organizations under-estimate their usage projections because they fail to take into account that other departments or employees will need the services of the new CD printer as well. Second, determine if you will have intense peak periods of CD or DVD production. Many organizations need to produce discs only 1 once a week or month, but need all 100 or 500 in a few hours or just one day. Third, determine what is the value of your time. Do you have the time to put each disc in the printer by hand, or is your time or that of your employee better spent doing something else?

Tip #4 – Speed

A question I get over and over again is how many discs per hour or day can a CD printer print? The speed at which a CD or DVD is printed depends on a few factors. (1) Print coverage, (2) the resolution chosen in the printer driver, and (3) the actual printer itself. For example, an inkjet printer that prints a CD label with a small color logo, just a few lines of text, with the print driver set at a lower resolution, can print 200 CD’s per hour. That same printer may only have a print throughput of 50 CD’s an hour with a full color edge-to-edge graphic and the print driver set to the highest resolution.

To a lesser degree the same holds true for thermal CD printers. The Rimage Prism thermal CD printer will have greater throughput with less print coverage, but will not suffer as drastic a drop off in throughput while printing a graphic with more print coverage like inkjet printers do. Interestingly, the Rimage Everest thermal printer has the same disc per hour throughput with one line of text in the graphic label as another artwork featuring 100% print coverage. The Rimage Everest III and Everest 600 printers will each print about 65 discs per hour regardless of print coverage.

Tip #5 – CD Printer Durability

Generally disc printers that are made out of plastic are less durable than those made out of metal. Most inkjet printers that I have used and tested over the years are made mostly of plastic components whereas most of the thermal printers are made from metal parts. That being said we have had good success and our customers have had success with Primera and Microboards inkjet printers with an average useful in-service life of 3-5 years depending on how the users treat them. We have some Rimage Prism thermal printers in our CD / DVD production room that are well into their 10th year of service. As a footnote, these thermal and inkjet CD printers have had scheduled cleanings and parts replacement over the years.

In Conclusion

Begin your DVD CD printer research with the three major manufacturers – Rimage, Microboards, and Primera. Forecast your daily, monthly and yearly CD and DVD printing needs and determine whether a manual or automated printer makes more sense. Look at both inkjet and thermal options, while keeping in mind your budget and how long you would like the CD printer to last. If you do not have the budget for the CD printer that best fits your needs, try looking for a good used disc printer or you may find that outsourcing your CD and DVD duplication and printing to a professional service company makes more business sense.

Primera’s New “Rent & Rip” Program for Apple ® iTunes ® or Windows Media Player

PLYMOUTH, MN, USA (Dec 15, 2008) — Primera Technology, Inc., the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of CD, DVD, and Blu-ray disc duplication and printing equipment, has unveiled its new Rent & Rip Program for Personal CD Collections.

Under the terms of the program, customers can rent a Primera Bravo SE* Disc Publisher along with the company’s PTRip software for just $299 per week. The Bravo SE’s built-in robotics will load personal music CDs into the unit and rip tracks into Apple iTunes or Windows Media Player – automatically and “hands-free.” Round-trip transportation is included in the rental fee.

“By loading up their CDs and walking away, users will discover a way to bring new life to any CD collection, whether it is at home, work, or at a house of worship,” said Mark D. Strobel, Primera’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Sending 1,000 CDs to a service could easily cost $1,000 before shipping costs. For just $299, our Rent & Rip Program lets you do the same thing yourself – without the risk of sending away your valuable CD collection.”

The program is simple to use and requires just three steps:

1. Place CDs into a Bravo SE Disc Publisher’s input bin,
2. Launch PTRip,
3. Click “Load to iTunes” or “Load to Windows Media Player.”

The process repeats until all CDs in the input bin are processed. Simply remove the ripped discs from the output bin, reload the input bin and click the Import button again to continue.

Contact authorized reseller Techware Distribution

Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Techware Distribution, Inc. is a leader in selling and servicing CD/DVD/BD duplication and printing equipment. Primera is known for its award-winning Bravo line of CD/DVD/BD publishers including the world’s best-selling Bravo SE, Bravo II, BravoPro and Bravo XR-Series Disc Publishers (Disc Publisher SE, II, Pro and XR-Series in Europe and Scandinavia). Phone: 1-800-295-0083

Notes to Editors: Bravo and PTRip are trademarks and Primera is a registered trademark of Primera Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.

VIA