Pioneer DVR-106 vs the TDK 440N

[cemjack]

Anyone have a favorite between these two drives? How about Pros and Cons of each. I just got the TDK at staples for $220 (~$170 after I send in rebate). Not sure if I should keep it or exchange for the Pioneer?

How does everyone feel about these drives/prices versus the more expensive Sony 510?
Thanks.

[chubz9]

Well, the TDK was said to be slow, accdg to CNET review. but since it is their first dual-format drive, that's excusable i guess. for Pioneer, although their DVR-A05 was a fantastic drive accdg to most users, it cannot be used to say that the A06 would be great too, and it is their first dual format drive as well... as for a Sony DRU-510A, it's their 3rd or 4th dual-format drive now, and i think it is much improved when it comes to performance and stability. 4X DVD+RW is still standing out, and 4X +RW media is coming out soon (hopefully), it's just nice to know that your drive is capable of burning +RW dvd's at the same speed as your max +R or -R is.

For the same price for DRU-510A and Pioneer DVR-A06 and TDK 440N (well your deal was $100 cheaper, or more with rebates), i would go for the DRU-510A, just by its features alone. It has all the basic features the two other drives offer. and even more, with 8mb buffer, 16x cd rewrite, 24x cd write.

[lgmayka]

cemjack, how did you get the 440N for $170 after rebate? The Staples Web site only has the 420, which is not a +- drive.

[chubz9]

Yeah, i know huh? it is probably an in-store exclusive deal or something? hmmmm....

[cemjack]

Staples has the TDK 440 on sale NOW for $249.99. I had a $30 off $150 purchase = $220 for drive. PLUS there is currently a $50 mail in rebate.

If you need a $30 off coupon let me know. I think I still have one.

Chubz9 - I agree with you that the Sony 510A is the better drive. But the price pushed me to get the TDK. Now I am having 2nd thoughts???

I have not seen the CNET review. Will look for it now.

[tazdevl]

Sony is going for ~$280. Check it out on pricewatch.

Makes me wish I would have waited a few weeks before I bought mine.

[lgmayka]

cemjack,

Was this deal only in-store? Online, the only deal at all similar is this one:

http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/S ... Sku=510944

The rebate form makes clear that this is the 420 model (+ only), not the 440 model (+-):

"$50 Rebate on a TDK Internal DVD+R/+RW Burner Model# AID+420N (SKU 510944)"

[lgmayka]

By the way, LiveWarehouse has, all with free shipping:

Sony DW-U10A Drive and software $229
http://store.yahoo.com/livewarehouse/frprmashsodw2.html

Pioneer DVR-106 Drive $230
http://store.yahoo.com/livewarehouse/pidvdvcdmudu.html

Optorite DD0203 Retail package $194 ($4 off with promo code opto4)
http://store.yahoo.com/livewarehouse/frprmashopdd.html

[chubz9]

Optorite sucks... i've tried it... i don't know but read the other thread about the optorite drive... i've posted my story there... not that i'm descouraging everybody, i just want to share my experience with it. if the flaws i found is ok for you, then there's no problem...

tazdevl, what did u buy? 510A? cause i don't find it on your rig specs, lol... yeah, essencompu.com has it for $280.89 right now, compuplus.com has it for $277, but $9 and $14.95 on shipping respectively, total would give you a $2.06 cheaper deal on essencompu.com.

cemjack, well, having second thoughts now? lol... sorry... but, i really felt bad too when i've read the review on CNET. you got a nice deal on that TDK drive... one question though, how's the eject button? i've read 2 reviews on it already, and they both complained on the recessed eject button. The drive looks sleek though, shiny black... oooozzzee! drool... but it is better if it performs well (i'm not sure if it does not really). I think it is based on the NEC-1300A? not sure again...

Yeah, now somebody bought the A06 against getting the 510A, and i'm gonna have to do that soon too. Oh well... tough times...... lol.

