CNET take a further look at the Pioneer BDR-101A. According to declared specifications, the Pioneer BDR-101A can write at 2X speed to both write-once Blu-ray discs (BD-R) and rewritable Blu-ray discs (BD-RE). The drive can also write to DVD-R and +R discs at 8X, DVD-RW and +RW discs at 4X speed, double-layer DVD+R discs at 2.4X, and double-layer DVD-R discs at 2X speed. It has an 8MB buffer for Blu-ray discs and a 2MB buffer for DVDs.

One of Blu-ray's chief advantages is its large storage capacity: a DVD holds 4.7GB per side, HD-DVD holds 15GB per side, and Blu-ray holds 25GB per side. Though 25GB of storage capacity is impressive, it makes it all the more disappointing that the Pioneer BDR-101A doesn't support 50GB dual-layer discs, which are available now. Since CD burners are cheap and fast, we are less concerned with the BDR-101A's inability to read or write CDs. Your current optical drive is likely faster than the 24X CD-R write time of the Sony BWU-100A drive, which carries support for CDs and dual-layer Blu-ray discs.

The good: Single-layer Blu-ray disc holds 25GB; actual write speed is close to the 2X-rated speed.

The bad: Expensive; slow write time compared to CD and DVD burners; doesn't read or write dual-layer Blu-ray discs or CDs; no Mac support.

The bottom line: The first Blu-ray burner to hit the market, the Pioneer BDR-101A gives you 25GB of storage on a single disc and its actual write speeds nearly match its rated 2X spec. Still, it's a first-generation drive that's too expensive for anyone but professionals and enthusiasts working with HD video.