When you want to destroy a CD or DVD these days, you typically either rip it up or use a disc shredder to make sure no one else can ever read the disc. Unfortunately destroying discs in this manner often releases dangerous toxins from the disc into the environment. Plextor now has a new solution which is both environment-friendly and easy to use. It’s called the PlexEraser PX-OE100E drive and it securely destroys your data on discs without releasing anything into the atmosphere.

The PX-OE100E uses a laser beam to destroy the data logging layers of a typical CD or DVD disc – making it entirely unusable. However since the drive uses lasers to obliterate the data, nothing is actually physically broken on the disc and hence – everything and everyone is safe from any hazardous materials.

The drive supports 8 different disc formats in both the 12 cm and 8 cm sizes. These formats include: CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-R/DVD+R/DVD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD-R DL/DVD+R DL. You simply pop the disc into the PlexEraser, wait a few minutes and then watch the disc come out entirely empty of data. The drive also marks discs to indicate whether a disc has been destroyed or not.

The new PlexEraser PX-OE100E will be available in November for a list price of $249.99.

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Plextor Drive Offers Secure, Environmentally Friendly Way to Destroy CD/DVD Discs

Computer Industry’s First Device to Safely Destroy Data on CD/DVD Discs

FREMONT, Calif. –(Business Wire)– Oct. 16, 2006 Plextor(R) LLC, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media equipment, today announced PlexEraser (PX-OE100E), the world’s first CD/DVD drive to enable security-conscious organizations to destroy discs using a method that is both environmentally friendly and secure.

PlexEraser is a standalone unit that does not require a personal computer to operate. This high-tech alternative to the disc shredder was designed for organizations in such industries as finance, government/military, and research – as well as any company with commercially sensitive data. PlexEraser enables discs to be destroyed without the organic dye leaking from the disc – something not possible with a disc shredder/manual shattering – and leaves them ready to be recycled without any data being recoverable.

“Physically breaking the discs means the organic dye can escape, which can damage the environment,” said Michael Arbisi, vice president of channel sales for Plextor. “PlexEraser is ideal for businesses that want to permanently destroy data in an easy-to-use and ‘green’ manner.”

PX-OE100E PlexEraser Drive

Plextor’s new PlexEraser technology uses a laser beam to destroy the data-logging portion of a CD/DVD disc. This directly obliterates the data recording layer in the disc, which means the data is unreadable and unrecoverable. After the data is destroyed, the drive automatically marks the disc to show which ones have been destroyed and which have not. The robust, professional drive is designed to be used continuously if necessary.

PlexEraser destroys eight types of disc formats in both 12cm and 8cm sizes: CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-R/DVD+R/DVD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD-R DL/DVD+R DL. It takes, on average, three minutes to destroy data on CD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, and DVD-R/RW discs and six minutes for dual layer discs (DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL).

PlexEraser is easy to operate – simply insert the disc that you want to dispose of and it starts automatically. When it finishes, the disc is automatically ejected. PlexEraser has low power consumption and very low operating noise, just 35 decibels – barely noticeable, even in a quiet office. To prevent accidental destruction of valuable data, PlexEraser features a highly distinctive bright-orange tray and two highly visible bright-yellow warning stickers.

In addition to destroying discs in an environmentally-friendly way, the PlexEraser unit itself is manufactured to WEEE and RoHS directives. Regarding the Restriction on Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Plextor has adhered strictly to the poisonous substance restriction that limits the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, biphenyl (PBB), and diphenyl ether (PBDE) to protect the environment.

Pricing and Availability

Plextor’s PlexEraser PX-OE100E drive will ship to North and South American distributors in November 2006, with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $249.99 USD. All retail packages include one-year full warranty and unlimited toll-free technical support.

About Plextor

Plextor LLC is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media equipment for professionals, consumers, and enterprises. Headquartered in Silicon Valley since 1990, Plextor has introduced generations of award-winning products, including digital video converters and CD-R/RW, DVD+/-R/RW optical disk drives, and Network Attached Storage products. Contact Plextor at http://www.plextor.com.

Plextor and the Plextor logo are registered trademarks of Shinano Kenshi Kabushiki Kaisha. Other brands and products are trademarks of their respective holder/s.

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