AfterDawn: News

Sony releases first 12x dual format DVD burner

Sony unveiled today its latest DVD burner model, DRU-540A. The drive allows 12x writing on 8x certified DVD+R discs.

Drive also supports 4x burning of DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs and 8x burning of DVD-R discs. The 12x DVD+R burning means that burning a single full disc will take appx. six minutes to complete. The drive is expected to hit the retail shelves in July and the price is set to $180 in the United States.



Source: Sony press release

Written by: Petteri Pyyny @ 7 Jun 2004 14:05

• Previous article

• iTunes' European launch expected next week

• Next article

• Ahead releases Nero PhotoShow Elite, updates Nero 6 Ultra Edition

• 10 comments

• Pop_Smith

  Thats pretty sweet, to bad its not 4x or even 8x DVD-9 though.
  
  Does that mean the 12x is only on the +R format and not on the -R?

  7.6.2004 18:00 #1

• firewire

  The question is Do I go for speed? or the new dual layer format. Must say if it was amy manufacturer bar Sony I may have been tempted.

  8.6.2004 04:18 #2

• john179

  I would say it will be better to wait a while as iam sure you will get all on one drive soon.Some will rush in and purchase that is what i use to do but i think i will wait a while this time.

  8.6.2004 09:56 #3

• Toiletman

  The first wave of technology is usually unstable. So you might get more coasters from burning at 12x than 4x. I'm going to go with a 107 :D Has everything an average Toiletman could need.

  8.6.2004 17:46 #4

• djscoop

  at this point i think size takes prescedence over speed. I'd rather have a slower dual layer burner which you can "backup" entire movies, than have a faster single layer one.

  9.6.2004 13:36 #5

• vurbal

  Since I won't be able to afford to buy the media now I'll probably wait until around Christmas time when I should be able to find a good deal on a Pioneer dual layer burner. Having owned a Pioneer and then a Sony I have to admit I'm partial to Pioneer. I'm betting media prices will also drop significantly at the end of the year. Otherwise I might wait a few more months after that.
  

  Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a night. Set him on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life
  Backup A DVD With DVD Rebuilder & CCE Basic: http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/dvd_rebuilder_tutorial.cfm

  9.6.2004 13:47 #6

• djscoop

  i'm partial to pioneer too. my dvr-105 has worked flawlessly for almost 2 years now. whats the details on the pioneer dual layer burner? have the come out with one for dvd-r yet, and how much is the media?
  

  1800+ Athlon XP - 1.5GB pc2700 ddr - MSI KT3 Ultra 2 - 120gb 7200rpm wd, 160 gb 7200rpm maxtor, 47gb 10k rpm scsi seagate - pioneer dvr-105 - liteon 48X24X48

  9.6.2004 13:54 #7

• Pop_Smith

  Around Christmas people will have sales on the burners and, more companys will have developed dual-layer burners by then, also, if they haven't already Ritek will get involved in the dual-layer market and prices on dual (as well as single) layer media will drop.

  9.6.2004 13:55 #8

• vurbal

  I believe Pioneer is planning on their first dual layer drive being available in the 3rd quarter and it's supposed to be the same speed (for everything I think) as the Sony. I think they're planning on a 16x single layer drive around the same time. Personally I figure if it's a new type of DVD drive and Pioneer hasn't come out with one yet it's not ready for prime time yet. As always YMMV.

  Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a night. Set him on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life
  Backup A DVD With DVD Rebuilder & CCE Basic: http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/dvd_rebuilder_tutorial.cfm

  9.6.2004 14:41 #9

• OAKside24

  Wait for dual-layer burners to be affordable. Heck of a nice sig, vurbal...lol.

  10.6.2004 03:04 #10