Advice on DVD Writers

Praetorian

I was thinking of getting the Sony DRU500A DVD+R/-R Multi Standard Writer. Does anyone have this? Would you recommend it?

This writer seems to be the only drive that can write all the different DVD formats. Well except DVD-RAM but I have one of those already unfortunately!

All the reviews I’ve read say its excellent…but then again no-one I trust has reviewed it yet!

Who do I trust? www.anandtech.com and www.tomshardware.com

TinCool

I don't know much about that Sony write. I have a Pioneer A04 which hasn't steered me wrong yet. Fair enough, it only writes to the DVD-R DVD-RW varierty of discs, but ask yourself whether you need the ability to write to the +R(W) variety. 1. +R(W) discs are more expensive. 2. -R(W) discs have better compatibility with stand alone DVD players and movies burnt to DVD-Rs work in PS2's also (works in mine anyways). The Pioneer A04 (there's now an A05 which can write at 3x I believe) is an extremely realiable cheaper drive. I'm sure the sony costs an arm and a leg. Check out the forums on www.vcdhelp.com I'm sure people have posted about their experiences with the Sony drive.

Praetorian

On that site the two drives are the same price.

The Sony got a score of 8.5 and the Pioneer 8.8. Although far more people commented on the Sony drive.

Alot of people are saying that the DVD+R standard will win out at the end of the day...I dont know enough about the differences to comment.

I made a big mistake over a year ago buying a Toshiba DVD-Ram drive...Meglome!!!!! I dont want to repeat my error by buying a drive that isnt compatible with the DVD+R standard

Thanks for your advice Tincool

theciscokid

you'd pay around €500 for a decent dvd writer at the moment,

industry analysts predict they will be as low as €200 by next march, hold on out like the rest of us

elmer

the pioneer a05 can be got online for anything as low as 310 euros ex postage

Gunn4r

Totally agree with tincool.

I have an a04 and I can burn movies that play on most dvd players (scan sc2500, pioneer etc).

Dont know why you would need +R at this point.

Also shop around for media , there are sites that do .99p STG Traxdata blanks which are rock solid.

elmer

i think you got it mixed up praetorian, it's the dvd-r standard that has more compatability, more sales and cheaper media

the sony drive is a great idea, but i think what you have to ask yourself is what you'll using the drive for and how many disks you'll be burning.

I'm going to buy a drive in janurary, I'm very much looking at the the new pioneer drive - 4x writing, with the dvd-r media prices dropping a lot more than the +r(which would indicate to me that more people have the -r drives) i'd reckon it's only a matter of time before +r dies off

but then again if you have an extra 100 euros to spend just to be sure then the sony is your only bet

DannyD

Pioneer DVR-105 IDE DVD-RW/CD-RW for €289.00 + €30.00 post from Germany.Probably going to preorder mine so that once they are available in January I'll get mine.
Total: €319.00 including vat (16%) and postage.
http://www4.avitos.com/shop/info.asp?product_group=1454&service_group=0&product_code=DVB024&fct=&search_str=&sid=&retpage=/shop/catalog.asp

The Sony DRU500A DVD-R(W)/DVD+R(W) is €409 but available straight away.Add €30 postage and the dvd+r format which is probably going to die and it's alot more.
Total: €439.00 including vat and postage.

Difference: €120 for a format that you don't need and which uses expensive media (3 times the price)

elmer

that link seams to say 313 now

Praetorian

Ok you have convinced me. Im going to order the Pioneer. I can get it for £205 sterling which is currently 313 yoyos + 10 shipping from the UK.

Thanks very much for your help people

K!LL!@N

Don't suppose you could give me the link to where you're getting the drive for that price?

Killian

DannyD

avitos.com is alive and so is the link
Have fun with the pioneer.

The Apprentice

Do a search for dvd writers m8




I,ll give u my 2 cents

Buy the pioneer Hands down !!!

Reasons Firstly i got an ao3 when dvd recorders came to about 400 sterlin then the ao4 when 30O sub
Read speeds just keep get better, its now quieter with and shorter, ao3 is huge in Length also write speeds dont get much quicker than 2x at the minute ! No media at the minute on the commercial market will support also the reading off ALLLLLL Media on the market is supported by the pioneer models m8
All dvdr - media of course tried all dear brands ****ty ones and all write read and do all that it should ! majority of the dearer media will play on standalone dvd players some are picky some arent !
Im obviously biased towards pioneer because they actually know something about making quality dvdrw products.. Sony do not !
Search google theres mixed reviews about most installs (sony)
reading writing is good/great and it also does dvdr+

1. Pioneer is a proven product where as sony no **** all in my opinion about makin dvdrw drives
2. Sony are having a lot of mixed reviews about installing on certain operatin systems with different hardware present whereas pioneer is piss easy and has had little or no complaints !
3. Writing dvdrs... the - format is max 2x with media on both drives. The sony now has dvdr + so thats a win win there !!
4. Cdrs writing ... p model has 16x i think and the sony model writes at 24x both have same read speeds...
5. Price 100 euro in the difference so p wins that round
(Pioneer is 320 and sony is 420)
6. Last but Not least Media Prices !!!!
Dvdr- range from 50p sterling to £7 depending on supplier and brand name quality etc
Dvdr+ Is 4 sterling upwards to 30 and believe me that aint flippin cheap nor does read in any dvd players ive ever heard of !

So basically u could get the pioneer and 100 blanks with postage for the same price as the sony !
Whats the difference in waiting an extra 3-6 mins for cdr and the dvdr+ is ****e these dayz.. It will be gone shortly its kind of like betamex in the dvdrw world i think !!
What else !! hmmm
No thats it m8 just buy the damn pioneer and u,ll never look back !!
I,ll have to purchase the 105 soon myself !! and hopefully u might give me a few test results !!
My 2 cents Appy

silverski

Like the DVD product DannyD qouted


http://www4.avitos.com/shop/info.as...hop/catalog.asp

But My German is terrible and I could not find if the site was in English, can anyone advise.....

Praetorian

Trying to get it in for Xmas is the problem...Alot of places are short of stock...

Places that i can get the vat off