when DL drives become more in abundance...

[yoda21000]

Would BenQ release their firmware for the BenQ DW822A sooner than their dated Sept. 30th release date? Or will there be a way to rip the fimware from the DW830A and use it for the DW822A which is essentially the same drive and especially since the DW822A is upgradable for DL features.

[code65536]

Why? What's the point of a DL drive if you have no DL media??

Be patient.

[yoda21000]

yeah I know, it's hard to be patient. I suppose all the low end DL media may come out first. I'll wait for Ritek, Verbatim or Yuden to come out with eir DL media before I do any DL burning.

[code65536]

yeah I know, it's hard to be patient. I suppose all the low end DL media may come out first. I'll wait for Ritek, Verbatim or Yuden to come out with eir DL media before I do any DL burning.

Nope. DL media requires a LOT of investment of money into both R&D and new production lines. The crap companies don't have the money to do that kind of thing. In fact, the DL media market right now is a 1-company monopoly controlled by Mitsubishi (and its Verbatim brand-label). Ritek/Ricoh will be next, but it'll be months before they'll be ready, as they are still messing with prototype discs. It could be many many more months before a 3rd party enters in, because of the high costs.

Lower competition will also mean high prices. Don't expect prices to be at a reasonable level for at the very least, another half-year (and even that's being optimistic).

[RabidDog]

BenQ DW822A =/= BenQ DW830A....... fubar drive, possibly