Plextor today announced the PX-HDTV500U Mini Digital HDTV Receiver. The USB stick-sized device, which weighs less than 20 grams, allows users to watch, pause, and record crystal-clear High-Definition TV on most Windows-based laptop computers. Plextor's Mini Digital HDTV Receiver includes software that automatically scans for free air-to-air digital and HD signals in the area. The signals are pulled in by a digital flat antenna. The receiver features a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface for easy connectivity with laptops running Windows 2000/XP/Vista operating systems. In this basic configuration, users can watch, pause, and record live TV with standard definition TV and HDTV video resolution. Recorded TV is converted to MPEG-2 files in real-time and stored on the hard disk drive. The receiver also supports advanced viewing features such as automatic channel scanning, picture-in-picture, aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9, full-screen view or scalable screen for multitasking, and still-picture capture. Plextor's PX-HDTV500U Mini Digital HDTV Receiver will be available in the beginning of April 2007, with a MSRP of $99.00 USD. All retail packages include one-year full warranty and unlimited toll-free technical support.

Plextor unveiled the first space-saving Slim line optical drive solution for desktop PCs. The compact 'dual-bay' Plextor PX-DB600 enables two optical slim line drives to be positioned into the space of just one 5.25" drive bay - making it ideal for lifestyle chassis and small form factor Media Center PCs. Developed from their extensive experience in laptop opticals, the dual-layer multi-format (DVD+/-R and DVD-RAM) Plextor PX-608AL and the dual bay PX-DB600 (combined as the PX-DB608AL) enables greater flexibility and convenience for 'small footprint' PC-owners. For example, users can watch a DVD movie while burning other media to disc, and copy discs directly without saving to the hard disk first. The PX-DB608AL has the following writing speeds: DVD±R 8x, DVD±R DL 4x, DVD+RW 8x, DVD-RW 6x, DVD-RAM 5x, CD-R/RW 24x. It reads DVDs at 8x and CDs at 24x. The Plextor PX-DB608AL solution will be available from April 2007 at Plextor's network of dealers. It is covered by Plextor's Fast Warranty Service (2-year warranty in the EU, Norway and Switzerland (Collect & Return); other countries 1-year carry-in).

Plextor LLC, today announced it would not exit the optical drive market despite earlier reports of its parent company, Shinano Kenshi. Although Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd., announced on January 19, 2007 plans to perform a corporate reorganization, Plextor optical drives will continue to be available in North and South American markets.

This announcement by Shinano Kenshi will have no material affect on the operations of Plextor LLC, as we already completed a corporate reorganization in North and South America last year. Our business will continue as usual,

said Toru Nakazawa, President of Plextor LLC, USA.

Shinanokenshi (the parent company of Plextor) has decided to exit the market for consumer CD and DVD products. The Plextor brand name will remain for industry use products and digital playback units for the visually impaired. Shinanokenshi has announced that their optical drive operations will be reduced to 10% of its peak capacity. These actions will also lead to reduced workforce at Shinanokenshi. Shinanokenshi cites increased competition from Taiwanese and Korean manufacturers, increased pricing competition and slumping profit margins as reasons for exiting the ODD (Optical Disk Drive) business. Plextor has informed that there will be no more shipments of the latest PX-755A and PX-760A DVD burners. The drives should still be available in some retail stores, but once they sell out, they're gone.