Sony Dual DVD+R/DVD-R Burner

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://pocketpcthoughts.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=632463/ut=4493b2c34aaee6dd' target='_blank'>http://pocketpcthoughts.pricegrabbe...493b2c34aaee6dd</a><br /><br /></div>I just noticed that Pricegrabber has the new Sony DVD burner listed - if you need a drive that burns both DVD-R and DVD+R, this is the only one that I'm aware of that can accomplish it. Not a bad price either!<br /><br /><img src="http://images.pricegrabber.com/product_images/632000-632999/632463_125.jpg" />

[palur]

It is nice to know about other electronic products. But, I thought it is all about pocket pcs here. Whatever, It is still useful. 8O

[whershfeld]

:? Just a quick annecdote that I found interesting regarding this drive - I ordered the Sony drive for my new Sony RZ Series Studio desktop and the drive door doesn't fit through the case of the computer!

I called Sony's tech support only to be told that - yes - they are aware that the drive doesn't fit their own computer - but there's nothing they can do about it.

5 minutes with a Dremmel and the problem was fixed - not pretty - but the drive works.

[proutpa]

Hey Palur,

Trolls are not welcomed here!!

[Steven Cedrone]

It is nice to know about other electronic products. But, I thought it is all about pocket pcs here. Whatever, It is still useful. 8O

Palur,

Things of interest, that are not specifically Pocket PC related, are posted in the "Off Topic" forum. (As this one was)...

Hey Palur,

Trolls are not welcomed here!!

Proutpa,

Was this comment really necessary? :?

Steven Cedrone
Community Moderator

[Jason Dunn]

It is nice to know about other electronic products. But, I thought it is all about pocket pcs here. Whatever, It is still useful. 8O

On the weekends we tend to relax a little more and post on general technology items, that's all. :D

[Gordo]

I would like to say that I am happy with "Off-Topic" posts. But am I losing my mind, I thought I remembered seeing actual text indicating the type of topic that was being posted. After looking at the front page I realize that there are icons to indicate the type of post. After looking at a few I am not sure what they all mean. I looked at the “Forums” page hoping to see an icon that matched the type of topic but didn’t one. Is there a legend anywhere to help people understand?

[Sheynk]

Ok, I know I might get slammed for this but can someone PLEASE explain to me the difference between DVD-R and DVD+R. Which format is accepted by DVD players and what is the format usualy found in Movies from blockbuster? I soooo lost.


Thanks,
Sheynk

[Fzara]

Damn 20 billion formats!!!
Blame it on the different makers that decide to make 20 billion different formats!

[Steven Cedrone]

I would like to say that I am happy with "Off-Topic" posts. But am I losing my mind, I thought I remembered seeing actual text indicating the type of topic that was being posted. After looking at the front page I realize that there are icons to indicate the type of post. After looking at a few I am not sure what they all mean. I looked at the “Forums” page hoping to see an icon that matched the type of topic but didn’t one. Is there a legend anywhere to help people understand?

Gordo,

Let your pointer rest on the front page icon for a second. You will see what the icon means in a little pop-up...

Steve

[Paul P]

I believe there is a coupon floating around for Dell's Small Business store for those thinking of purchasing this drive, bringing the price down to about $300 and change. May want to grab an Axim while you're at it. :)

[kagayaki1]

This Sony drive was PC Magazine's top choice in the latest issue (December, I think). Neat review. They were particuarily taken with the dual format in conjunction with the relatively low price.

Read it here (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,696766,00.asp).

[Gordo]

Ok, I know I might get slammed for this but can someone PLEASE explain to me the difference between DVD-R and DVD+R. Which format is accepted by DVD players and what is the format usualy found in Movies from blockbuster? I soooo lost.


Thanks,
Sheynk

I found this site: http://dvddemystified.com/ which answered a lot of questions for me!

[Craig Horlacher]

I just noticed that Pricegrabber has the new Sony DVD burner listed - if you need a drive that burns both DVD-R and DVD+R, this is the only one that I'm aware of that can accomplish it. Not a bad price either!

http://images.pricegrabber.com/product_images/632000-632999/632463_125.jpg


I have this drive. I preordered it after reading a PC World writeup about this and another new dvd burner. Besides this being cross format (dvd+-r and +-rw) it is also the fastest burner out there right now. It does DVD-R at 4x, DVD-RW at 2x, DVD+R at 2.4x and DVD+RW at 2.4x. Compare those speeds to others and there's no compitition. Also, there is a firmware update coming out in December that will allow for DVD+R at 4x!!! The media for DVD+R at 4x actually won't be out until december. I think pioneer just came out with drive (at comdex) that dvd-r at 4x but it doesn't do any + burning.

I'm using the drive with windows 2000. I haven't done any seroius testing. I can say I burned 3.5GB to a DVD+RW in about 17 minutes. (longer for verify)

It comes with Veritas Recored Now software to burn discs. I don't like this as much as easy cd creator mainly because you have a small dialog box to work in instead of a sizeable window to traverse directories and select files.

