August 25, 1999 Web posted at: 12:16 p.m. EDT (1616 GMT) by Jeff Partyka

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(IDG) -- Hewlett-Packard is targeting music lovers with its newest CD-ReWritable (CD-RW) drive, the HP CD-Writer Music.

The drive, set for release on Sept. 1 with an estimated $299 street price, offers 4X write and rewrite speeds, a 6X read speed, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface for connection to a computer.

The drive also comes with Sonic Foundry's Music Jukebox software, which offers downloading, copying and management capabilities for digital audio files. Files can be downloaded from the Internet, or copied from compact discs or other audio sources.

The software supports both MP3 and Microsoft's Windows Media Audio compression technologies.

Completing the HP CD-Writer Music package are HP Music Digital Audio CD-R media, and NEATO LLC's CD Labeler and software for producing disc labels and jewel-case inserts.

The HP drive differs from stand-alone CD recorders that connect to stereo components in that it can use any type of CD-R or CD-RW media, and multiple copies can then be made from the copy.

Standalone recorder components require the use of more expensive media that includes a royalty charge the disc manufacturer then pays to songwriters and recording artists in compliance with the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992. In addition, the resulting discs cannot be used to make other digital copies.

Jeff Partyka writes for the IDG News Service in Boston.