Like the Plextor PX-B900A and the IO Data BRD-UM2/U that we reviewed in December 2006, the d2 is actually a Panasonic-manufactured Blu-ray burner. The drive is encased in a LaCie-branded brushed-metal shell that offers both USB 2.0 and FireWire connectors. Roxio’s Easy Media Creator 8.2 comes bundled with the package.

As with all the Blu-ray drives we’ve tested, other than the Lite-On above, the d2 is spec’d to write CD, DVD, and BD at maximum speeds of 24x, 8x, and 2x, respectively. And not surprisingly, the d2 turned in benchmark scores that were right in line with its similarly spec’d brethren: 9:08 (min:sec) to write to DVD+R, 45:31 to fill a 25GB single-layer BD disc, and 99:38 to fill a rewriteable (BD-RE) disc of the same capacity. Indeed, there is nothing especially noteworthy about the d2, besides the fact that it costs $400 more than Lite-On’s Triple Writer.

LaCie’s d2 is actually a rebadged Panasonic drive, like the Plextor and IO DATA burners we reviewed in December 2006.

LaCie, Blu-Ray Drive
www.lacie.com

Barney Rubble

We should pay this much money to watch the paint dry during Blu-ray burns?!

Burning Rubble

USB and FireWire interfaces are convenient.