[cemjack]

I just checked the copies of my rebate receipt. The rebate receipt says that it applies to "TDK internal DVD+R/+RW Burner model #AID+420N (SKU 510944)"

Now here is the strange part. My receipt SKU number is 510944. BUT, I have the TDK 440N. The sales person scanned the item in at the register and it MUST have come up as the 420N. The register AUTOMATICALLY printed up the rebate receipt and the rebate form. So, I am not sure what has happened. But I do know that the sales person scanned the bottom of the box to ring it up.

I will go by the Staples store tomorrow and talk with them. I certainly will be RETURNING the drive if the rebate is not valid. Thanks for the heads up.



Will let you know of the outcome.

[chubz9]

cemjack, nooooooooo!!!! lol....

The rebate, as far as i can understand it, is valid... Staples made a mistake of not updating their system... Even the price of $249 is not for the 440N, it is actually $329 anywhere... that's why i am so surprised with your price... $249 is for the 420N, but they did not update their system with the bar codes and stuff, and their system identified your drive as a 420N, so it printed the rebate automatically... if you return your drive, they might have updated their system already, i don't know, you'll end up returning a nice deal, well if you're honest, i can't do anything about that, but it was not your fault... TDK would honor the rebate cause your receipt shows you bought a 420N... it doesn't matter what TDK would know you bought the 420N, the important thing is you get the rebate...

hmmm... lucky u... just thought i'd tell you that...

ok... tell us what happened...

[lgmayka]

If the rebate requires the UPC bar code, and if the bar code shows it's a 440N, why should TDK grant the rebate?

[chubz9]

oh yeah that's right huh...

if it is a staples rebate, most probably they would honor it, but if it is a TDK rebate, they might not.

so, if it is a staples exclusive rebate, go to staples and verify if it is a valid rebate... cause it was them who printed the rebate form anyways... if not, then you decide on that...

but still, whoever offers the rebate, $220 on a $329 drive is a really good deal...

sorry....

[cemjack]

chubz9 - I think you are correct when you said that Staples did not update their computers. However, I am pretty sure that the sign next to the TDK 440N specifically stated the 440N with a price of $249.99. No mention of the rebate until checkout time...and I was plesantly surprised.

I'm headed to staples now to see if the reabate will be honored.
I'll let you know.

[conehead433]

Actually the Optorite drive is quite nice. Burns +R and -R DVD's up to 4X without a problem as well as CD's a up to 24X. Also has a nice feature called HD BURN which enables you to burn up to 1.4GB data on a 700MB CD-R disc. The resulting discs would have to be read with an HD BURN equipped drive such as the Optorite. The drive rips pressed DVD's as fast as any on the market. There has been one negative review posted by the same person on several boards and their dislike of the drive was because the eject button didn't seem to work well and the drive felt and appeared cheap. Actually out of the box it looks and feels like any other drive out of the box, and yes the eject button is recessed so that it is almost flush with the faceplate. They could have made it so it stuck out a little further and it would have been easier to use. It just takes a little getting used to. And another complaint by this same poster was that the drive was supposed to have an 8MB buffer and only came with 4MB. Actually the drive does have an 8MB buffer, the firmware which had been available so far only enabled 4MB. Optorite has posted that they will have new firmware on their website sometime next week that will enable all 8MB. And yes they have been slow answering e-mail regarding their product, but they do answer it. The B's Gold software which came with the drive did not initially support HD BURN, but they now have an upgrade available which makes it work with their software. It does work with the latest Nero also. Initially some users were having problems with HD BURN, but these were all related to media and not the drive itself. HD BURN requires high quality CD-R discs such as Fuji Taiyo Yuden to work. I archive a lot of live music on CD since it's still far cheaper than DVD, and have cut the number of discs I use in half. I have not had a single DVD coaster with this drive and only one CD coaster which was entirely my fault. So anyway, 99% of the people who now own this drive think it's pretty good, and 1% who didn't think it was doesn't own it anymore, even though they stated that they didn't have any problems burning with it or with the performance of the drive itself. And no I don't work for Optorite, I just am glad that I got such a nice drive for $199.

