Second-Generation Super Multi Blue Drives: LG offers consumers unparalleled flexibility in next-generation optical disc drives with the introduction of two new dual-format "Super Multi Blue" Blu-ray and HD DVD compatible internal drives. Reflecting manufacturing efficiencies and marketplace realities, LG announced the units will retail at the new price of $499 for the GGW-H20LI and $399 for the GGC-H20LI. Both units feature LightScribe, enabling consumers to easily create direct-to-disc labels right from their drive. The optical drives are compatible with Blu-ray Disc, DVD, CD read/write and HD-DVD-ROM (read only), offering consumers the most universal units available.

The GGW-H20LI features a 6x recording speed of Blu-ray Discs, which means that it takes only 16 minutes to burn a full single layer BD-R disc (25GB), compared with 23-24 minutes for 4x recording and 46-47 minutes for 2x recording. LG also doubled its DVD+RW/-RW recording speed to 16x recording. The GGW-H20LI can record up to 50GB of data, equivalent to 4-1/2 hours of high-definition video or 22 hours of standard definition video (on a dual layer 50GB BD-R/BD-RE recordable media).
The GGC-H20LI, featuring Blu-ray disc and HD DVD playback compatibility, makes a great addition to any HD content enthusiast's system. The unit also offers consumers a 16x recording speed of DVD+RW/-RW and 32x recording speed of CD-R/RW.

Their initial time test shows the 2x burning surpasses its competitors (by seconds), taking 44 minutes to burn a 25GB disc. So it's the fastest 2x burner PC World has timed, but not by a lot. And unfortunately, because the media is still stuck at 2x, they were unable to test out the burner's 4x capabilities.

The catch(es)? First, wouldn't you assume that this drive would burn both Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs? I did, and I bet that a lot of people who are familiar with LG's one-drive-every-format claims will, too. Also, the model will cost a hefty $1199 when released in June.

Solution? Fork over $600 for a Blu-ray burner and $200 for the Xbox 360 external HD-DVD drive. Then send the remaining $300 to the Gizmodo weekend writer of your choosing. Note: DO NOT donate it to charity. – Mark Wilson

Tested: LG's New Super... [PC World]

Hitachi-LG to Exhibit Blu-ray/HD DVD Drive [Gizmo Watch]

Despite subsequent controversy around the unit, many saw LG's combo player as THE announcement of CES2007. While its $1,200 price tag means that grandma and grandpa won't be upgrading any time soon, at least some company has taken the initiative to produce the product we've all been waiting for since the next-gen DVD wars began.

–Mark Wilson

Order Page
Thanks Jose!

The official statement from LG is that you will be able to go into Best Buys, Circuit Cities, Comp USAs, and other stores and pick one up around February 4, like we said before. If you're lucky (and your local Comp USA employees are dumb), you may have already seen it on shelves.

Confusion ended. – Jason Chen

PRICETAG: $1,199

SPECTACLE: 1080p LCDs/Plasmas playing Blu-ray movies of oil and water being poured onto high-definition semi-nude girls and vegetables. Lots and lots of vegetables.

ACHILLES HEEL: Blu-ray discs take 25 seconds to start up. Fastest startup? PS3 was pretty fast. Doesn't support all the IHD features in discs. Blu-ray is ok. The computer-based drive handles both.

WHAT THEY DIDN'T SAY: Which one looks better.

BEST SPEC: Optical Pick-up technology (two laser diodes) that can read both HD DVD and Blu-ray and both Red (DVD) and optional RED (CD). Blue diode has two components. One to read BD one for HD.

RANDOM STAT: LG's the #1 producer of flat-panels. They make 20-71 inches, and the huge 100-inch LCD they have on display in their booth.

OVERHEARD: "Ouch, only HDMI 1.2?"

REMINDS US OF: Their PC-based Super Multi Blue drive that's also $1,199, plays back BD and HD, but can write BD discs (BD ROM/R/RE read/write, BD Dual layer read/write, BD R X4 speed read/write)

SNAP JUDGMENT: We love the price, but how many Korean babies was sacrificed to license both Blu-ray and HD DVD in a player that's only $1,199? Apparently IHD and HDMI 1.3 (only has 1.2) were left out.

MADE US LOL: [After the Superman Returns demo] We feel Superman, with his red and blue, was a perfect spokesman for our red and blue laser system.

YOU'LL WANT ONE BECAUSE: You don't want to buy both HD and BD players.

YOU WON'T WANT ONE BECAUSE: You're waiting for the price to drop below $1000 and LG (or other manufacturers) to add in missing specs, such as IHD special features, HDMI 1.3.

GRADE: A-

– Jason Chen and Adam Frucci