Lite On LDW-401S

[Sneaksta]

hello

just wondering if anyone has seen any reviews on this new lite on DVD burner?

had a look on the lite on site - not even a picture of the drive

http://www.liteonit.com.tw/english/index-english.htm


thanks for all replies in advance

[Ian]

Not yet. We should be getting a drive from Lite-On any day now though. Here are a few pics to hold you over.

[Sneaksta]

thanks for the reply.


looking at getting them in if they are as good as we all hope

thanks again

[dhc014]

Not yet. We should be getting a drive from Lite-On any day now though. Here are a few pics to hold you over.

omg hi2u Ian! Can I stop by?! I'm fairly set on buying this as soon as I can. Screw waiting for reviews, I've waited long enough!

BTW, larger versions of Ian's pics above are on the Polish Lite-ON distributor's site here. "następne" = next

[Sneaksta]

hello,

if your in Australia i can currently supply the drive for AU $299 + postage

it is on my site(link in signature) under CD & DVD Burners on the main page.



as yet i have never ordered/used the drive

[dhc014]

You have some already in your posession?

[Sneaksta]

don't have any in stock at present.

but can order in.

i was just curious about the drive-- highs & lows

definantly has entered the market at a very compeditive price

[MikeTR]

The $1,000,000.-question is wether or not the -401S will be upgradable to the -401D (Dual format) in the future.
Even Karr Wang hinting this might be possible, but nothing has been confirmed (yet?):


http://forum.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=410424#post410424
http://forum.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=421837#post421837

[jase]

Damn straight

LiteOn are one of the best in the business at making compatible burners. If they can sprinkle their magic onto a dual-format writer they'll really be onto a winner...

[MikeTR]

Just seen this drive advertised to be due in August overhere. Price is quite reasonable (compared to other drives) at 170 euro. But it will face stiff competition from the LG GSA-4040 if that drive is introduced at a price anywhere near the $150 it is available for in the ROK right now.

The big difference is that the LG is a Dual DVD drive right out of the box! I like the specs of the Lite-On better when it comes to CD-R(W) and DVD+R(W), but it's lack of DVD-R(W) support hurts bigtime.

As far as I understand from the various comments made on this forum, as well as on the CDFreaks forum, Lite-On is having problems implementing it's -R writing strategy. It would be nice (make that crucial) to know if the -401S will support -R(W) with a firmware update or if the drive is simply not -R(W) capable.

[dhc014]

Yeah it might be possible, but keep it to yourself! I want to be able to get one when they're released.

[Telstar]

...The big difference is that the LG is a Dual DVD drive right out of the box! I like the specs of the Lite-On better when it comes to CD-R(W) and DVD+R(W), but it's lack of DVD-R(W) support hurts bigtime.

As far as I understand from the various comments made on this forum, as well as on the CDFreaks forum, Lite-On is having problems implementing it's -R writing strategy. It would be nice (make that crucial) to know if the -401S will support -R(W) with a firmware update or if the drive is simply not -R(W) capable.

Actually the LG is a triple format (+, -, and DVD-RAM), or as LG called it Super Multi DVD burner.

IMHO, I don't think that Lite-On would have much impact on the DVD burner market as it did to the CD burner market. Lite-On recently in Taiwan told the press that paying licensing fees to both camps was going to hurt its competitiveness and BenQ was also quoted as saying there was no bright future for Taiwanese manufacturers in the DVD market since the key technologies were still controlled by the major Japanese manufacturers and they had been busy cutting prices to increase their own market share.

While I have no doubt that LDW-401S could be upgraded to dual format technically speaking, I doubt it would be feasible for practical purposes. How would Lite-On handle the licensing fee issue with DVD Forum? Do customers pay for the future upgrade now or later? Does Lite-On pay the licensing fee to DVD Forum now or later? and how does Lite-On prevent people from taking a free ride with the upgraded dual format firmware?

According to Lite-On, their 4X dual format burner won't be introduced until October, by then Plextor will have introduced its 8X dual format burner for more than two months, and other 4X dual format burners will have already dropped their prices below US$150. I guess that's the situation which Lite-On was referring to as hurting its competitiveness. Any way the current DVD burner market is overcrowded already even without Lite-On, currently with Sony, NEC, Sanyo/Optorite, Pioneer, LG/Hitachi, Plextor, Ricoh and their OEM products, plus already announced products from BTC and Gigabyte, Lite-On definitely has a lot to catch up even if it has better products, and we'll find out in the next few months.

[dhc014]

While I have no doubt that LDW-401S could be upgraded to dual format technically speaking, I doubt it would be feasible for practical purposes. How would Lite-On handle the licensing fee issue with DVD Forum? Do customers pay for the future upgrade now or later? Does Lite-On pay the licensing fee to DVD Forum now or later? and how does Lite-On prevent people from taking a free ride with the upgraded dual format firmware?

The upgrade will never be officially sanctioned by Lite-ON, of course. It'll be just like flashing one of their CD Burners to a faster speed.

[Telstar]

The upgrade will never be officially sanctioned by Lite-ON, of course. It'll be just like flashing one of their CD Burners to a faster speed.

I just found out that owners of NEC ND-1100A are now able to to flash their drives to ND-1300A, but still can only burn +R(W) discs. Apparently NEC is not stupid enough to let itself get into legal issues with DVD Forum, so I don't expect that Lite-On will make the same mistake. After all, flashing your CD burner to a higher speed involves no licensing and legal issues with Philips, but flashing a +R(W) burner to a dual format burner is a totally different issue.

[Kennyshin]

Price war getting tougher. TWO companies import Lite-On LDW-401S to South Korea now, Worldwise and Sungju. Both companies distribute LDW-401S for under 200,000 Won per unit. LG GSA-4040B retail price is about 250,000 Won to 300,000 Won though many people can buy one for about 200,000 Won in reality. NEC ND-1300A is cheapest so far. 1 USD = a little under 1,200 Won.

[dhc014]

So 200000 won is about $166? newegg.com is charging $145 so I guess I couldn't have done much better. Competition is good!

[Kennyshin]

So 200000 won is about $166? newegg.com is charging $145 so I guess I couldn't have done much better. Competition is good!

Yep, but including 10% VAT.

[ZL1]

So 200000 won is about $166? newegg.com is charging $145 so I guess I couldn't have done much better. Competition is good!

wait for the LG ? I see it at 229, confsed

[ZL1]

So 200000 won is about $166? newegg.com is charging $145 so I guess I couldn't have done much better. Competition is good!

Yep, but including 10% VAT.

newegg prices include tax by default for out of state buyers + most of the time shipping is free as well

[Bhairav]

Dave, did you get your 401S yet? I ordered one too, should be here next week.

[dhc014]

Nope, it's due Wednesday, but I hope it comes tomorrow.