Computex Toshiba will begin offering notebook makers samples of its upcoming slimline HD DVD-RW drive next month. The add-in is the first of its its kind, the company claimed.

A slimline HD DVD-RW drive, yesterday

Named the SD-L912A, the drive reads and writes burn-once HD DVD-R/RW media in both single- and dual-layer forms. It'll also handled DVD±R/RW discs, DVD-RAM and CD-R/RW.

The drive connects across a standard ATAPI link, so it should be easy for laptop vendors to build the unit into future laptops. When? Toshiba didn't say. Next month will see limited quantities made available for vendors to evaluate the products, but Toshiba didn't indicate when the product will be made available in volume.