DVD Burners

DVD-9 (Single-Sided, Dual-Layer Discs) Burners

Only one I can recommend at this point - because it is cherap and got rave reviews from virtually everyone  .  .  .  the Sony DRU-710A.

Originally, Sony came out with the disastrous DRU-700A.  VERY FEW PLAYERS COULD PLAY THE RESULTING DISCS !!  But Sony fixed a lot of the problems and came out with the DRU-710A, which has received very good reviews.  

HOWEVER - WHAT ABOUT COMPATIBILITY?? - I still can't find much on compatibility with players, though - and that is usually my main issue.

Sony DRU-710A DL DVD Recorder - 8.5 GB Links

Sony Website for the Internal Drive

review by PC Magazine and some User Reviews.

Least Expensive Media (Ritek) at $8 per disc for a 10-pack

DVD-5 (Single-Sided, Single-Layer Discs) Burners

NOTE:  these units are old now - but they work great.  However, look for more recent models !!

Pioneer DVR-A05

- DVR-105 is the OEM model – no included software

This drive doubles the burn speed of the older DVR-A04 (DVR-104) from 2x DVD-R, 1x DVD –RW  to  4x DVD-R, 2x DVD –RW.

Supported burn speeds and disc format:  4x DVD-R, 2x DVD –RW

DVD+R and DVD+RW are not supported  (but they are supported by the DVR-A06 model)

NOTE1:  Cendyne has an OEM of the DVR-105 – supposed to be same drive, cheaper – but CNET trashed the Cendyne in their review and said it is not exactly the same drive

NOTE2:  if you plan on burning data DVD's - you can use Nero.  Their versions 5.5.10 and up “do” recognize this drive - the hardware settings and detection are store in the file "cdrom.cfg".

Compatible Media:

Pioneer Recommends: 

DVS-R47A/U              -           DVD-R  2x

DVS-R470SDD50       -           DVD-R 2x (count=50)

DVS-RW47B/U          -           DVD-RW 2x ? (doesn’t say) (rewrite up to 1000 times)

DVS-RP470SDF         -           DVD-R 2x

Others Recommend:

            MeritLine - http://www.meritline.com/dvdrblankmedia.html

            Datawrite 4x  (NOT Datawrite Classic, they are Princo !!)

            Princo 1X and 2X and 4x (mixed comments, many bad - quality may not be good)

            Ritek G03 (1X) and G04 (4x)

Firmware Upgrades: http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/multimedia/software/software_files.htm#dvd-Recorders

        NOTE:  firmware can be rolled back by using the /F (Force) switch.

Specs

Write Support:

• DVD-R 4.7GB, DVD-RW 4.7GB
• CD-R 700MB (type 80), CD-R 650MB (Type 74), CD-RW, High speed CD-RW

Read Support:

• DVD-ROM & DVD-Video (Single & Dual layer)
• DVD-R, DVD-RW
• CD-ROM Mode 1, CD-ROM XA Mode 2 (form1, form2)
• CD-DA CD-EXTRA (CD Plus), Video CD, Photo-CD (single or multi-session)
• CD-Text, CD-R, CD-RW

Write Speed:

• DVD-R: 4X (Requires 4X DVD-R Media), 2X, 1X
• DVD-RW: 2X(Requires 2X DVD-RW Media), 1X
• CD-R: 16X, 12X, 8X, 4X
• CD-RW: 8X, 4X

Read Speed:

• DVD-ROM (Single): Max 12X CAV
• DVD-ROM (Dual): Max 8X CAV
• DVD-R, DVD-RW: Max 6X CAV
• CD-ROM: Max 32X CAV
• CD-R, CD-RW: Max 32X CAV
• CD-DA: Max 32X CAV
• Video-CD: 4X CLV

Sony DRU500AX  (the 500LX is their external drive)

These drives were so popular, that there was a huge shortage problem.  There just werent any on the shelves in early 2003 !!

Support (manuals, upgrades, WindowsXP patch):  http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/index.htm

Firmware v1.0d r:  http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/downloads/dru500a/FirmwareUpdateDRU500A.zip

DVD-R: 1X, 2X, 4X max. DVD-R,  1X, 2X max DVD-RW

2.4X, 4X**max DVD+R,  2.4X max DVD+RW

a cheaper way:  you can buy the barebones OEM Sony U10a OEM drive (the same as Melco DVM-4222FB, the same as the DRU500A) and flash the firmware to make it a Sony DRU500a (samer as 500Ax).
http://homepage2.nifty.com/yss/dvd.htm
Another utility (maybe same) your found here.
http://www.ued.janis.or.jp/~jabawock/down.html

DRU510A (new as of the spring of 2003)

DRU510A is the new replacement for the DRU500AX with the same specs as the 500A/X, but it supports 4X RW for one format and 2.4X RW for the other.

DWU10A  - an OEM version of the DRU500A.

Compatibility Media

DRU500AX Compatible Media:  http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/mediainfo_na.htm

Media that did NOT work (as tested by a user who reported his findings to the newsgroups):

Princo 1x DVD-R
Maxell DVD-R
Maxell DVD-RW
Fuji DVD+R

Media that has worked so far:

Maxell DVD+R
Maxell DVD+RW
Sony DVD+RW