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Memorex True 8X - New Drive With 8x DVD+R and DVD-R Writing

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Memorex True 8X - New Drive With 8x DVD+R and DVD-R Writing

Postby Ian on Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:28 am

Memorex announced a new DVD±RW drive with 8x DVD+R and DVD-R writing speeds and 4x DVD-RW and DVD+RW rewriting speeds.

Memorex Delivers True 8X8 DVD Recording in Latest Dual Format Drive

Fastest DVD Recorder Provides Precision Recording Technologies and Feature-Packed Software Bundle


SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Memorex delivers cutting-edge DVD recording yet again with the launch of the Memorex True 8X(TM) 8X8 Dual Format DVD recorder. Featuring true 8X burning for the first time in retail, Memorex leads the industry in offering the most complete dual format DVD drive featuring the fastest speeds, precision recording technologies and the market's most comprehensive software bundle.

With the launch of its new True 8X, Memorex goes beyond existing 8X recorders to deliver true 8X write speeds on both DVD+R and DVD-R discs. Existing competitor 8X DVD drives use a process commonly known as "overburn" to stretch 4X technology and 4X media limits. This process pushes the power of the drive's laser to its limits through firmware modification, bypassing the specified tolerance levels of the hardware components to deliver 8X DVD recording.

"Memorex continues to push DVD recording to the extreme," said Allen H. Gharapetian, vice president of marketing and product development. "We are using the latest recording specs from both the DVD Forum and the DVD Alliance to deliver what is by far the fastest and most compatible multi-format CD and DVD drive available today. With our True 8X DVD recorder, consumers can be assured that our newest DVD drive is also the most reliable one, thanks to our decision not to rely on overburning to achieve 8X recording speed."

Memorex based its True 8X 8X8 drive on the award-winning Memorex 4X4 Dual-X drive, recently named a 2003 PC Magazine Editors' Choice; a PC World Best Buy; and a PC World Editor's Pick.

The Memorex drive is packed with an impressive list of seventh-generation, precision DVD recording technologies -- compared to second- or third-generation technologies in competing units -- assuring consumers the utmost in performance with each high-speed burn. These features include:

* State-of-the-art technology that continually stabilizes the drive and reduces the effects of vibrations caused by improperly balanced discs during high-speed recording and playback.

* Significantly better overwrite performance than previous benchmark DVD recorders, thanks to an industry leading defect management system that allows discs to be rewritten many times over without causing a degradation of disc quality or sacrificing write performance.

* A liquid crystal tilt mechanism that provides accurate and reliable operation during both recording and playback with discs that have uneven curvature or thickness.

* A 60,000-hour MTBF -- nearly 20 percent better than the average competing drive -- and a 2MB buffer that ensures the even flow of data when writing to DVD discs. A buffer underrun protection system also ensures uninterrupted recording and perfect discs.

The stylish silver and black True 8X drive also writes to CD-R discs at 40X; rewrites DVD+RW discs at 4X, DVD-RW discs at 4X and CD-RW discs at 24X; and reads DVD-ROM at 12X and CD-ROM at 40X speeds.

Continuing with its tradition of providing a complete, all-in-one solution, Memorex's retail package for the True 8X DVD drive comes with everything necessary for easy installation and immediate use. Memorex bundles an award-winning digital media software suite with every True 8X DVD recorder, providing consumers with a complete software solution that makes it easy to create Hollywood-style DVD movies, convert old VHS tapes to DVD, edit and save precious digital photos, and store data and audio files. This complete software suite includes many extras that provide advanced video and photo editing capabilities, as well as several DVD authoring features that enhance the experience of making movies on PCs.

The package also includes Memorex DVD media, an illustrated guide for vertical or horizontal installation, an easy-to-follow hardware and software manual, connection cable, and a hardware set including audio cable and fastening screws.

Pricing and Availability

The Memorex True 8X 8X8 Dual Format DVD recorder will be in stores in early January 2004 at a suggested retail price of $249.99. Memorex optical storage products include toll-free technical support and a limited one-year warranty.

Is it live or is it Memorex?

