sunflash-Distributed to mailing list sun/NC/north-carolina sunflash-Send requests, problems to owner-sunflash@suntri.east.sun.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash New High Performance CD-ROM Drive SunFLASH Vol 57 #4 September 1993 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 57.04 New High Performance CD-ROM Drive - New SunCD Plus is twice as fast at current SunCD drive, loads software 60% faster than current SunCD. - New SunCD Plus supports enhanced multimedia formats such as CD-ROM XA and Kodak's PhotoCD - New SunCD Plus is bundled in popular File and Database server option packs - Comes bundled with CDWare Volume 5 which contains demos of over 75 Solaris applications ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) introduces the new Desktop SunCD(TM) Plus Pack, a high performance CD-ROM drive packaged in Sun's(TM) small, rugged Desktop Storage Pack. With a data transfer rate over 300 kilobytes per second, customers can load their software 60% faster than with the current SunCD drive. With a 256 kilobyte buffer and a synchronous SCSI burst rate of 4 megabytes per second, the SunCD Plus enables many multimedia applications to be executed directly from the compact disc, saving valuable magnetic disk space for storing important data files. The new SunCD Plus CD-ROM drive supports all existing CD-ROM standard filesystem formats such as the High Sierra File System, ISO 9660 and Rockridge. In addition, the new SunCD Plus also supports many important emerging multimedia formats, including CD-ROM Extended Architecture (XA) and Kodak's PhotoCD. The SunCD Plus maintains the popular audio jack and volume control knob featured in the SunCD drive, so customers can play their favorite CD audio discs using this drive. The SunCD Plus also supports CD-DA over SCSI, enabling multimedia applications to transfer audio bits over the SCSI bus. All Desktop SunCD Plus packs come bundled with CDware(TM) Volume 5, the industry's most comprehensive CD-ROM resource for SPARC(R) based applications. CDware Volume 5 features hands-on interactive demos as well as full binaries for several popular software packages that support the Solaris(R) 1.x/2.x operating environment. In all, CDware Volume 5 contains information on 76 products from 63 companies. The SunCD Plus drive has been fully qualified and tested by Sun engineers for optimum performance and reliability when used with Sun SPARCstation(TM) and SPARCserver(TM) systems. Sun has verfied the 30,000 hour MTBF rating of this device so customers can rest assured they are getting the reliability they expect. Packaged in the Desktop Storage Pack, this drive is certified by all regulatory agencies worldwide to meet the most demanding environmental specifications. The quality, reliability and performance of the SunCD Plus drive means customers can not find a better value for CD-ROM storage anywhere else in the market. Bundled with other Sun brand mass storage peripherals in the popular File and Database server option packs, customers can create powerful, low cost servers buying pre-configured mass storage option packs. FEATURES AND BENEFITS Features: Benefits: --------- --------- o Twice as fast as the current SunCD o Load software in much less time o Large buffer and improved SCSI o Run multimedia applications performance directly from the device and save valuable magnetic disk space o Supports new multimedia formats o Access to latest multimedia applications o Supported on Solaris 1.x o Plug and play with current SPARC system o Bundled in popular File and o Create powerful low cost servers Database server option packs buying pre-packaged mass storage options HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE CONSIDERATIONS ------------------------------------ The Desktop SunCD Plus Pack requires Solaris 1.0 or later operating environment. Support for multisession (PhotoCD) is included in Solaris 2.2 and later releases. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS --------------------- Q. On what systems is the Desktop SunCD Plus Pack supported? A. The Desktop SunCD Plus Pack is supported on the following systems: SPARCstation ELC(TM) SPARCstation IPC(TM) SPARCstation IPX(TM) SPARCstation 1/1+ SPARCstation 2 SPARCstation 10 SPARCclassic(TM) SPARCstation LX(TM) SPARCserver 1000 SPARCcenter(TM) 2000 SPARCserver 630MP SPARCserver 670MP SPARCserver 690MP Q. When will the SunCD Plus be supported internally on high-end servers? A. The SPARCserver 1000 and SPARCcenter 2000 systems are currently shipping with the SunCD Plus installed. Q. Will an internal version of the drive be available in the future? A. No. An internal version of the drive will not be available as the SPARCserver 1000 and SPARCcenter 2000 system will come standard with this drive. SPARCserver 600MP systems can use the desktop version of this drive if required. Q. What is Kodak PhotoCD? How is this relevant to Sun? A. Kodak PhotoCD is a consumer application that transfers 35mm film images to a compact disc. Kodak sells PhotoCD players that allow these CDs to be viewed on a standard televsion set. PhotoCD is viewed as an important CD-ROM technology that multimedia application developers will take advantage of. Having a CD-ROM drive that can read PhotoCD images in a computer environment is important for multimedia application development Q. What is needed to view a PhotoCD on a Sun SPARCstation? A. Basic driver level support for PhotoCD discs is provided as part of Solaris 2.2. Additional software is required to decompress the PhotoCD images. Future versions of Solaris will provide a tool kit that facilitates the development of applications using PhotoCD technology. Q. What is CD-ROM XA? A. CD-ROM Extended Architecture (XA) is an enhanced format that allows for true interleaving of data (text and images) and audio on a single track. This audio/data interleaving is important for applications where synchronization of audio and text or images is important, i.e full motion video with sychronized audio. XA audio is compressed which, along with interleaving, allows synchronization to occur with far less CPU performance degradation. Q. How long will Sun continue to offer the SunCD drive? A. SMCC will continue to offer the SunCD drive as long as their is significant demand. U.S. PRICING AND ORDERING INFORMATION ------------------------------------- THESE PRODUCTS APPEAR IN BOTH THE END USER AND RESELLER PRICE LIST Order List Disc SunSpectrum Description Number Price Cat Silver Price =============================================================================== Desktop SunCD Plus Pack X557A $ 995 A N/C File Server Option Pack: X2033A $4,995 A N/C 1.05-GB Desktop Disk Pack, 5-GB 4mm Desktop Backup Pack, Desktop SunCD Plus Pack File Server Option Pack: X2023A $7,200 A N/C 1.05-GB Desktop Disk Pack, 5-GB 8mm Tape Desktop Storage Module, Desktop SunCD Plus Pack DBMS Server Option Pack: X2024A $9,995 A N/C 4.2-GB Multi-Disk Pack, 5-GB 4mm Desktop Backup Pack, Desktop SunCD Plus Pack DBMS Server Option Pack: X2025A $12,200 A N/C 4.2-GB Desktop Disk Pack, 5-GB 8mm Tape Desktop Storage Module, Desktop SunCD Plus Pack LAN Server Option Pack: X2028A $8,100 A N/C 1.05-GB Desktop Disk Pack, 5-GB 8mm Tape Desktop Storage Module, Desktop SunCD Plus Pack NetWare SunLink (minimum license) AVAILABILITY ------------ The Desktop SunCD Plus Pack and server option packs can be ordered now for shipment beginning immediately. (c) 1993 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation, SunCD, CDware. Solaris, ELC, IPC, IPX, and LX are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All SPARC trademarks, including the SCD Compliant Logo, are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC Internatinal, Inc. SPARCstation, SPARCserver, SPARCclassic, and SPARCcenter are licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems, Inc. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. All other product or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. ********************************************************************** For information about SunFlash send mail to info-sunflash@Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@Sun.COM. Archives are on draco.nova.edu, ftp.uu.net, sunsite.unc.edu, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. Send brief articles (e.g. third party announcements) and include contact information (non-800#, fax #, email, etc) to: John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@Sun.COM. +1 305 351 4909