What happened to those cheap dual format DVD burners?

[Bob W]

I thought there were two brands of cheap DVD+/-RW burners coming out to compete with the Sony DRU500. Anyone know about this and when they will be in the stores?

[soundforbjt]

Lite-On's unit got pushed back to May or June release. No sure about any other one's.

[Baldrick]

The nec nd-1300 unit has also been delayed...some stores in Sweden say that it will be in store in late April.

[defense]

Lite-On's unit got pushed back to May or June release. No sure about any other one's.

If the price is accurate, which I am certain it is, then $300 is cheap? Great, then I feel better knowing my Sony burner that retails for $350 was cheap too. Especially because I got it for $330 brand new with a $50 MIR, bringing it down "brand new" to a cheap $280.

[Bob W]

I wonder what it takes to make a dual format burner? I mean is it just something in firmware or is the drive and/or optics different than a single format burner?

[defense]

Someone who is familiar with the specifics in manufacturing may be able to correct me, but I don't think there is much difference at all. It just takes a lot longer to test more types of media. When one format is introduced like the Pioneer and HP drives, for example, only -R or +R media is tested. However, when BOTH formats, such as the Sony burners are introduced as a Dual Format burner, then many more types of media need to be "thoroughly" tested.

As a matter of fact, the reason Baldrick probably isn't seeing that NEC 1300 burner as expected is because there may be delays with some media incompatibility. Here is an excerpt from why the NEC 1100a was pushed back an additional month or so, and probably is the same as to why the 1300 is also being delayed.

Here is the excerpt:

NEC, for its part, said on Wednesday that it has delayed its planned MultiSpin ND-1100A drive from November to December as it continues tests to ensure compatibility with all DVD-R/-RW discs on the market. Tests of DVD+R/+RW discs have been completed, but there are more DVD-R/-RW media available, and these tests are taking longer, a spokesman said.

The internal multi-format MultiSpin will cost about £249 inc. VAT and will be the first to take advantage of the 4x DVD+R specification, released in early August by the DVD+RW Alliance. It will read DVDs at 12x, faster than Sony's model, will write DVD-R at 4x, DVD-RW at 2x and DVD+RW at 2.4x.

The drives are the latest to attempt to bridge a yawning gap in the DVD authoring industry by supporting both DVD+R/+RW and DVD-R/-RW. The existence of the two incompatible formats has caused consumer confusion, since users cannot be sure that others will be able to play the discs they have authored; they may also be reluctant to spend hundreds of pounds on a drive that could become obsolete if one standard or the other wins out.

[dcsos]

I believe the LITE-ON is the NEC rebranded

[defense]

I believe the LITE-ON is the NEC rebranded

lol..and what in the world would give you that impression?

[soundforbjt]

defense,

where did you get the $300 price for the Lite-On? From what I've read it will retail for $199 US.

[learner1]

Wait! Is the NEC ND1100A a dual format burner?
NEC's web site only indicates that the 1100 is a +R/+RW
burner. However, Nero's list of compatible burner lists
the ND1100 as dual format. I am confused.

[-jsl-]

Wait! Is the NEC ND1100A a dual format burner?
NEC's web site only indicates that the 1100 is a +R/+RW
burner. However, Nero's list of compatible burner lists
the ND1100 as dual format. I am confused.

No but ND-1300 is...

[defense]

defense,

where did you get the $300 price for the Lite-On? From what I've read it will retail for $199 US.

another poster linked an article which specified the price tag at around $300 in another thread. Where did you get your price of $199? Actually, when many in the original post on the "news" forum said it would be at $149, I figured the very "LOWEST" would be $199. I believe I even posted that exact figure. I think LITE-ON plans on introducing a Dual-Format burner, in addition to a one format burner, and I think there is some confusion on the "uncofirmed" non-published price tags.

Being that Both Sony and Lite-On are working on the Dual-Chip technology, I would be hard pressed to even think my original hunch of $199 would be accurate. I think the price tag of $300 US is an excellent price in terms of the competition. When I weigh all of the facts, it just doesn't make sense that Lite-On would come in with a DUAL FORMAT burner which is less expensive then most single format burners. It is possible, but just not likely.

People know Lite-ON DVD ROMS to be top of the line and possibly the best, especially for ripping. With that being said, their name is reputable in the DVD ROM world, and people are just waiting for their multiformat burner to be introduced. It should be here within' a month, so I guess we will know for sure at that time.

[w00tski]

dunno about liteon dvdrom's being on top, i have a sony dru500a which i burn dvd's on and my liteon doesnt read them as well as a friends dvdrom which is a samsung SD 616. Test i used was the nero dvdspeed transfer test, the graph produced was much nicer on that drive than the liteon.