[hoxlund]

i work at staples and yes i can vouche for the price tag, it does say $249, weather thats after rebate or instant i have no clue

didn't look that close on it, since i don't give a shit about the tdk brand dvd, cause im a very proud, very happy owner of Sony DRU-510A

[chubz9]

i thought you are having problems with the drive, hoxlund? what's wrong with your sony drive? i've read your IM which says your drive crapped out? let me know...

about the 1% who doesn't think the drive is nice, well, you could have mentioned my nickname straight... as in CHUBZ9!!!! whooohooo!!!...

all you said was right, and all u posted were included in my post.

There has been one negative review posted by the same person on several boards and their dislike of the drive was because the eject button didn't seem to work well and the drive felt and appeared cheap.

well, that's a flaw that i found... as i've said, it's my opinion to say that the drive didn't pass my personal taste and "quality" test on the drive, just by simply looking at it. and yes, it appeared cheap, and again, FOR ME, if it looks ok to you, as most of the owners say, then good for you, i have nothing against that... eject button sucks, u mentioned it too, and i did not want to just let myself get used to it... i didnt want it completely... if u liked it ang got used to it, then good for you again... have nothing against that.

And another complaint by this same poster was that the drive was supposed to have an 8MB buffer and only came with 4MB. Actually the drive does have an 8MB buffer, the firmware which had been available so far only enabled 4MB. Optorite has posted that they will have new firmware on their website sometime next week that will enable all 8MB.

Thanks for explaining, but, if you read my posts, i am aware of all this stuff... i know optorite is coming up with a newer firmware, which would support the 8MB buffer, and i know there is 8MB buffer on the drive, these info's are all on my post. I just hated the way Optorite released a drive, which is like 40% done, and would fix the 60% "eventually"... i want everything to work when i buy a retail boxed item, out of the box. again, if it was ok for you to wait for the fixes and stuff, that's alright with me, good for you...

And yes they have been slow answering e-mail regarding their product, but they do answer it

Oh do they answer? did i say they did not? I just said the last email took a little longer, but they do answer my emails... whew...

The B's Gold software which came with the drive did not initially support HD BURN, but they now have an upgrade available which makes it work with their software. It does work with the latest Nero also. Initially some users were having problems with HD BURN, but these were all related to media and not the drive itself. HD BURN requires high quality CD-R discs such as Fuji Taiyo Yuden to work.

I'm aware of this too, cause i tried using the B's software... and it goes back to the issue of not being able to provide every feature out of the box, it expects me to wait for B to come up with an update, and that disappointed me a lot. I'm using the latest nero version, but HD burn didnt work for me. and yes, i've been using Fuji 48x Taiyo Yuden media to test it, but they all failed... The drive was gone when i found out B has an update for the HD burn to work... Whoops!! too late... and again, if these are not issues to you, then good for you...

So anyway, 99% of the people who now own this drive think it's pretty good, and 1% who didn't think it was doesn't own it anymore, even though they stated that they didn't have any problems burning with it or with the performance of the drive itself. And no I don't work for Optorite, I just am glad that I got such a nice drive for $199.

1% who could it be? hmmm... well if i didnt like the drive, why would i keep it... it is not all about burning that I'm after. I want a quality drive which i could say it was worth my money, and i just did not find the Optorite drive worthy. If the optorite burns well, so does other drives, which are more expensive for sure, but i am willing to spend more, just to satisfy myself. Of course they would not have HD-Burn feature, but i can live with that... now if you do love the drive, as u stated, then GOOD FOR U as always...

[hoxlund]

what happened is that it crapped out and i just exchanged it for same item again

but this time after i exchanged it at best buy, i went to staples and bought there 3 year pretection plan on the sony dvd burner

so now if anything happens within the next 3 years i just bring it in and walk out the door with either the exact same replacement or a $350 coupon to buy another one, and by that time dvd burners will be so advanced i'll probably get a free blue ray dvd burner

[chubz9]

that's cool. doesn't best buy offer the same coverage for the drive? i am just not sure whether they give it out as a gift card if there are no more 510A around.

i better drop by at staples... a lot of people are saying they get good deals now on drives there... hmmm....

later..

[hoxlund]

the 2 year plan at best buy was $100, the 3 year plan at staples was $59.99

and i also work for staples, so it raised my weekly Extended Service Plan (ESP) Goal