Sony DRU500A vs DRU500AX ??

[bertmartin]

I just saw this new model listed when I did a search. My DRU500A has been backordered forever and I was wondering if I should cancel and re-order this "new" Model. Is this just the firmware upgrade you get at the Sony WEB site?

[donpedro]

I have no idea what will be new in new model, but I would wait. But it is just my personal opinion. I was reading too many posts about "dead" A drives.

[NightWing]

May have no choice. In CircutCity ad last Sunday they listed the DRU500A but with "Norainchecks" and "Closeout" in small print.

[VidGuy]

Here's a link....

http://www.burnworld.com/cdr/hardware/sony/dru500ax.htm


Bottom line - it doesn't look like it makes any difference - get what you can get your hands on - I just picked up a DRU500A at Fry's and it's sweet (although the bundled RecordNow software bites, but I already had RecordNow Max, and they point you to a download to DLA, all of which work just fine).

[dphirschler]

I saw two (DRU500A) sitting at my local CompUSA yesterday, and one at Best Buy.


Darryl

[NightWing]

I hope the backlog is fixed shortly.

[Mr Zippy]

If you download the PDF specs you see apart from the now official 4x +R support there is no difference, and at the end of the DRU-500AX specs it actually says DRU-500A.

I suspect the DRU-500AX is basically so that the packaging can show 4x DVD+R support, but the drive is the DRU-500A with the 1.0f (or newer) firmware.

[VEFF]

After reading some comments about the new Sony, I contacted Sony tech support:

I was told there was no problem with the firmware of the DRU-500A.
They were prompt and friendly, and I haven't had any issues with my drive (firmware 1.0f now; upgraded twice already).

[SonyUser]

You got a link to this info on the other forum ?

[mysterio1]

Sony is ******* their customers they fucked up with their first drive, now a few months later they have to bring out the same drive with the new firmware installed and a new box why couldnt they do that in the first place.

Im not saying the DRU500A is a bad drive Im just saying its not worth the hassle to find one and the PRICE of it is RETARDED.

I bought my pioneer 105 for $169 after rebate from Officemax 35 movies and counting, why would I pay double for the DRU500A when none of my DVD players play very expensive + media. It doesnt make no sense.

[donpedro]

mysterio1, It makes a lot of sense (for me and a lot of others) and I am not planning to explain it here. This post is not about Pioneer vs Sony. I can say the same about Ferrari (and I am not trying to compare it to Sony drive). It doesn't make sense to buy that car. It has 4 wheels and engine like any other car that can transport me from place A to placed B. And price is "retarded" too. Right ? So stick to subject.

Now... (not to listen my advice of "stick to subject"). It is very famous that any new pruduct when released first "might" have some bugs that engineers didn't catch during design and testing. It applyes to all products. Anybody who buy's this kind of product is risking that. OK ? You have allways option to not buy it. But why to rell others that they are out of mind for buying it ?

BTW... I am not happy with this situation (if it is true) too. I hope they will release some official statement and recall drives that have this "bug". If it is true.

[VEFF]

You got a link to this info on the other forum ?

I have edited my original post, based on info from Sony themselves.
I contacted them today.
The original message was on one of the popular hot deals forums.

[somte]

I heard from a Sony Engineer that the difference between the DRU-500A and DRU-500AX is that the DRU-500AX comes with the latest firmware that enables 4x write. This you can always download from the website. The other diffrence is that the software package will be complete. You don't have to access the website like in the case of DRU-500A. If for some reasons because of DRU-500AX release the DRU-500A price decreases, I would go with the DRU-500A since both drives are identical. The hardware for both DRU-500A and DRU-500AX remains the same.

[jeepers94]

That is correct.The so-called "new" drive is the same 500a with the firmware already upgraded in a NEW box proclaiming the 4X burning.It also has had the reading speed tweaked,this will be available soon as a firmware upgrade to the current drive! This new drive is the biggest reason for the drives being hard to find.Sony actually recalled unsold drives to repackage them.So to put it simply,they are tha SAME DRIVE!I got this info a couple of months ago,from my nephew who is a tech for SONY.I posted this many times,starting the first of november.That is all but the recall part.I wasn't aware they would go to that extreme,but I guess they know what they are doing.

[VEFF]

That is correct.The so-called "new" drive is the same 500a with the firmware already upgraded in a NEW box proclaiming the 4X burning.It also has had the reading speed tweaked,this will be available soon as a firmware upgrade to the current drive! This new drive is the biggest reason for the drives being hard to find.Sony actually recalled unsold drives to repackage them.So to put it simply,they are tha SAME DRIVE!I got this info a couple of months ago,from my nephew who is a tech for SONY.I posted this many times,starting the first of november.That is all but the recall part.I wasn't aware they would go to that extreme,but I guess they know what they are doing.

