Lite On DVD Burner

[Catman209]

The new Lite On Dual Format dvd burner that burns at -8x with the R plus, I have a question. When the -R format is approved for 8x, do you think they will upgrade the firmware for -r 8x? I hear rumors that you can get this drive packaged under a different name for 80 dollars at Office Max and even though that is cheap, I would really like someday to burn -R at 8x. Thanks. Catman

[dcsos]

More likely you'll be able to join a class action suit when it DOESN'T ugrade properly :-(

[Catman209]

Well that is not good. What I found interesting today is when I went looking for burners, I noticed that at Best Buy some of the 8x listed plus R at 8x and minus r at 4x yet, some of them showed both plus at minus at 8x. Best buy had the Lite On for 179, so Im going to wait. Im just not going to buy another Sony. Thanks.

[Catman209]

After looking for a lite on drive today, I was surprised to read this article: http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/8891

[jtommyj]

Well, the burner may be able to burn -R media at 8x but it may take a possible firmware hack. Lite-On made the 8x for a company named Norcent also (Re-badged) who "promised" that a future firmware update will allow -R writing @ 8x. As to whether the OEM drive was an 811 or an 851, I'm not sure.

So the long answer to your short question is...........

maybe..


http://www.norcent.net/norcent/products/optical/dwd840.htm

[Catman209]

One more dumb question. What is a re-badged drive? Ok...two more dumb questions. So it is possible that someone can pay for the Sony name and get a Lite On drive and not a Sony? Thanks.

[jtommyj]

Yes- You've got it exactly right. As a matter of fact, I believe Lite-On is going to begin making the optical drives for Sony. Plextor makes drives for TDK, Lite-On makes for Pacific Digital.
There are a ton of brands that are the same. If you read through the DVD writers section you'll pick up more.