CDRLabs.com

Any ideas as to when the following drives will hit retail (anywhere in the world):

- LGA GSA-4165B (or whatever is the 4163b successor)
- BenQ DW1640 (or whatever is the 1620pro/1625 successor)
- Nec ND3540 (or whatever is the 3520 successor)
- Pioneer Axx (or whatever is the A09XL successor)
- Plextor PX-xxx (or whatever is the PX-716A successor)
- LiteOn SOHW-1693S (or whatever is the SOHW-1673s successor)

I'm trying to time my drive purchases to coincide with the testing I do for an article I'm writing, which won't be out till late summer. Hence, I have to be able to buy the very latest drives for testing to have at least some relevance when the article comes out.

I'd appreciate all help on times/dates and possible sources to buy the equip (mail order, anywhere in the world that delivers to within EU, but EU sources are prefererred).

Cheers,
halc

As usual, Pioneer and Plextor have been tight lipped about their next drives. The rest of the drives, I've heard a little here and there.. some more than others. Here are my best guesstimates:

LG GSA-4165 - probably May.. at least here in the US
BenQ DW1640 - this month. I'm fairly certain of this.
NEC ND-3540 - late this month, but more likely May
Lite-On SOHW-1693S - May.. at least in the US

I'm hoping Lite-ON is working hard on the SOHW-1693S, considering the lack of updates for their other drives.

Thanks Ian!

Keep in mind those are my best guesses. If I'm wrong, don't get mad at me..

Halc, the place I keep an eye on for new products (in addition to what Ian says ) is Alternate. Their delivery dates are normally realistic (and they ship to Finland). Of the drives you mentioned, only the NEC ND-3540A is listed at present, delivery date: April.

G

Thanks MediumRare. I'll try to keep on tabs on Alternate.

Anybody have advance info on Samsung and possible replacement for latest Samsung models (is 552U the latest shipping)?

Here's some news: alternate now lists the BenQ DW-1640 (Lightscribe) as shipping within 48 hours. €79 retail. As mentiond elsewhere, the NEC 3540 is now listed as May.

G

MediumRare wrote:Here's some news: alternate now lists the BenQ DW-1640 (Lightscribe) as shipping within 48 hours. €79 retail. As mentiond elsewhere, the NEC 3540 is now listed as May.

G

OOhh... I didn't know the 1640 had LightScribe..

The DW1625 has LightScribe.. the DW1640 doesn't. They're gonna have some pissed off customers.