Who makes the best DVD-RW at this moment?

[palmtree]

Maybe it is too late to ask...

My girlfriend just bought her system with Sony DVD-RW combo built.
Sony VAIO Digital Studio PCV-RX690G Specs:
(h**p://www.sonystyle.com/vaio/digitalstudio/specs.shtml)
DVD-RW Speed
2X max. write / 1X max. rewrite / 4X max. read DVD-RW
8X max. write / 4X max. rewrite / 24X max. read CD-RW

Questions:
1. Who is the manufacturer of the DVD-RW for this Sony system? I called Sony VAIO support, the rep did not know.
2. Her new purchase made me very eager to learn who, at this stage, makes the best DVD-RW drive, and how much it cost, and where to get.

Thank for your input.

palmtree

[RAAGAAman]

The drive in the Sony system is the Pioneer A03 or A04. Sony does not MFG this drive.

[sumibas]

hi,
I am getting one of the same m/c for my self this week. I saw some realy neat deals on the we. you can get Princo DVD-RW yes -RW for 1.99 a media if you buy 10 or 2.00 for each one Vist

http://www.yesbuy.net/dvdr1.html

thought this will help you. i hear that the drive in the m/c is pioneer A03. it is a very good drive.

[palmtree]

The drive in the Sony system is the Pioneer A03 or A04. Sony does not MFG this drive.

Woow, if it is true, I will be *surper* happy.

Anyways, I am comparing the specs right now. Sadly the Sony's specs are too brief to be compared the Pioneer's :(

###Sony VAIO Ditial Studio PCDV-RX690G DVD-RW Specs###
DVD-RW Speed
2X max. write / 1X max. rewrite / 4X max. read DVD-RW
8X max. write / 4X max. rewrite / 24X max. read CD-RW


###Pioneer DVR-A03 Specs###
(Source: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pioneer/CDA/Industrial/IndustrialProductDetails/0,1444,796,00.html)

Write Support
4X and 8X CD-R
4X CD-RW
1X and 2X DVD-R (General Use)
1X DVD-RW

Read Support
(maximum speeds to be determined)
DVD-ROM & DVD-Video (single & dual layers)
DVD-R, CD-ROM Mode1
CD-ROM XA Mode2 (form 1, form 2)
Photo CD (single & multiple sessions)
CD-DA
CD-R
CD-RW
DVD-RW

Buffer Memory
2 MBytes (Write) 512KBytes (Read)

Interface
ATAPI

Audio Out
Head Phones Output
Head Phone Volume

Dimensions
(W x H x D)
5-13/16" x 1-11/16" x 8-1/8"
148 mm x 42.3 mm x 207.5 mm

Recording Method
Disc-at-once and incremental write
Re-Recordable

[palmtree]

hi,
I am getting one of the same m/c for my self this week. I saw some realy neat deals on the we. you can get Princo DVD-RW yes -RW for 1.99 a media if you buy 10 or 2.00 for each one Vist

http://www.yesbuy.net/dvdr1.html

thought this will help you. i hear that the drive in the m/c is pioneer A03. it is a very good drive.

thanks:). how is the quality of the DVD-RW media? i know there are good CDR media such as Mitsui, TDK, Kodak etc. What about in of DVD-RW media?

thanks for advsing.

PT

[sumibas]

hi pamtree.

i have not yet got the m/c delivered yet. so i have not tested it. once i get it i will test and let you know what i think

[nemethmik]

The drive in the Sony system is the Pioneer A03 or A04. Sony does not MFG this drive.

Very interesting. Sony is a big supporter of DVD+RW, which is a totally different technology and incompatible to DVD-R/RW.
The message is that Sony has not decided yet and supports both competing DVD standards: DVD-R/RW vs DVD+R/RW.

[palmtree]

The drive in the Sony system is the Pioneer A03 or A04. Sony does not MFG this drive.

Followup...

How can I determine the drive is Pioneer A03 or 04?
Did you meant Sony does not make DVD-RW drive at all? If so, it is weird. I just looked at here, and it is said that Sony has its own Sony DRU110A/C1 .
I looked at: http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvdwriters.php
Sony DRU110A/C1: http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvdwriters.php?DVDnameid=15&Search=Search&list=

Any1 can confirm? Please. I hope the 1 my GF has is NOT the Sony's 1 but Pioneer's

PT

[RAAGAAman]

That is the Ricoh +RW drive in Sony's clothing.


RG

[palmtree]

That is the Ricoh +RW drive in Sony's clothing.


RG

Thanks for the quick reply.

I just just want to know who made the DVDRW drive built in my GF's system. Thanks.

PT

[mikerios]

The DVD-RW in the Sony's is a 103 ( A03 ), the difference being the 103 is spec'd as a OEM drive, and may have custom firmware for that OEM ( in this case Sony ) otherwise it is identical to a A03. How you can tell if it's a A04/ 104 is to see if it support DMA modes ( the A03 does not , as all it does is PIO modes ), has burnproof ( A03 lacks ) and will do more 2x on more media than the A03 will.

As for DVD-RW I use Pioneer and Verbatim with good results.

I am sure you see the VIAOs shipping with Sony's own DVD+RW once production ramps up in the pipeline as I am sure they do not want the confusion that will result in people thinking they support DVD-RW. They are also working on a drive that will support both formats as well.

[SLK001]

Why don't you go to CONTROL PANEL -> SYSTEM -> DEVICE MANAGER, then click on DVD Recordables (or however it is listed there) and look at the properties of the drive? I'll bet that the manufacturer will be listed here.

Let us know if this works for you.

[Kusanagi]

Yep, Device Manager should show if it is indeed a Pioneer drive.

If it is, you should see the following under your CD/DVD ROMs:

DVR-103 = Pioneer A03 DVD-R/W drive

DVR-104 = Pioneer A04 DVD-R/W drive


Kusanagi

[palmtree]

sorry for the delay in writing the report. was busy with my new PC.

yes, the one comes with Sony VAIO Ditigal Studio system, IS a
Pioneer A04 DVD-R/W drive.

i am happy

thanks to all!