Hey, I've been reading various information about this optorite drive. I'm really intersted in thier HD-Burn Techonolgy, which let you burn twice as much data onto a single 700mb disc. Now it's possible to burn 1.4 gig onto a 700 disc. Only problem is that it can only be read by dvdrom drive that has the firmware to support this format. I was hopiing to use it on vcd, in which i no longer have to waste 2 cd for 1 movie and no more swaping. I know dvd are alot better, but I got a bunch of foreign vcd which arn't available on dvd plus cd arn't that expensive. Any advice on this drive, is it worth getting?

Also my cousin plan on getting a Sony 500ax OEM, but I've been hearing bad thing about sony OEM version but then it's alot cheaper then the retail version. Should she return the drive? Can she upgrade the firmware? I also hear comparison that the sony500a and the sony510u are basiclly the same drive? Any expert opinion would be appreciated.

OEM Sonys are cheaper but don't come with much & don't update as easy.

That plextor 8x might be under $180 if you act fast from dell.com with coupons

For this deal try:
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=18&threadid=216119&highlight_key=y&keyword1=plextor

The 510a is basically a 500a with upgraded firmware. That and the 510a supports 4x DVD+RW writing technology.

Sony's OEM of the 500a is the DWU[R]10A/ DWU[R]12A. The OEM versions can be upgraded to the retail firmwire with a hack. And the 500a's and its OEM's are no longer supported, which means no more firmwire upgrades and etc... The 510a OEM version is the DWU[R]14A. Of which you can also upgrade it to the retail version.

**[R] means the the R is interchangable with the U before it.**

Why couldn't have sony been like Pioneer and made it's firmware interchangable. :rolleyes:

Has anyone tested the plextor for quality? I know thier CDRW Drive were one of the best quality along with the TDK Drive, but I heard the tdk drive wasn't that good, even for thier standard. I don't want another Pioneer which die after only 500 burned dvdr.
The optorite is only 120 shipped retailled @ livewarehouse.com . I seem like a good deal but 1/3 of everybody that left review seem to have a problem with it.

The Plextor is in fact a Plextor and not a relabeled NEC like the older + format only model. There isn't going to be any way to truly test their quality untill they have been around a while. Hopefully they are just like thier CD-R/-RW drives. I do believe that they carry a 2 or 3 year warranty though.