Optorite Abandons HD-Burn!?

[888888]

I recently noticed that Optorite's new 16x DVD Burner DD1601 is powered by a Philips chipset instead of a Sanyo chipset as all previous models. Therefore, it does not support HD-Burn which is a technology that can fit 1.4 GB on an ordinary CD-R but can only be read back on an HD-Burn compatible device.

Optorite (Accesstek) was the only burner brand I am aware of that supported this technology which is owned by Sanyo.

Is HD-Burn dead? Will drives capable of reading HD-Burn discs ever be made again? Are there other companies now using the Sanyo chipset?

While I am not yet in the market to replace my Optorite DD0201, I am pretty worried since I have burned dozens of HD-Burn backups, DivX movies discs, and "DVDs" on HD-Burn discs. What's more, I love the technology and don't plan to stop using it for a while. If or rather when my DD0201 finally craps out, will I be screwed?

[tompika]

I recently noticed that Optorite's new 16x DVD Burner DD1601 is powered by a Philips chipset instead of a Sanyo chipset as all previous models. Therefore, it does not support HD-Burn which is a technology that can fit 1.4 GB on an ordinary CD-R but can only be read back on an HD-Burn compatible device...

...Will drives capable of reading HD-Burn discs ever be made again?

I would think HD burning/reading is firmware dependent

[888888]

I recently noticed that Optorite's new 16x DVD Burner DD1601 is powered by a Philips chipset instead of a Sanyo chipset as all previous models. Therefore, it does not support HD-Burn which is a technology that can fit 1.4 GB on an ordinary CD-R but can only be read back on an HD-Burn compatible device...

...Will drives capable of reading HD-Burn discs ever be made again?

I would think HD burning/reading is firmware dependent

I have never heard of a firmware that supported HD-Burn for a non-Sanyo burner.

[yoda313]

Hello,

Well you could start backing them up now. And also Single Layer dvd burners are pretty darn cheap these days....

Sorry to hear about your problem

Kevin

[888888]

According to Meritline, the Optorite DD1601 DOES support HD-Burn.

http://www.meritline.com/optorite-dd1601-16x-dvd-burner.html

However, there is no mention of HD-Burn compatability on the DD1601 item page on Optorite's website.

I wonder if this isn't just a mistake by Meritline.

[888888]

Hello,

Well you could start backing them up now. And also Single Layer dvd burners are pretty darn cheap these days....

Sorry to hear about your problem

Kevin

Thanks for the support Yoda. I will contact Optorite and try to get to the bottom of this.

[-jsl-]

Is HD-Burn dead?

HD-BURN was pretty much DOA...

Will drives capable of reading HD-Burn discs ever be made again? Are there other companies now using the Sanyo chipset?

There are some rumors that Accesstek will launch a 16x DVD writer (DD1603) based on Sanyo chipset and probably with HD-BURN support in that case. I don't think the manufacturer Accesstek has anything to do with the DD1601 which seems to come from CyberDrive (and no the DD1601 does not support HD-BURN). I guess Accesstek's US branch Optorite decided to rebadge this drive because Accesstek didn't get their 16x drive ready in time. Plextor which also uses Sanyo chipset was/is very late to the market with its 16x drive so maybe Sanyo was/is the problem? (Just speculating).

Anyway I would not archive important things to HD-BURN because you might get real problems finding a drive to read them in a few years...

[888888]

There are some rumors that Accesstek will launch a 16x DVD writer (DD1603) based on Sanyo chipset and probably with HD-BURN support in that case.

There is some potentially good news for HD-Burners like myself. Accesstek has put up a DD1603 product page:

http://www.accesstek.com.tw/_english/2_product/02_spec.php?hID=23

Although HD-Burn is not listed explicitly as a feature, judging both from the other features and from the circumstances, it seems like the DD1603 is based on the Sanyo chipset and will support HD-Burn.

Nothing so far on the Optorite site about this. Hopefully they will release it in the US.

I guess we will know when the DD1603 comes out.

[888888]

Ok. I have an update. I contacted Optorite. Here is the question I sent:

'Does your new DD1603 drive support HD-Burn? I have burned dozens of HD-Burn discs with my current Optorite drive and I am worried that they will be unreadable in future drives, even ones made by Optorite. Will your company continue to support HD-Burn?"

Here is their response:

"The model DD1603 drive does not support HD-Burn, but we are still working with Sanyo to provided a future model drive that will have HD Burn support."

I will keep my fingers crossed but this doesn't look good.

[dap]

I just fired my Optorite DD0203 and moved into the NEC ND-3500A/G camp. I never used HD-Burn as I was always worried that it would never catch on and I would be stuck with a lot of stuff that would be useless. Looks like I may have been right.
Funny thing is I purchased the DD0203 because of HD-Burn, then thought better of it.

[doppletwo]

Is there any reason to use HD burn seems like a weird size.

I mean a have some technological dead ends myself, a pre NETMD minidisc player/recorder walkman, but at least it has LP4.

But I am just wondering what you use the HD burns for? Data backup? I guess it is cheaper to back up data on double capacity burned CD's than DVD's.

Doesn't seem to make sense for music unless you have a player the plays HD burns.

Sorry 888888 but you seem way to concerned about this. DVD burners are here and media is getting more consistant and more affordable all the time. And burners forget about it. The NEC 3500 series is great and under 70 dollars.

Now something to get mad about is Microsoft saying that the next Xbox probably won't be backwards compatible. What are they thinking.

Yoda's right start tranfering all of your HD burns while you still have a drive that can read them.

[mats.hogberg]

HD-BURN was pretty much DOA...

My thoughts exactly. Stillborn.

/Mats