Pioneer A05 or Sony DRU 500a

[davidgp]

Well... after reading a lot of forums... I'm really confuse... I want a dvd-r writer... and I don't know if I must buy the new sony dru 500a or the new pioneer a05 (I start to think that this one is the best option). I'm thinking in use the Whitelabel dvd-r media that is sold in www.bigpockets.co.uk. Any advice?

[dun4cheap]

Well I can olnly give you my opinion. #1 faxt is pioneer A04 has been a pretty solid burner. Of course its had its firmware upgrades as will the A05. I find it interesting how the pioneer fans are bashing the new Sony because Sony has released a new firmware on their drive to support the cheaper media. Fact is their is no better test for a product than the public. Especially the public that hangs out VCDHELP. Including myself. The facts here is the DRU500a will burn all 4 formats, and is currently the fastest drive on the market. The 2 drives are priced similiarly although I did pick my Sony DRU500a up for $248 out the door. I have not had any problems burning with it. Sony is also releasing a new firmware December 9th that will allow the drive to burn 4x DVD+R. To most of us who already purchased the drive feel this is a free upgrade.

The point here is I am sure the Pioneer is a top notch drive. But the fact is Sony and many other companies are jumping on the DUEL Format. While my Apex 5131 will play them all, I wan't to know that I don't have to worry if Beta will beat VHS or vice versa. By the way I was still not convinced to buy a DVD recorder until I found out about the COMBO drive. I love to have all the new and cool stuff, I just want to make sure my new and cool stuff will be around for awhile. Pioneer will indeed come out with a combo drive, they can't afford not to. So the AO5 will probably be shortly lived even if its as good or better than the AO4.


I am sure this will create some kind of war. This is not my intent. Like I said the Pioneer is a nice drive. It was my second choice after I found the sony dru500a. Specifically due to the speed and the combo ability. People just need to get over the fact that their will be firmware updates. If it were not for firmware then every company out on the market would have faulty products that were not repairable.

[davidgp]

Thanks for the advice... My first problem is to know if these dvd-r writers work well with WhileLabel dvd-r media because I go to buy it in bigpockets where I can buy it more cheap than in spain... but I have to buy about 100 dvd-r to make it cheap... I don't want to buy about 100 dvd-r's and found that my dvd-r writer cann't write it...

davidgp

[napalongcasidy]

Pioneer safer, 5 gen DVD burner, good online community support, not too deeply in bed with the media moguls, good hacker support. Don't forget teh old saying "The Devils in the features"!

[BJ_M]

DVD org says DVD+r is not an approved format and will never be .... i have no need to burn to more than one format .. the pioneer is a very good machine plus i like the fact pioneer not only makes the ONLY authoring DVD writer -- but they make really good laser disk players as well (long history w/ laser) ... the speed of burning (on dvd-r) is the same on both units ..

BUT others milage will vary ..

[colday]

First off I have the Sony DRU500A.

I think YOU need to make the choice. The Pioneer will probably be one solid drive. As others have said they have a good background with their DVD drives.

So, if you KNOW that -r/rw will fill you needs, the go with the Pioneer.

But, if you are not sure, or you know you can use the +r/rw, then the Sony would be the better choice.

Understand it is a know fact that some folks are having problems with the Sony (but, to be fair some folks have had problems with the Pioneer drives also). How good are you at overcoming problems with computer hardware/software?

When you buy the drive, get it from a place that you know you can return it easily if it has problems. Check out their return policy closely.

If I was buying a new one, I would buy the Sony again.

[Hertog_Martin]

My dvd player can read dvd-r(w) and dvd+r(w) so thats cool

but the problem is with 4 types of disc is that when you want to burn for friends/family they have to know wich player they have so i can check what it plays.. and many dont even know. And if i burn it on a dvd-rw and want to borrow it to a friend then it might be he cant play it and need a dvd+rw

so for me i dont have to choose but if i want to borrow things i might go for the sony

btw is it possible that the a05 of pioneer will be able to support dvd+r(w) with firmware update or is that hardware-controlled?

[davidgp]

Many thanks for all your advice...

davidgp