It also comes with Veritas Simple Backup which I used to backup to do a system backup to a few dvd's. This is ok except it created six floppies that I use to begin the restore process - I reccomend buying TrueImage which makes a nice boot cd and is far more flexible in other respects. However, simple backup does the job and is included for free.

The packet writing software it comes with (used to access the drive as if it was a floppy or zip from in file explorer/windows - like DirectCD) is called DLA. I think it stands for Drive Letter Access. This program seems fine. I tried it once just to see if it worked and it does. This doesn't come with the media that's included with the drive. You download it using a link off the media they give you. In other words, you run the install program and are prompted to install a number of things. One of them is DLA which it has a link for and is a free download.

There is also another version of Record Now, called Record Now DX, that should be available to download soon as a free upgrade. Hopefully this will give it a sizable window and a few more features.

If you get the drive make sure to check your firmware. The current firmware is 1.0d and 1.0e will be coming out in december...that's the one that will bump the dvd+r burning up to 4x. The firmware updates are very simple to apply. They are done with a windows utility so you don't even need to mess with a boot disk.

- Craig

[ThomasC22]

Ok, I know I might get slammed for this but can someone PLEASE explain to me the difference between DVD-R and DVD+R. Which format is accepted by DVD players and what is the format usualy found in Movies from blockbuster? I soooo lost.


Don't feel bad btw, I read an article on Forbes.com a couple of months ago that said the industry is expected to lose hundreds of millions of dollars simply because consumers can't figure out which DVD Writing device to buy.

This isn't a "misguided newbie" thing as much as its a "confused industry" thing...hopefully, it doesn't end up like the superfloppy when all is said and done.

[palur]

It is nice to know about other electronic products. But, I thought it is all about pocket pcs here. Whatever, It is still useful.
Hey Palur,

Trolls are not welcomed here!!

I do not see anything wrong with my initial comment. I am an ardent pocket pc fan with few scientific studies published on using pocket pcs (conducting examinations with wireless ppcs). So, I look more for ppc related information. I am impressed with Jason Dunn's work in this regard. I am hoping to see more and more uses for ppcs. 8)

[st63z]

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=42136

Well Jason, if you had mentioned this other front-page thread from YESTERDAY, might've saved some of the good people here time from posting duplicate info ;) (j/k) (IIRC though, there have been discussions about it here since a couple of months back.)

But, if one hasn't bought the drive yet, I do feel the low PriceGrabber prices linked here are certainly worth supporting PPCThoughts!

[Master O'Mayhem]

Hey, I got this drive and got it working as an internal drive. I would have perfered this drive to be an external so i can move it from machine to machine so i bought this external case. I got it on Friday and i am trying to get it to work :( http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.asp?EDC=342035 It finds the device but as a cd only.. need to try to get the drivers reinstalled. Other than that it works great, internally :)

[st63z]

^ MOM, if you can wait for the external Sony to be in stock, maybe you can just exchange (~$70 difference)? Seems it would be smaller than an internal put in a modular case...

http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesProducts/250x250/DRU500A.jpg (internal)

http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesProducts/250x250/DRX500UL.jpg (external USB2 and 1394)

I don't have this external model, but I was wondering if it could be bus-powered off 1394? Reason I ask is that Sony's 1394 portable CD burners are advertised to be capable of this (see sonystyle's website).

Some others also advertise bus power, but not all. I know Addonics's Pocket drives are capable...

[Rob Alexander]

I do not see anything wrong with my initial comment...

I didn't think your comment was a troll either, or deserved a harsh response, but the truth is that most of us do enjoy the off-topic posts since people interested in PPCs are often also interested in Tablet PCs, digital photography, digital video, and electronic gadgets in general. If you're not, though, then Jason has provided a great way for you to automatically skip those posts. Way down at the bottom of the front page is a link that lets you filter what front page content you see. All you have to do is go in there and filter out off-topic posts. You'll never see them and we will and we'll all be happy.

[RKosin]

It was only the by-play of what is the response to an off topic response that kept us reading about DVD formats...a little pepper in the stew :wink:

[Master O'Mayhem]

^ MOM, if you can wait for the external Sony to be in stock, maybe you can just exchange (~$70 difference)? Seems it would be smaller than an internal put in a modular case...

http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesProducts/250x250/DRU500A.jpg (internal)

http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesProducts/250x250/DRX500UL.jpg (external USB2 and 1394)

I don't have this external model, but I was wondering if it could be bus-powered off 1394? Reason I ask is that Sony's 1394 portable CD burners are advertised to be capable of this (see sonystyle's website).

Some others also advertise bus power, but not all. I know Addonics's Pocket drives are capable...


Well thats what i get for being an early adopter :) But if there is BUS power like on some of their external drives it will come additional hook up that only sony's have. Its an additional connector next to the 1394 mini. i will look for a picture.

[cpoole]

It is nice to know about other electronic products. But, I thought it is all about pocket pcs here. Whatever, It is still useful. 8O

There is a place in the upper right hand corner of the screen that allows you to "Filter frontpage topics". Choose what you want to see and be happy.