Sony Unveils World's First Blu-ray Disc Recorder

Sony has taken the wraps off the first commercial consumer-use video recorder that uses blue-laser technology. The BDZ-S77 will go on sale in Japan next month. It is based on the Blu-ray optical disc format announced just over a year ago. The nine consumer electronics companies behind it are promoting it as a system for recording high-definition television broadcasts.

Sony's first generation recorder will land on Japanese retail shelves on April 10, at a price of $3,800. It looks similar to the prototype Blu-ray player that Sony showed at the Ceatec show in Japan last October. To support the new machine, Sony also announced its first generation Blu-ray media discs with a 23GB capacity will go on sale from April 10 priced at $30.