I just ordered a Sony Dual-Layer drive!

[yohansenbabe]

They just went on sale yesterday and are supposed to ship mid-May. Still don't know where to buy dual layer blank media though ... Anyone else take the plunge?

[Dimmer]

Out of curiosity, where did you order it and how much did it cost?

[yohansenbabe]

Here's the link, I paid $199.00 and got free shipping.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_BrowseCatalog-Start;sid=OueBFlCrblqBTxA8lXOLHR-6QNzDKzrvG6M=?CategoryName=cpu

[Solo]

Here is a review of the Sony Dual Layer.

http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.html?i=2045

One thing that does put me off a little

http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.html?i=2045&p=3

Sure, it isn't the most interesting burn that we have ever seen, but it is surprisingly stable. Notice, however, that this 7.96GB burn took 45.23 minutes! Burning two 4.38GB discs takes less than 15 minutes.

But like all new things I'm sure it will get faster ?

[Dimmer]

Sure, it isn't the most interesting burn that we have ever seen, but it is surprisingly stable. Notice, however, that this 7.96GB burn took 45.23 minutes! Burning two 4.38GB discs takes less than 15 minutes.The specs state 2.4x DL burning speed and 8x for a regular DVD+R. Therefore, the burning time is exactly what one would expect at these speeds.

[yohansenbabe]

I'm not too concerned about speed anyway. I generally start a burn when I'm leaving for work, going to bed, etc.

It looks like it could be a while until blank dual layer media is available though ... anyone have any new information on this? Such as who will produce it first and what it will cost?

[alexnoe]

Mitsubishi DVD+R9 for 39 Euro (http://www.clubic.com/n/n12215.html)

[yohansenbabe]

Originally posted by alexnoe
Mitsubishi DVD+R9 for 39 Euro (http://www.clubic.com/n/n12215.html)

Ouch! Don't think I'll be spending 39 euro for one disc anytime soon ...

[Solo]

Me to. The idea of a 1:1 backup outways the time as well :D

Actually while on subject of Dual Layer and availability I saw this today as well. It seems BenQ have a 8x drive which you can update to Dual Layer via a Firmware update. Now this is not surprising as I've heard of it being done on some Lite-on's already. But look at the date of Firmware release.

The photo is of a sticker on the retail package. According to this, on 30/09/2004, the buyer will be able to record dual layer discs with the current recorder through a firmware upgrade that will be avaliable from BenQ's website.

30/09/2004 is a long way away though :confused:

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Articles/Specific.asp?ArticleHeadline=BenQ+DW822A&Series=0

They do have have a BenQ DW830A DL recorder planned as well.

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Articles/Specific.asp?ArticleHeadline=BenQ+DW830A+DL+recorder&Series=0

I'm sure the media will drop in price same way the other DVD's dropped. Please let us know how the Sony does though yohansenbabe. I have being putting off getting a burner all this time. Was waiting for 8x, now I will wait bit longer to see which Dual Layer burner is best.

Thanks
solo

[yohansenbabe]

I just recieved the drive today, but it looks like it's gonna be a while before blank media is available ... especially at reasonable prices. I might buy a few at $6 each, but I won't be willing to pay more than $2-3 each in the long-run.

[alexnoe]

You will have to. Otherwise you'll get crappy media, and we all know how crappy bad single layer media can be. Crappy dual layer media will most likely be even worse.

[atreides93]

I don't see how dual layer will be worthwhile to me if its so much more expensive than single layer disks..plus you have to burn them much slower...that's like two big strikes against it for now.

I'm quite happy these days burning 4x on my RiData G04's

[Joergen]

Personally I'd say, if a quality DL disc like Verbatim would cost me 4€ (and thats optimistic), I'd probably use one or two a month compared to ~50 DVD-R. And this is assuming I already had the drive capable of burning them, which I wont buy until they can do -R DL aswell.

But you have to wonder how the "average joe" will receive DL, cause it means he can march to the local blockbuster and copy any DVD as he does CD audio. A year or so down the line DVDR DL might be the favorite scapegoat for the movie industry to start corrupting the pressed discs with read errors or move to HD-DVD. And yet Sony (of Sony Tristar and Sony Music Records) is one of the core developers of DL media.

[sarahjh69]

why waste money on the sony D/L when you
can get a NEC2500A for $75 and load up the
NEC2510A D/L firmware on it for free. It
still only burns dual layer at 2.4x tho.

[MysticE]

As a Movie Only guy I'm more than happy with the results and compatability I get with $.85 media (G04's) on $80 burners.

[Cholerabob]

I will wait a bit to see the prices of the media, but i will gladly come on the wagon of DL when it's ready. Anything to leave the tiresome CCE and all other nonsense 14 hour worktime behind. Let's face it why continue the headbaging to fit a DVD9 on a DVD5 when you'll be able to do a 1:1 "backup". I know some will say it's for the trill, the challenge, but as we all know, most users just want to do "backups" of everything they see......

[yohansenbabe]

Presently I can get quality single layer media for between $1 and 75 cents US if I wait for the right sale. I'm satisfied continuing to use the single layer media until dual layer prices come down. If blank dual layer discs are starting at $6 I can't see why they wouldn't drop to $2-3 in a year or so ...

Higher density discs (like blue ray) may be the waive of the future, but they don't make much sense for making a 1:1 DVD9 backup.

[Joergen]

Even with DL discs around and cheap (a year down the line) I think I'll still be checking each project with DVDShrink to see if they fit on a single layer with quality, and perhaps do some projects beyond dvdshrink with dvd-rb.

But it would surely be a blessing to just whirl a 1:1 backup. The 2.4x speed isnt bad when you think of the time saved elsewhere.

[daehkcid]

What the NEC2500A can be DL'ed? Cool, haha i just bought that one.

[Solo]

Originally posted by Joergen
which I wont buy until they can do -R DL aswell.

:( He he ... I already waited until DVD Burners could do DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and now DVD+R DL ... now you want DVD-R DL as well. No way :D I'm getting the Lite-On DVD+R DL finally when it comes to my town. This will be my first and I am happy I never rushed out and got one which writes at 4x and rewrites at 2.4x and cannot write DL at all !

After this I'll get a blue ray burner when they become established.