Pioneer DVR-104 DVD-RW/DVD-R now US$254.

[Eug]

See here.

[dvdchimp]

Non-working link
I did go to the site and manually looked up the 104. It was listed at $373 and not $254.

I did find this though: http://dealmac.com/articles/37054.html?sess=c51721d32ffbcd1e07578584f6cceb6d ($254 somewhere else)

Is the 104 just the bare version of the A-04?

[bshelkey]

Try here...

http://www.zeehoo.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=zeehoo&Product_Code=pioneerdvr104

[dvdchimp]

Is the 104 just the bare (non-retail) verision of the A-04?

[bshelkey]

Correct...

The "Pioneer" logo is removed from the 104 but they are the same drive.

[shoozleboy]

Can you upgrade the ROM on the 104? I read on one vendors site that with the OEM version (104) you can not upgrade the ROM if it is needed since it is the OEM and not the Retail....

any truth to this?

Thanks

[bshelkey]

The guts of the 104 and A04 are the same. The only difference is the 104 OEM version is un-branded from the Pioneer logo. You can validate this here...
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pioneer/CDA/ServiceAndSupport/SelfHelpForIndDet/1,14....html#Firmware

[BASSOFeeSH]

from the readme at the link you provided:

-This update will NOT work on OEM drives. Please refer to system's
manufacturer for any new updates they may provide.

Of course it also says

-Remove any disks from the target DVR-A03 drive.

Someone try it and let us know what happened.

[bshelkey]

You are correct. It seems to contradict info in the other pdf's. I just sent this question to Pioneers tech support, let's see how long it takes to get this answered.

[bshelkey]

Just received this from Pioneer Tech support...

"Thank you for contacting Pioneer Electronics U.S.A.
No, no support from Pionner on the DVR-104 OEM recorder.
It carries no upgrades, no warranty, no technical support
from Pioneer."

Is it me or have I seen numerous merchants post a one year factory warranty for the 104?

[shoozleboy]

Thanks for the info... guess that means I am certainly going to be getting the retail version..... don't want to take any chances on getting a bad unit and being stuck with no warranty or upgrades from Pioneer....

Thanks again.

[bshelkey]

I don't know what gives here but there are dozens of merchants that post a "one year warranty from Pioneer" on a 104. Can anyone validate this?

[agzz]

moast merchants promise warranty:
1yr: California Drives, zeehoo, Royal Computer and avlogic among them.

some says: PIONEER 104MA, what does the MA stand for?

[subclubkid]

I just purchased a 104 drive...and it came with a waranty,but I havent tryed it yet. I just got my USB encloser for it today,so I'll find out tonight if I got screwed. I hope that the site wasnt bs'ing me.

[Eug]

I just purchased a 104 drive...and it came with a waranty,but I havent tryed it yet. I just got my USB encloser for it today,so I'll find out tonight if I got screwed. I hope that the site wasnt bs'ing me.

Which site?

Lots of people are using the drive with either a USB 2 enclosure or a Firewire enclosure.

I sure as hell wouldn't want to use it with a USB 1.1 enclosure though.

[jugernaut]

It's a really good price!!!, also if you live outside the US, it's very difficult to use the guarantee. Works for me!!!.

[shoozleboy]

Where can you get a firewire or usb enclosure for this drive?

Any suggestions?

[leebo]

Do a search on www.pricewatch.com for "Firewire enclosure cdrom".

They run between $65 and $99.

I just bought one (can't remember from where) for $99 for my A03. It's very well built out of Aluminum, but the cheapers ones are plastic.

[Faustus]

The nonupgrade issue is for the OEM drives such as the ones in apple computers, they use a totally custom Firmware and cannot be update with the ones from Pioneer, its up to Apple to make a new firmware and give it to their users. I mayself purchased a retail package and when I insalled the sucker (ouf of a sealed pioneer box) it IDs in windows xp as a DVR-104. They are the same exact drive as each other and CAN be firmware upgraded, as long as it didnt' come out of an Apple, or perhaps some of the PC manufactuers that are installing the things.

As far as the DVR-104MA thing, I have no idea, these turned up in small numbers on price watch right after I ordered mine and I have no idea what it means...

[BASSOFeeSH]

I think someone said the 'MA' might stand for the MAC drives.

My 104 has the 'MA', but works fine on my PC.

Hopefully it'll keep working & I won't have to worry about upgrading the firmware.

[leebo]

ReplayTV4000 + Pioneer 104 == heaven

I remember when I used to think that *Me + babes = heaven.

The older I get, the crotchetier I get!

[bshelkey]

I had contacted Pioneer and several merchants on the MA/ME issue. ESBuy was the first to respond. The MA is for Apple systems and ME is for Compaq. The firmware and bezel color are different for each vendor. A factory original 104 will accept the firmware upgrades posted for A04 models.