Toshiba SD-L912A HD DVD-RW writer for Laptops

I'm not certain whether Toshiba can brag whether the SD-L912A is the first HD DVD-RW writer for laptops, but it probably won't be the last.
Of course, it can only do 1x readable/writable speeds, and it takes about 2 hours to fill a 30GB dual-layer disc. However, should we be surprised? Remember how slow the first CD-ROMs were? The bonus is it is compatible with DVD and CD ROM formats.
The Toshiba SD-L192A HD DVD-RW is about 12.7 mm thick and should be available in July.
Via Engadget