DVD±R/±RW - Internal - MPN: DRU500AX
Strengths: It Worked fine for 12 months
Weakness: lasts for a little over a year.as soon as the warranty runs out.Horrible customer service. Not worth repairing
Buy a Plextor 708 and save the headaches! Thats what I did. Wow! I love this drive. better at reading and so much faster.Comes with some good software too
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TopStrengths: it records +r discs
Weakness: it does not record -r discs at 4x, only at 2x, and is very fussy about some brands
I bought this unit some months ago. It performed ok with +r discs, and with some -r when recording at 2x; when I started trying 4x -r discs, I found out it would not record, some would give an error, and sometimes the unit would block completely, and the computer had to be restarted. Some brands would record well most of the time, but some would give errors, especially the cheaper ones, so I mostly bought Sentinel -r, which worked ok and were reasonably priced.
I found out on irc chats I was not the only one with this problem. So I took the unit to sony customer support. At first I was told the unit would be replaced, but they had not enough replacement units (probably a lot of people had the same problem...). Now I am told they changed directions, and the units will not be replaced, but repaired... Probably replace all of them is too expensive, I just wonder how long will they take to repair!
Two weeks have passed now, and I am told I can expect to wait surely another month or more!
That for a rather expensive unit when it was bought, and that is still in its warranty period!
Bad unit and awful customer support...
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TopStrengths: Works will all formats. Works with most software. (Nero, Roxio, RecordNow, Alcohol 120%, Clone CD, DVDXCOPY & Express)
Weakness: Very expensive. The Software bundle stinks. Blank DVD roms also very pricey!
You must get updates from Roxio and Nero to get the drive to become present. Go to Sony's website to get the latest updates for its driver to reach the 4X speed. Overall, this was the best investment I made. Just make sure you buy good blank discs. This drive is a fussy one! Sony or TDK all the way in the blank dvd rom area. you can use just about anything when burning cds. It was well worth the money. What it lacks in speed, it makes up for in reliabilty. Which is'nt that much especially in the speed department. Its pretty fast when burning cds or dvds. (No Coasters Yet)Made great clear, crisp copies of dvds and awesome cds! Get the right software and updates and you are ready to roll. Go get one today, you wont be sorry!
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TopStrengths: Worked perfectly right from the get-go
Weakness: Somewhat more pricey than the others.
Few things I have bought have worked as flawlessly as this drive. The software that came with it I already had and use(NTI DVD Record) and it works great. Could not be happier with this purchase of the Sony, although I'm sure my other choices, the Pioneer and the Plextor would have work well also.
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TopStrengths: Multi-format
Weakness: rude tech support; six week turnaround to get replacement
Died after 3 1/2 weeks. Called tech support. Waited over 30 min. Told it would take up to SIX WEEKS to get replacement. Rep was very impatient and unprofessional. Wished I'd gotten something else.
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TopStrengths: 8MB buffer +/- format 24x/10x/32x CDRW - No need for other CDRW
Weakness: Little bit expensive
If you have enough money to buy this TOY, then go for it. It is very COOL TOY.
I'm using it with my RecordNow, DVDdecryter, DVD2one, and DVD-X-Copy. All succeed.
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TopStrengths: Compatability with every type of DVD media out there with the exception of DVD-RAM... also with dual interfaces IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0/1.1
Weakness: Price...
This is practically the best drive on the market!!! Excellent software bundle and features make this drive worth it. I have the DRX-500UL which is external, but very close if not identical to the internal drive
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TopStrengths: Worked flawlessly from setup.
Weakness: Could have faster dvd read speed (only 8x).
Using nero 5.5.10.7b and sony or memorex dvd+rw has been great for data backup. It takes ~ 22min to burn and 22min for data verification.
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Sony DRU-500AX DVD-Writer
Strengths: Plays and records CD's fine
Weakness: Made coasters out of DVDs. After 1 year you pay $20.00 for 2 weeks of remedial manual reading support. No Authorize repair for units after 1 year warranty. Its really disposable.
At 10 months I thought the MYDVD upgrade was the problem but at 2 months past the warranty I found out different. Hours of having the Support read things to try each day lead no where. I found dozens of post for help in many web forums with simular problems and no solution replies.
Most listed 10 to 15 things they were told by the MFG to do that might fix it but still like myself, it was useless.
Basically they quit reading DVDs and then quit recognizing blank DVD formats. The first comment the support made was I was using bad media - Until I explained that DVD -r, DVD +R and the RW's were all Sony brand.
Half the price, twice the speed and lifetime support - Plextors px 708A is a much better buy. The brands of blanks DVDs and CDs it will support is a wide spectrum.
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