Media Vision has also announced the Reno Personal CD-ROM Player, a personal CD-ROM player for Macintosh and IBM compatible computers. It is a double-speed external CD-ROM drive operable either by NiCad batteries or the AC power source included. As a CD-ROM player, the Reno drive connects to a notebook or desktop computer via a SCSI Small Computer Systems Interface connection. It meets MPC2 specifications, without the usual performance or cost compromises, the company claims. Combined with the Pro Audio PCMCIA card, it creates a personal, portable multimedia upgrade system for notebook computers. Consisting of the player and the docking connector, the Reno drive is capable of data transfer rates of 306Kbps and access speed of less than 180mS. The Reno also features a 64Kb buffer memory; photo CD multi-session compatibility; and a standard SCSI-2 interface in a compact chassis. It will be available in three bundled versions: a stand-alone CD-ROM drive; a multimedia upgrade kit including a sound card; and a notebook version which will provide a computer connection for the CD-ROM. The Reno player will come bundled with several interactive CD-ROM software titles which are to be announced later in the first quarter of this year. The stand-alone Reno Personal CD-ROM Player is expected to be available in March 1994 throughout the US at suggested prices ranging from $400 to $550. International versions will be the same price, available early in the second quarter.
