Toshiba said it will offer a standard-height HD DVD drive able to read and write to the new HD DVD format, as well as to standard DVD and CD discs. Toshiba, HD DVD's prime proponent, said sample shipments of the new drive (model SD-H903A) are scheduled to start later this month.

The drive contains a blue-violet laser diode that can read and write to HD DVD-R discs and supports high-density HD DVD-ROM discs, including movies, the company said.

Toshiba said the new drive also is compliant with the European Union's RoHS directive (Reduction of Hazardous Substances), which became effective last summer.