Memorex Products, Inc. is the industry sales and marketing leader of digital media, optical storage, media accessories and computer input devices. Since the early 1970s, Memorex has been one of the most widely recognized and respected names in the consumer electronics industry. Today, it is a dominant brand in CD and DVD media, optical drives, Flash memory, Flash drives and computer accessories. Memorex is headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. For more information on Memorex Products, Inc. or its products, please call 562-906-2800, or visit the company's Web site at www.memorex.com.

Memorex and the Memorex logo are trademarks of Hanny Magnetics (B.V.I.) Ltd.

All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
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Postby Ian on Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:29 am

I'm betting the True 8X is based on the same mystery Lite-On design as that Norcent drive.
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Postby jsl on Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:29 am

I'm betting on a OEM Pioneer DVR-A07 with the CD-R speed being a typo. Compare the "features" with the Pioneer press release (the liquid crystal tilt bla bla, reducing vibrations bla bla, etc) and it also has the same MTBF as stated in the leaked Pioneer specs PDF.
And no 8x writing @ 4x media, probably because Pioneer couldn't make it work on DVD-R so they will of course not include it on DVD+R either and instead claim all drives doing that to be unreliable...
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Postby dolphinius_rex on Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:50 am

Well, let's face it, burning most 1x media at 2x isn't a good idea either, and from all the tests I've seen run, it isn't too much different with 4x media burned at 8x. There are often times when a person *CAN* do something, that still isn't a good idea to do.
Punch Cards -> Paper Tape -> Tape Drive -> 8" Floppy Diskette -> 5 1/4" Floppy Diskette -> 3 1/2" "Flippy" Diskette -> CD-R -> DVD±R -> BD-R

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Postby BMR on Tue Dec 02, 2003 12:05 pm

Ian wrote:I'm betting the True 8X is based on the same mystery Lite-On design as that Norcent drive.


I still have found out nothing about the Norcent Drive. I emailed the Norcent provided email address with questions about the drive but have gotten nothing back from them, ( didn't expect anything anyway from a noname company, but was hoping .. ). Seems no one is saying anything about 8X -R and 4X -RW.

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Postby RJW on Tue Dec 02, 2003 12:24 pm

Plextor 708 can burn fine at 8x on 4x MCC media from the begining.
For ricoh media you need 1.03 firmware.
Still you will sacrifice some quality for speed.(Mostly higher jitter values).

Pioneer doesn't want to sacrifice quality and they don't need overclocked media at least at this time.
The reason why overclocking 4x media was introduced was that massive production of 8x wouldn't be there on time.
Ritek,Pioneer,MCC,Maxell are very close with there 8x dvd-r media.
It's just that they need a final confirment of the specs for 8x for drive and media from the DVD forum.
If everything goes well the media and drive will be there at allmost the same time.(The media might be even there befor the drives Ritek is supplying allready some distribution networks. While there still waiting on the final confirment. Primedisc(Ritek+ Philips) is allready massively producing 8x dvd-r media.)

Most of the stuff from Memorex matches the a07 except the part of the cd-r /cd-rw specs. Now Pioneer might have changed them after there initial anouncement. On the latest pioneer a07 info that I have seen the speeds for cd-r and cd-rw weren't listed why everything else was there which was strange however now with some other info arround it might indicate that it wasn't finished and for that reason left out.
Guess we have to wait befor the real drive is there.
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Postby carl on Tue Dec 02, 2003 6:27 pm

BMR: The Norcent is a LDW-811. I have one. Norcent promises a firmware update when the 8X -R specification is approved and media is available.

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Postby BMR on Tue Dec 02, 2003 9:46 pm

carl wrote:BMR: The Norcent is a LDW-811. I have one. Norcent promises a firmware update when the 8X -R specification is approved and media is available.

Carl


Thanks Carl. How has the drive performed so far? This is good news to the 811S owners, as they will get 8X -R and 4X -RW writing if the firmware update works.

