Philips’ new JackRabbit external drive features 24x CD-R recording and comes USB 2.0 ready. In addition, the drive offers backward compatibility to USB 1.1 systems. For time constrained PC users on the road or in the office the USB 2.0 enabled 24x recording speed allows to write an entire disc in as little as 5 minutes. The portable drive is ideal to use with both notebook and desktop PC systems, and the USB interface allows immediate ‘plug and play’ to multiple systems in diverse locations.

A new eye catching design also incorporates the Philips ‘Blue Button’ function, a button which will allow, in future, end users immediate internet access to product specific information, upgrades (for example, new firmware), and product support sites. “Blue Button” will also allow end users the option to create a fast link to URLs and IPs or a fast application launch.

As the latest addition to the Philips ‘intelligent’ drive portfolio, the new JackRabbit will have Thermo Balanced Writing for minimizing write errors and Seamless Link for buffer underrun protection.

This new JackRabbit will be sold from April 2002 as a complete retail kit that includes the portable drive, installation tool, application software from Roxio for PC and Mac, USB cables, power supply and a blank CD-R disc.