About to return Optorite +- drive for a Sony (or should i?)

[RichTJ99]

Hi all,

I am having some issues (sporadic) with my IO Magic Aka Optorite drive. I am using either TDK 2x -R disks, or Memorex 4x +R disks. The +R burns never ever work at all & the -R burns only work every once in a while (5 coasters already).

Nothing runs in the background & I am using Nero 6 to burn data. I have been able to use DVDXCopy express to burn 2 backups using the -R format & they worked fine.

I have till tomorrow to decide & I am thinking that maybe I should just return this drive (while i still can) & pick up a Sony or Pioneer.

Any ideas on what to do?

Thanks,
Rihc

[indolikaa]

If you are having problems burning data in any program, you are definitely having problems!

I don't use +R for data but I use +RW all the time, and I haven't had any problems at all. I hate -RW but it also works fine in data mode.

Video is another issue. I have problems burning video with Nero. Michelle has an Optorite and burns in Nero without any problems, and brags openly about it: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=176358&highlight=optorite :P

Maybe Michelle can chime in before the sun sets and your decision must be made. Otherwise, don't fight the battle after full-time on the pitch. You'll just kick yourself in the arse for not returning it when you had the chance. I'm not dissin' Optorite on that, I'm paraphrasing Murphy's Law.

.indolikaa.

[DeleriumMDK]

TDK 2X are high quality..Ive gone through 50, only 2 coasters due to mistakes on my behalf. I'd say ditch the Optorite. It shouldn't need firmware upgrading to work with stuff like TDK - and Memorex +, two well known and highly spoken of media types. As for what to get in exchange, I suggest the Pioneer A06.

[Synergy]

Although each burner has its own pros and cons, I think Optorite/Sanyo burner has some fundamental issues with which most users probably don't want to deal. I still think that the hardware is pretty good but both Optorite and Sanyo suck at addressing most users' problems with their firmware upgrades and I/O Magic, along with its sister companies: Digital Research and Hi-Val, isn't a company worth trusting.

So knowing what I've learned and if I were you, I would definitely return it and get either a Pioneer , NEC, or Plextor 8X burner, depending on how much you are willing to spend. Just my two cents.

[RichTJ99]

indolikaa- This last time (4th times a charm i guess) I was able to back up some MP3's on the TDK -R disk and then be able to read the disk when i was done.

Basically every +R disk I have tried burns ok, & then when I try to read it with the burner, it crashes my system. That sorta sucks.

I read the thread & I am glad at least someone is getting good usage out of the drive. I also am feeling like returning it might be a better idea.

This whole DVD write scene reminds me of the early days of CDR drives (my first was a 2x) & how expensive the disks were & how flakey the drives were from time to time.

I guess I am not anxious to relive those days with DVD's. I would really like something that works & works reliably. Also something that works with whatever + or - disks I find while I am out.

Effectively right now I have a -R, -RW drive (havent tested the +RW yet).

I have wasted about 30 dollars in disks (4 or so -R coasters & 5 +R coasters).

I really just want something that will work & I dont have to futs with. I would much rather spend more money to get something that works then to buy something cheap & spend more time trying to get it to work.

[RichTJ99]

DeleriumMDK - I will look into the Pioneer A06. Most importantly I want the drive to work with DVDXcopy express, Nero 6 & most media I throw at it.


Synergy - You said it, I just dont want to deal with headaches. I would rather blow 200 more dollars on anything than deal with IO Magics tech support. I knew buying a junky brand would probably be a mistake but I figured that even Sonys are having some issues these days so why not buy something that has issues but is 100 dollars cheaper. I think that dealing with less issues is better than this though.

THanks for the advice.

[indolikaa]

There's two avenues for the Optorite/Sanyo/Accesstek/IOMagic owner: either it works right out of the box or it causes problems without remorse.

Return it and try another drive. I'd recommend the Sony, after years of success with their CD burners and good words from the IT Geeks that labor under my command.

Dude, remember. This is supposed to be fun, not frustrating!

[sparker366]

AVLogic.com has good prices on drives. I just bought the Pioneer dvr-106d which is the oem version of A06 for 159 shipped. I feel this drive will give me the best for my money.

I suggest that you return the problematic drive and either spend big bucks on a Sony or get the Pioneer.

Just my 2 cents. I am also very new to this dvd burner scene and I opted to go with a brand name burner.

[timmyp]

I bought an Optorite DD0203 and initially thought I had a bad drive. I had the same issue of locking up and not reading burned DVD+R discs (Philips) as well. In my case, when I updated to the latest firmware, my problems went away entirely.

So... have you updated the firmware to the latest version?

Also, it's not very clear how/what/why you're burning when you create coasters. All you mention is that you are creating coasters. What are you burning? How are you authoring? Is this an ISO data burn or DVD-Video?

Again, I started off with similar problems, eventually figured out that I needed to update the firmware, and have been very happy with my unit since.

My 2 cents.

Tim

[ebenton]

In my opinion, in the world of computers and electronics in general, you get what you pay for. The Sony costs more, but it's worth it.

[lechtin]

Rich,

I have a sony (the original DRU500A) and do not have any problems with it (but upgraded to latest firmware).

Before switching, may be you should try to use another burning program. A lot of the people who used Nero 6 went back to 5, but I do not know the exact problem they had (I stuck with version 5). Go into the tools section and try some of the free/demo burning programs (I think you can still get the latest Nero 5 demo version).

[nicw]

Hi,

I have the following burners.

Optorite DD0201
Pioneer A05
Pioneer 106
Sony 500AX
Ricoh 5240
Matsushita LDF100
LG4040B
Liteon 401s

and more coming. Out of all them the one I would recommend would be the 106. It consistently provides a better burn across a variety of media than the others. The sony does not seem as compatible with many high speed discs, however the ones it does it does fine.

Likewise if I could only keep one it would be the 106 without a doubt.

cheers
nicw
www.dvdinfopro.com

[Cliff]

I had Optorite DD0203 since July and had nothing but coaster when using DVD+-R. firmware updates helped but did not fix. The help was in refresh of the current disk in DD0203 was fixed. But still had write failure.
What did work was to use this site here.
Go to DVD media and Search using your Writer model.
Use only the disk reported to be good on all counts for your model. And if you use a unlisted disk report your findings in media.
This made the difference between failure and success.

[dap]

I’ve had the Optorite DD0203 for less than a month, but the only coasters I produced were with CompUSA DVD-R House brand disks.

I am using firmware 2.17 and everything is working fine.
For ISO burns I use DVDDecrypter to rip and burn.
I have used DVD shrink 3.B5, Ifoedit, and Nero for back up of big
Films like Gangs of New York to one TDK–R disk and they worked just fine.

I like the Optorite and am going to keep it. It is much faster than
My buddys Sony at burning to +R Media. We did a timed test on Gangs
(Which we both own by the way) With TDK +R media and the Optorite was just under 2 minutes faster. Both systems are Dell 8200 that our wives bought us two years ago as Christmas presents, so the systems are identical except for the DVD burner.

[CHAOS]

Hmmmm......
Thats strange, i also have an I/O +- drive & i have never burned a coaster using verbatim + media, i have burned alot of - media that screws up but i am sure it is the crap - media that i used, not saying - media is crap, just one batch i have, as i am sure i could get some + media that might be crap