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Re: Memorex True 8X - New Drive With 8x DVD+R and DVD-R Writ

Postby ala42 on Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:03 pm

Memorex wrote:* A 60,000-hour MTBF -- nearly 20 percent better than the average competing drive
LOL. Marketing strikes again. 20% better than average, sounds like a real market leader :). Plextor and NU Tech claim 60,000 hours (POH), Liteon 70,000 hours (Life). So if the average is 50,000 hours, there must be several 8x drives with only 40,000 hours of hot air. I can just guess that 'POH' (Power on hours) and 'Life' mean 'switch it on and do not use it too often'.
... and a 2MB buffer that ensures the even flow of data when writing to DVD discs. A buffer underrun protection system also ensures uninterrupted recording and perfect discs.
Another feature unique to a 'seventh-generation' 'True 8x(TM)' drive in 'stylish silver and black'.
Of course this press release says nothing on how 'true' this drive is, no burn times, nothing about CLV/PCLV and no info about supported media.

This is just a 'True Press Release (TM)'
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Postby aviationwiz on Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:16 pm

Anyone want to take bets on whether hoxlund will "upgrade" to this new Memorex when Staples get's it in?
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Postby carl on Wed Dec 03, 2003 12:13 am

The drive, Norcent DWD-840 (LDW-811), performs great. In fact it performs better than my real LDW-811. The LDW-811 burns great but the kprobe scans of the burns are not what I would expect. If I scan them in my old relic LDW-401 they are very good. Scanned on the Norcent they are equally as good. I suspect the 811 has a slight reading problem. Burns created and scanned in the Norcent are excellent. The real LDW-811 is going back for an exchange since I have only had it 12 days. In another thread false advertising was mentioned. Well that is currently the case since the box is very clear about the capbilities of the drive. It is surely a marketing thing to be the first. Funny since the 8X -R specification is not finalized. Anyway Norcent claims there will be a firmware update for it. If not I will convince them to refund my money.

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Postby bingo13 on Fri Dec 05, 2003 11:32 pm

I bought one at CompUSA today. Their price is $199.99. I should have some results in the morning but it appears to be a really nice drive at this time.
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Postby jvolino on Sat Dec 06, 2003 3:47 pm

bingo13:

Are you sure you got the True8x one -- or is it the one that's 8x+R, 4x-R? (See http://www.memorex.com/products/product_display.php?cid=161&pid=684&oid=793)

--Judd
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Postby vsekh on Sat Dec 06, 2003 8:48 pm

I don't believe the True8x Memorex burner is out yet. They will probably release it in January or later.
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Postby Ian on Sat Dec 06, 2003 9:45 pm

vsekh wrote:I don't believe the True8x Memorex burner is out yet. They will probably release it in January or later.


The press release said January.
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Postby bingo13 on Sun Dec 07, 2003 2:31 pm

jvolino wrote:bingo13:

Are you sure you got the True8x one -- or is it the one that's 8x+R, 4x-R? (See http://www.memorex.com/products/product_display.php?cid=161&pid=684&oid=793)

--Judd


Sorry, did not read the release information at the top of the page completely. I did buy the one mentioned in your post.
I have to say that it has been a very good burner to date and has not had any issue burning TDK/Memorex 4x +R media at 8x if forced. The optimal setting will normally burn the 4x+R media at 6x or so. I have tried each type of media with various burner programs with success to date. All disks have been readable in a variety of drives and home units.
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Postby Ian on Sun Dec 07, 2003 2:54 pm

bingo13 is your drive based on the Lite-On 811S too? I'm betting the 8x Dual-X and the True 8X are the same drive.
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Postby bingo13 on Mon Dec 08, 2003 12:23 pm

Ian wrote:bingo13 is your drive based on the Lite-On 811S too? I'm betting the 8x Dual-X and the True 8X are the same drive.


Ian,

All of the programs I have tried to identify the drive show it to be a Memorex DVDUR/RW 8412AJ. The labels on the drive are Memorex specific unlike other OEM boxed drives I have bought.
However, the firmware revision is HWS4 which appears to be a lite-on scheme. I tried installing the latest 811-S firmware (HSTQ) and the lite-on utility refused to recognize the drive.
The drive looks exactly like the 811S except for the Memorex color scheme, same hardware specs, and has the new 17mm case design.
As far as I am concerned it is the Lite-On 811S but the exclusive firmware concerns me at this time as Memorex might not be providing new updates as often as Lite-On.
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