I read exactly the things you said above from one or two posts a while back. One of them may have even have been your post.
I was fine with that, since the 4X DVD+R write speed firmware upgrade was free, which was nice of Sony, since that feature was never promised. And I don't care about the writing on the box of course...

Then yesterday someone on a Hot Deals type forum mentioned the stuff about issues with firmware, and the rumor about potential 8X burning.
I don't know whether it was really said, but if so, sometimes information gets distorted...

[hxc3634]

I think the rumor is just rumor. I believe 500A cannot burn DVD at 8x without replacing its laser unit which is weak for 8x burning.

[NightWing]

Actualy those laser wont be avaiable untill about mid year IE fall for buyable stuff. Actualy they are 16X ones.

[Kennyshin]

Actualy those laser wont be avaiable untill about mid year IE fall for buyable stuff. Actualy they are 16X ones.

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57437&perpage=20&pagenumber=4

[NightWing]

Hum. Though the report was for 16x this year? Oh well! Tnks

[[_chef_]]

500AX is just the 500A with the latest fw - no hardware-changes. Same for the external model.

The official price is approx. $ 20 higher than for the "1st Gen" drives...

The only point that makes me sick is that the drives are yet not available!!!

All sellers say "in the next few days bla bla"...
And if thats not enough, the new release date for the NEC ND 1300 is now mid April 2003.

[caulnguyen]

Order DRX500UL from Dell since Dec 4. Got delayed to Dec31 and then Jan 31. Today I checked the web site and saw it was cancelled. Dell even lied about I requested to get it canceled. I called customer care and they said the drive is discontinued. Dell must take advantage of this firmware to not honor the price they sold.

Cau

[HyperYagami]

Order DRX500UL from Dell since Dec 4. Got delayed to Dec31 and then Jan 31. Today I checked the web site and saw it was cancelled. Dell even lied about I requested to get it canceled. I called customer care and they said the drive is discontinued. Dell must take advantage of this firmware to not honor the price they sold.

Cau

They're kinda right though. 500UL IS discontinued in a sense, with the X model. It's almost like you ordered a P4 1.5Ghz and 1.6Ghz came out and 1.5Ghz is being discontinued. Of course they're not going to give you the 1.6Ghz. That's the fact with all eletronic stuff. Once you have a new model# it's treated as a brand new product. Of course whether the 500UL model is still available or not from Sony to the retailers is another question, but I'd imagine it really isn't anymore. Also Dell has been pretty notorious about over-accepting orders and fulfilling those slowly...

[THE RIPPER]

In my opinion the +r format is a waste, -r is true dvd video format.The pioneer is faster then sony.

http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/0-1095-404-20582521.html?tag=pdtl-list

[thxkid]

excuse me you -R types but my HP +R has burned over 100 DVD+R's no coasters and played in any and all DVD players I have tried going on about 30-40 DVD Players I have personally tried out. And all hear on this site is problems with a Sony or Pioneer, I see no thread about problems with HP +R, why cause we're all enjoying burning like shit without a problem, so have you exspensive Sony's and pioneer's and all the problems they have with nero, cause every piece of software I have tried has worked perfect with my HP, no probs here with NERO, RecordNow Max, Roxio, DVDxCOPY, DVD2ONE, Ulead Moviefactory versions 1 or 2, actually I can't find any software that I can't get it not to work with my drive, everythings worked that I have tried. So get off the +R backs, theres nothing wrong with either format. I also pay the same amount for name brand +R's as -R's, its just the cheapo brands that are cost less.

[donpedro]

thxkid, good for you...

thxkid and THE RIPPER ,

I don't get it. Why do you post in this post ? What does your posts have to do with "DRU500A vs DRU500AX" ? If you like to compare it with you burners, you are more than welcome to create post that will discuss this matter. Good luck with you burning.

[crimpshrine]

In my opinion the +r format is a waste, -r is true dvd video format.The pioneer is faster then sony.

http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/0-1095-404-20582521.html?tag=pdtl-list

Kind of off topic..

Eitther way..

Why commit yourself to the - standard when you can have both with the Sony now?

I could care less who wins the war in the end, - or + media. What really matters to me at the end of the day is which media is cheaper. Minus media is cheaper now, but if + becomes the standard, based on articles I have read + is cheaper to make then - media. With a drive supporting both media types you have options. You DONT with a - based drive.

Also what media type are all these TVSET DVD recorders using now? Last time I looked they were all + based, if all these consumers start buying DVD recorders for their entertainment centers you can bet that will effect the outcome.