The first 4x DVD+R writer for under US$150 = Plextor PX504A

[Kennyshin]

One Tokyo shop sells the Plextor version of NEC ND-1100A with 8MB buffer for 17,800 Japanese Yen or a little under US$150 if one USD equals 120 Japanese Yen. 5% Value Added Tax and no shipping fee. It's no wonder since there are more and more 4x DVD+R/DVD-R drives at around US$200 per unit and even 4x DVD+R/DVD-R/3x DVD-RAM drives are soon to appear for under US$200 per unit and the unit volume price of NEC ND-1100A is around US$100.

Expect 4x DVD writer price to drop to around US$100 anytime in the second half, depending on the market situation of course though. Retail prices of DVD writers and media in Japan and Taiwan change first, repeated in the US a bit later, and then globally.

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/akiba/hotline/20030621/price.html

[Kennyshin]

One might wonder why 4x DVD+R drive prices are lower than 4x DVD-R prices.

1. Demand from various large buyers such as HP and Dell, leading to fierce price competition, sometimes to under US$100 per unit. More purchasing power results in lower unit price which is why Walmart can sell made-in-China products at prices unavailable in China and South Korea and Memorex and Fujifilm can sell DVD+R media for about US$1.5 per unit after profits on the original manufacturer side, importer side, retailer side, and who knows which else.

2. NEC, the largest provider of 4x DVD+R drives (including OEM and components), is ahead of Pioneer, to the degree even Pioneer itself is now using NEC components in their latest model, DVR-A06.

3. More sources. Pioneer was practically the only DVD-R drive maker. There are Ricoh, Philips, Sanyo, and NEC that develop and make DVD+R drives.

One special reason why Plextor's latest optical drive is so reasonably priced is that Plextor is admitting that they have just "rebadged" NEC ND-1100A and added more buffer and better customer support. Overpricing on the excuse of brand name of great reputation did not work well in Japan in this case.

[Kennyshin]

Originally posted by Kenshin
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/akiba/hotline/20030621/price.html

ZOA price is 17,000 Yen.

[handyguy]

YOu can get similar prices in the USA from http://avlogic.com/.
But the lower prices are because you don't gef software or a box, etc.

[Kennyshin]

YOu can get similar prices in the USA from http://avlogic.com/.
But the lower prices are because you don't gef software or a box, etc.

US$158 for Pioneer DVR-105 bulk, is similar? NEC ND-1100A (Iomega version) at Tiger Direct is for US$139.99, including software and warranty. The lowest DVR-A05 (not Pioneer box) retail price, the full package, I've seen is around US$150, Cendyne, IO DATA, etc.

[MeTaLgEaRsOoTy]

well IMO,your still getting ripped off.
the price of a pioneer A05/105 dvd-R writer here in the uk is about £100($60).
but the price of the +R burners is still way over the top at about £250.

[Kennyshin]

well IMO,your still getting ripped off.
the price of a pioneer A05/105 dvd-R writer here in the uk is about £100($60).
but the price of the +R burners is still way over the top at about £250.

$60? I'll order 10,000 units if that's true.

[LanEvo7]

well IMO,your still getting ripped off.
the price of a pioneer A05/105 dvd-R writer here in the uk is about £100($60).
but the price of the +R burners is still way over the top at about £250.


$60? I'll order 10,000 units if that's true.

He calculated wrong. 1 British Pound is about 1.5(give or take since if fluctuates everyday) American dollars. So it would be about $150 in the UK, NOT $60.

Its expected that price of burners will drop, just like CDRWs did. In America, +R and -R drives costs about the same. Media-wise though, -R is still less expensive.

[mrbass]

Kennyshin said that soon (like end of year) they may hit the $100 price point. I'm inclined to believe him too. Thanks for post those pics and keeping us abreast. You are right things occur a few months ahead (trends, etc.) over there in SouthEast Asia before they do anywhere else. It's always good to look into a future crystal ball. Thanks Kennyshin for the awesome, up2date info.

[Bob W]

There is a 4x DVD+R burner for $137 USD here.
http://avlogic.com/product.cgi?code=18030049

[Kennyshin]

Kennyshin said that soon (like end of year) they may hit the $100 price point. I'm inclined to believe him too. Thanks for post those pics and keeping us abreast. You are right things occur a few months ahead (trends, etc.) over there in SouthEast Asia before they do anywhere else. It's always good to look into a future crystal ball. Thanks Kennyshin for the awesome, up2date info.

I actually meant it. Since it's been sometimes under US$90 even several months ago at the OEM level, as long as there are distributors that want their outdated products to be sold right away, the retail price can go under US$100 anytime in the second half.

A few months ago, some people were happy to get a 2x DVD-R/1x DVD-RW for US$200 per unit and now there is a US$137 4x DVD+R/2.4x DVD+RW even in the US market.

The drives have been that expensive in North America because the distributors were getting too much and competition has been almost zero.

In South Korea, I can get hundreds of LG GMA-4020B for free if I sell some of their CD writers. There are too many of them so LG is almost giving them away.

Ricoh MP5240A (4x DVD+RW/+R) price is about US$180 in Japan. It's the first week of retail sales for that drive and what was the first-week street price of Ricoh MP5120A and MP5125A?

[pakman]

In South Korea, I can get hundreds of LG GMA-4020B for free if I sell some of their CD writers. There are too many of them so LG is almost giving them away.

arrg... regretting I just bought the GMA-4020B in the states... should have waited til end of this month when a relative is visiting from Seoul!!! How are GSA-4040b prices in yongsan lately?

edit: actually is the GSA-4040b out already? I thought it was coming out in June. or was that just in Japan.