UK supplier for DVD+/-R/RW do everything doodah (i.e. Sony DR500)

[Pace]

Anyone know where I might find a DVD+/-R/RW do everything doodah (i.e. Sony DR500) in Britain?

[Raptor^]

Aria have a Sony DRU500AX that claims to be a DVD+/-R/RW do everything doodah... is that the one you were after?

[Ribbit]

Scan have it in stock for £239/£281 ex/inc. VAT. (price isn't listed on the page, click the info icon.)

http://www.komplett.co.uk says they'll have some in about this time next month, for £256 inc. VAT

[Gurm]

I'd wait a month if I were you.

Sony has NOT got a good reputation as far as their burners go. While this device looks attractive, the reported success rate for backing up various kinds of things (PS2/XBOX games, for example) is really hit-or-miss, lots of people having lots of issues with lots of kinds of media, etc.

In a month, you'll be able to get the Lite-On and the LG. The LG will REALLY do everything (including DVD-RAM) and the Lite-On will be better than the Sony (24x burn, and MUCH more compatible).

- Gurm

[The PIT]

Yummy

[Technoid]

My Sony DRU500A seems to be a anomaly

Works great with everything i tested and actualy burn at 24

[Gurm]

Technoid:

Not an anomaly... you're in the happy 50%. Typical Sony... and great for you. Doesn't mean if you bought another one it wouldn't suck, though. Which is why I avoid Sony.

- Gurm

[gt40]

Yup, I normally avoid Sony, however there was nothing available that would do multi formats like the 500a.
End result - I am happy with it - I only use brand name media - not the cheap bulk stuff, and I haven't burned a coaster yet (except once when I tried to copy a file that was already in use - but this was my fault )

[Gurm]

Yeah GTForty, I'm holding off for exactly that reason. I already have a couple copies of LOTR:TTT so I'm good for a couple more months, and by then Liteon and LG will have their models out.

- Gurm

[William]

I you're after a -R/-RW/+R/+RW, NEC do a reasonable one.

[Gurm]

William,

Incorrect. There was a common misconception that NEC had a drive that did all formats. In fact, it was a misprint in their manuals. I haven't found a single person (and I've looked) who actually has that magic drive, but I've talked to a large number of people who have boxes and manuals that say +R/+RW/-R/-RW and the drive won't do it.

NEC _is_ releasing such a drive, sometime "soon", called the ND-1300A. The mislabeled drive, for reference, was a large number of ND-1100A's.

Oops.

- Gurm

[Indiana]

Gurm, do you know the more specific name / model number of the LG drive? Any idea how long until it will be available in stores?

I would've bought the Sony, but it's still not really available here - now DVD-RAM support does sound nice, and I might wait just a little bit longer, then..

[William]

NEC do have one, I do know that for a fact. I thought they had released it though. I guess I'd better go check out which was which was when.

There are far too many similar model numbers

[Pace]

Originally posted by Indiana
I would've bought the Sony, but it's still not really available here - now DVD-RAM support does sound nice, and I might wait just a little bit longer, then..

You like DVD-RAM? Out of all the formats, I would say it is the most likely to die - although the 60min versions for DV cameras might last a bit longer.

PS: I think MURC had a thread about the LG drive recently, off to look...

Real DVD Combo Writer

[Gurm]

Indiana,

It has different numbers for different markets (I hate this practice!). Due "sometime this year", estimated street price around 400Euro.

Link: http://www.chip.de/news/c_news_9973120.html

William,

TRUST me. I looked into this extensively. There were a few people in Japan that WE THINK got 1300's that were in 1100 boxes, but they've since been yanked and not re-released.

- Gurm