Is something up with the 500A/AX/510A? No region free.

[tazdevl]

I like the drive, one thing I have yet to see in months of searching is region free hack or bios.

Did Sony do something to make things more difficult than it is for other drives?

It's not like there are just a few of them on the market.

[MikeTR]

Most users might be a little hesitant to fool around with their $350 drive. Even more so since most of them will have a regular DVD drive to read/rip discs. I know I would be if I owned one.

Why not use a software solution, like DVD Region Free for your writer?

[tazdevl]

Asking more out of curiosity. I was just wondering if there was something peculiar about the drives that is preventing something from being released.

Software doesn't work 100% of the time, a BIOS hack does. If you run into a problem, you can generally flash it back to the manuf BIOS.

I don't think it's a price issue. Most folks would hop on the chance to install a region hack if it was available.

I use a hacked DVD burner to rip anyway, it's an easier by way bypass the whole issue.

[MikeTR]

I use a hacked DVD burner to rip anyway, it's an easier by way bypass the whole issue.

Same here.

Haven't heard anything special that would make the Sony more difficult to hack. In due time I guess.

[Pradeep]

Given that the Sony 500A(X?) only rips DVDs at 2x (even when they are not protected by CSS!) it really doesn't make much difference to me.