Dead DRU-500A in Kuwait!!!

[nasser]

Sony DRU-500A
bought 1 Nov 2002 from CompUSA Orlando,fl $ 349 + tax
it died in 19 Feb 2003 in Kuwait ( burn smile - the motor no more works )
just burnt 5 DVD-r 5 dvd-rw 1 dvd+rw
:icon8:

[MrSnake]

That sucks indeed, but you do have a warranty no?

MrSnake

[nasser]

The warrnty is not vaild in kuwait ! I sent e-mail for Sony USA 10 days ago still no replay

[MrSnake]

I'm not familiar with the laws in Kuwait, but you should also have a warranty from the store where you bought it. (Not the manufacturer's warranty from Sony).

MrSnake

[spiderman2k1]

nasser I had the DRU500AX nothing but problem's. If you can not get it fixed or replace I would go with Pioneer. If you read my post i'm not happy with the DRU500AX. As MR.SPOCK say's In Star Trek some time's wanting is better then having

[nasser]

Thank you guys ..
I'll try to find pionner and forget sony

[jaxt]

Nasser,

Yeah, I got the Pioneer and it made the trip from North America to Kuwait just fine in my suitcase this past September. Not only that, but with the cheap price of blank DVD-Rs here in Kuwait (sweet), I have already created at least 80+ DVDs in about four months with only one coaster - but that was my fault!

If things go to shi t here in the next few days, then I'll be yanking that puppy out and taking back to Canada until the war is over. I couldn't live without it.

Remember, you'll always have Bin Khaldohn Street.

[videofun]

Hi nasser,
my dru-500a also died after 2 weeks of purchase (bought mid Jan 2003 firmware 1.0d). Well i sent it back and after 3 weeks of waiting i received as a replacement a dru-500a in bulk packaging (while i had bought a retail) with prod. date Oct 2002, scratches on the casing and firmware 1.0g, (i don't believe that they sent me a new drive), at least this one works (for now).
Result: Stay away from Sony

[Bulten]

Everyone seems to be so mad at Sony...

Well, I guess that if my DRU-500A died, I also would be. At the same time DRU-500A is a nice drive! Many people are actually satisfied with this burner, including me. I like being able to chose, and I also like to record CD's at 24x speed. It is also very friendly and records CD's. Too bad it dies for so many people. I really hope that Sony are able to fix this in future productions of THE DRU-500A(X), i surely don't understand the reason for a drive to die after 2 weeks. But imagine this problem would not have existed, then you probably would not have stated "Stay away from Sony". They actually produce good products, for example a dual standard DVD burner...

[Romanov]

Guys,

I suspect the internal Sony DRU500A drive might have a power supply problem. If you follow the posts in this forum, many internal drives die just like that. No warning, no slow down in performance or increased error rates before it goes belly up. If you compare this to the external model (that gets its power from a separate power brick/not from PCs power supply -like the internal model- or from the firewire or USB ports), then it seems that the drive is OK (I have one and am very very pleased with this DRU500UL/firmware 1.0g). Just my 2p.

[atb]

Guys,

I suspect the internal Sony DRU500A drive might have a power supply problem. If you follow the posts in this forum, many internal drives die just like that. No warning, no slow down in performance or increased error rates before it goes belly up. If you compare this to the external model (that gets its power from a separate power brick/not from PCs power supply -like the internal model- or from the firewire or USB ports), then it seems that the drive is OK (I have one and am very very pleased with this DRU500UL/firmware 1.0g). Just my 2p.

huh...it could be...or it could be just there were one hundred internal 500a sells compare to one external, maybe that is the reason for not have much dead dru500ul compare to internal one

[Romanov]

atb,

Yes, of course, you are absolutely right! For sure there will be a lot less external drives sold than internal models. I should have taken this into the equation. By the way.... there is a new firmware, and GUESS WHAT: there seems to be no more distinction in firmware upgrades between the 'old' models (DRU 500A, DRX 500UL) and the new models (... AX, ... ULX). Sony now offers firmware upgrade 2.0e for both series!! One of the issues it solves (according to Sony) is the heavy drive vibration if off-centered of ill-balanced CDs/DVDs are used. I did experience this vibration; will test tonight the new firmware and post back.