[sjaakie81]

The problem with the confusion of the NEC 1100 is that with the first release they named it this, but then they had another drive coming that was just +RW and 4x. At that point they already had the ND1000 which was +RW at 2.4 speed, thus they didn't have a name for it that fits! So they called the 1100 the 1300 and the new +RW only 1100. Stupid thing to do, but.... we can't do jack about it!

Johan

[defense]

dunno about liteon dvdrom's being on top, i have a sony dru500a which i burn dvd's on and my liteon doesnt read them as well as a friends dvdrom which is a samsung SD 616. Test i used was the nero dvdspeed transfer test, the graph produced was much nicer on that drive than the liteon.

must be something wrong with that liteon dvd rom. Never had any issues like that and i've had the 163d and now the 166s.

I've also never read a single negative post about a liteon DVD ROM other then people wondering why there rip speeds suddenly dropped. Almost always, those problems were able to be solved. Sounds like the liteon drive you have has issues. Do you have the latest firmware for it? What model is it?

Also, I just read a reputable report of several tests done on many different DVD ROM drives, and the Liteon 166s was the winner. I was glad to read that because that's the drive I have. The tests were based on several factors, but mainly the wobble/jitter of a dvd while playing. There was the least amount of it in all liteon drives, and it was best in the Liteon 166s.

[Bob W]

I have both the LiteOn 163 and 166 which are very fast for ripping. The 163 I have seen it get to 15.5x on single layer DVD's.

[Ratfester]

Looks like Cendyne might be releasing one. Saw this under a list of Cendyne products at work. (Staples)

"Cendyne 4XDVD+_RW/R Internal"
Model No. CDICD00208
List Price $299.98
Staples SKU 511676

No stores show any inventory and I'm not sure if/when they will but interesting anyhow.

[energy80s]

Odd all these posts about "Liteon" drives. I've never seen one, don't know anyone (other than those on this forum) who own one, and don't know of any computer dealers selling them! I wonder, are they an American brand? Are they usually sold under a different name?

[defense]

Odd all these posts about "Liteon" drives. I've never seen one, don't know anyone (other than those on this forum) who own one, and don't know of any computer dealers selling them! I wonder, are they an American brand? Are they usually sold under a different name?

they're Japanese, and have only had their DVD ROMS in the states for a couple of years I believe. They have recently formed a strategic alliance with SONY and are ready to release their first DVD MULTI-FORMAT BURNER within' a month.

In the States, LITE-ON is sold from my local mom & pop store, as well as Best Buy, Comp Usa, and Office Depot, among MANY others. One thing to note though is that many of these places sell the lite-on drives under another manufacturer. For example, I got my first LITE-ON 163D, by purchasing a "UNIVERSAL BUSLINK" DVD ROM from Best Buy. There are other manufacturers that also use Lite-On's drives and sell them under their names.

[w00tski]

Wouldnt say there is anything wrong with the drive itself, it just doesnt read DVD-R media as well as this other drive im comparing it to. It rips speeds etc 15x on single side pressed media as well. Im running the new VGHR8 firmware. Ive noticed that with later firmware, the drive is reading media better. (referring back to the nero dvdspeed transfer test). A smooth curve indicates to me that the disc is being read without too much trouble. When it starts to go jumpy, the dvdrom drive is reading the disc with some difficulty. This doesnt mean the disc is no good or the disc cannot be read. Even when it fails the transfer test with a read error, I dont think this factors in error correction which the drive does do, simply because i have 'read' discs which dvdspeed claim have read errors by copying the contents back to hard disk and it worked fine.
I suppose when doing data disks this doesnt really matter as error correction is taking place, but i prefer 'easy to read' media.

That being said, i also have a liteon 24x burner and i personally believe Liteon is responsible for the sharp fall in prices for cd burners due to them being extremely cheap and reliable. A new dvd burner from Liteon (and by that i mean liteon made the drive, not a rebadged sony) would be great. Presently the problems i see with dvd burners (besides speed) is just firmware/media issues. Hopefully liteon's drive wont have these problems (eg sony's not writing @ 4x on ritek media etc).

[-jsl-]

they're Japanese, and have only had their DVD ROMS in the states for a couple of years I believe. They have recently formed a strategic alliance with SONY and are ready to release their first DVD MULTI-FORMAT BURNER within' a month.

Lite-On IT is a Taiwanese company and don't expect to see Lite-On's dual format writer within a month, it might be delayed to August.

[Gil T Pleasure]

What about the Plextor dual format drives? What's the expected date and price?

Also, do you think the LiteON DVD burners will exhibit the 2x rip limit?

[SiCN]

Hehe, dual-layer would be by far more interesting...