DVD-R/RW VS DVD+R/RW: The War is Over!!

[jugernaut]

Sony Introduces Dual RW Drives - 9/9/2002
Sony Electronics has introduced its Dual RW drives, the first combination drives for the PC to support the DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD-R formats. The new Dual RW drives, the internal DRU-500A and the external DRX-500UL, encompass four popular DVD recording formats for the utmost in recording functionality and playback compatibility. By combining the DVD rewritable (DVD+RW/-RW) formats with the DVD write- once (DVD+R/-R) formats, the Dual RW drives allow computer users to transfer home movies from tape to DVD discs, customize and edit them for a personal touch, and then play them back in nearly all DVD-Video players and DVD-ROM drives.

Sony's new drives are also the industry's first to support up to 4X DVD-R recording, making them the fastest DVD rewritable drives on the market. In addition, the drives support 2.4X DVD+RW/+R recording and 2X DVD-RW recording. It is expected that 4X DVD-R and 2X DVD-RW media will become available in the near future. Both Dual RW models also support 24X CD-R and 10X CD-RW recording (using high-speed CD-RW discs), making them ideal all-in-one recording devices.

"Sony is eliminating the need for consumers to choose one format over another by introducing a drive that supports the most popular DVD formats," said Robert DeMoulin, marketing manager for branded storage products in Sony Electronics' IT Products Division. "Whether consumers are looking to create write-once discs to inexpensively share home movies, or rewritable discs for video or data storage, the Sony DRU-500A and DRX-500UL drives offer complete solutions for digital recording."

"Two of the key issues for the success of rewritable DVD drives in the future are affordability and compatibility. The increasing market acceptance of DVD players and digital camcorders underlines the need for recording formats that are compatible with the majority of DVD players," said Mary Craig, principal analyst for Gartner Dataquest. "Vendors in this market need to do as much as possible to remove the guesswork in the selection of a DVD recording format and to help prepare users for the future of home video and DVD recording."

"The popularity of DVD players, digital camcorders and powerful but affordable multi-media PCs are quickly increasing the appeal of DVD recording," said Wolfgang Schlichting, research manager Removable Storage for IDC. "Playback compatibility with DVD players will be vital for the technology's success, and Sony's new multi-format drives allow users to record on all widely available DVD media formats. Also, these multi-format drives greatly reduce the risk for consumers to depend on less compatible or more expensive media in the future," he added.

The DRU-500A DVD/CD rewritable drive will be available in October for an estimated retail price of under $350, and the Sony DRX-500UL will be available in November for less than $430.

[MrPhelps]

Sounds good for Sony, after they screwed the beta tape situation this should help make up for it. :P

[agent_mulder81]

What exactly is the difference between DVD-RW and DVD+RW ?

[bartman]

It's about bloody time.....too bad I already got me a Pioneer 104

[MOVIEGEEK]

All I want for Christmas is this Sony drive......
The DRU-500A is internal & DRX-500UL is external:
http://www.zdnet.com/supercenter/stories/review/0,12070,562202,00.html

[Crash-n-Burn]

Where can i find a site to buy the dvd+-rw/r but the external one? i cant find that and has anyone heard about how good they are and work?

[MOVIEGEEK]

Where can i find a site to buy the dvd+-rw/r but the external one? i cant find that and has anyone heard about how good they are and work?

Did you read the article?(Hint:November)
Preorder:http://www.sonystyle.com/home/item.jsp?hierc=9683x9714x9715&catid=9715&itemid=50044&type=o

[vitualis]

Fantastic!

Regards.

[Crash-n-Burn]

Well since the internal is already out maybe the article may be wrong?

[subclubkid]

I want to have babys with that thing..looks like my pioneer 104 might have a new friend soon

now I just gotta think of a way to come up with $400



addedwill this thing burn those 1.3 gb cd-r's that are coming out? If not, which burners do?

thanks