CDRLabs.com

Like the subject says..

http://sony.storagesupport.com/freeupgrade/

Who wants an NEC drive now?

Thanks for bringing the good news to us Ian!

My opinion of Sony (I had previously heard some bad things here about them not updating firmware on CD burners often enough) keeps going up:

First the quick release of firmware 1.0d to fix burning issues with a number of DVD-R brands, including the cheap Princo and DVDPro brands etc.

Now a free firmware upgrade (1.0e) to add 4X DVD+R writing.


Good job Sony; all this for $228 shipped!

If they can increase the read speeds a little with the new firmware, I'll have to pick one up for myself.

Buffalo 4x DVD-R/2x DVD-RW/2.4x DVD+R/2.4x DVD+RW drive is also out at the Japanese retail stores for 44,800 Yen.

Buffalo is probably OEMing it from NEC.

Thanks for bringing the good news to us Ian!

My opinion of Sony (I had previously heard some bad things here about them not updating firmware on CD burners often enough) keeps going up:

First the quick release of firmware 1.0d to fix burning issues with a number of DVD-R brands, including the cheap Princo and DVDPro brands etc.

Now a free firmware upgrade (1.0e) to add 4X DVD+R writing.


Good job Sony; all this for $228 shipped!

Veff,

Where did you get the 1.0d firmware download?

I had this drive (got it from Dell for $274 shipped) and have NOT made a single coaster (whereas they were the rule 1 out of 5 times on my previous HP 200i drive).

Can you plase provide a link!

Thanks
GUrgen

gurgenpb

Just click on the link that Ian provided above, then click on the
pull down that says "select a product".. and select DRU500A..
It is there.

that BUFFALO is rebadge of Sony DRU500a.

gianniz wrote:that BUFFALO is rebadge of Sony DRU500a.

I have never heard of Buffalo before.
Are they new, small, or simply limited to the Far East as far as distribution goes?

gurgenpb wrote:

Thanks for bringing the good news to us Ian!

My opinion of Sony (I had previously heard some bad things here about them not updating firmware on CD burners often enough) keeps going up:

First the quick release of firmware 1.0d to fix burning issues with a number of DVD-R brands, including the cheap Princo and DVDPro brands etc.

Now a free firmware upgrade (1.0e) to add 4X DVD+R writing.


Good job Sony; all this for $228 shipped!

Veff,

Where did you get the 1.0d firmware download?

I had this drive (got it from Dell for $274 shipped) and have NOT made a single coaster (whereas they were the rule 1 out of 5 times on my previous HP 200i drive).

Can you plase provide a link!

Thanks
GUrgen

My old Panasonic was flawless.

The Sony has burned everything I have thrown at it (even cheap Princo sample), with one exception:
It had a problem with one batch of Prodisc 2X (firmware was at the initial 1.0c at the time). These discs had an inkjet printable label on top.
Wonder if that had something to do with it, since I have read about problems with labeled discs (as far as reading is concerned).

I have, however, successfully burned silver top (my brother sold it to me to test) Prodisc 2X at 2X (1.0c).
I was also given a frosted top free sample Prodisc 2X, which burned fine at 2X with 1.0d.

The manufacturer (Prodisc Technology) is ceasing production due to quality concerns on their part...