LaCie Intro Lightscribe Burner

Peripherals vendor LaCie will next month ship a DVD writer that can label disks after recording data on them. The drive can burn text and graphics onto the top surface of the media using the same laser employed to write data, thus eliminating the need for a separate label printer, according to LaCie.

The LaCie D2 DVD+/-RW Double Layer drive, which is expected to ship in February, uses media with a laser-sensitive coating on its upper surface.

After a DVD or CD has been recorded in the standard fashion, staff can flip the disk over and use the drive to etch their own label design into the coating.

The technology in the drive is known as LightScribe and was developed by HP last year, but the LaCie D2 DVD+/-RW Double Layer drive is the first shipping product to use it.

"LaCie's fastest and most durable D2 DVD burner paired with the innovative LightScribe technology delivers the best burning and personalisation available," said LaCie's UK General Manager George Leptos.

With LightScribe technology, customers can burn a custom label that requires no ink, can be created anywhere and does not take up data space or peel off, LaCie added.

The drive supports DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R and CD-RW media, and can also write dual-layer DVDs that store up to 8.5GB of data.

The version of the LaCie D2 DVD+/-RW Double Layer drive for PC/Mac comes with both USB 2.0 and FireWire ports and is priced at £98 + VAT.

A Mac-only version of the drive with just a FireWire port is available priced at £107 + VAT.