Let's make Optorite provide changlogs!

[dragonfireblade]

I, like many of you optorite owners out there would definitly like it if they provided changelogs to there revisions of firmware on the dd0203! I started out by emailing them to provide changelogs, heres my email below (scroll to bottom for more info):



"I just ordered and received the DD0203 DVD burner, I am just wondering if you can post or at least email changelogs for the released firmware. I do not mean you have to go back all the way to the first version (unless you don't mind) but at least to 2.09 (which mine shipped with) or even higher like 2.11. By changelog I mean just a list of changes since the last version, what problems were fixed, new features added, and known issues.

For most manufacturers it is commonplace to provide a changelog anyways on their sites or include them with the firmware as a text file, which is not too hard for a big company like yourself, so I hope you can help out with this.

One of the main things you will see on forums at places such as CDRLabs.com is people asking and trying to figure what is new with each version of firmware. There are so many revisions (which is definitely a good thing- keep up the good work!) that we have no idea what new compatibility or fix is added. We might have features that we don't even know we have!

So, if possible can you please distribute this changelog and save us grateful customers some major headaches. If you already do provide them, that's great, just show me where I can get a hold of them! If you can not provide them with files or post them on website can you please email to me so I can distribute it over the internet.

Thanks."



I would suggest that all of us DD0203 owners email them to realize that we really could use it! Mine is already gone, here are the addresses:

Tech support: support@optorite.com and Sales: sales@optorite.com

Who's in?

[tig2002]

I am in!

I noticed that OptoRite Tech Support people visit this forum once in a while, so may be they would listen.

I wish they also improve their website.

OptoRite, instead of asking someone from Sales and Marketing to create a website using cheap FrontPage template, hire professional website designer, and your sales will improve!

[P1Tom]

I agree 100%. I need this info. I need to know what is changing when I got from 2.11 to 2.16.. Is it worth it? Who knows.

I already sent them an email. I will let you know when I get a response.

[dragonfireblade]

I got my reply from Optorite tech support; the Sales department said they put their account on hold for a few days while they sort some problem they are having. Here's the reply they said to my message:

"Hello,

Firmware updates normally improve media compatibility and stability. Unfortunately, we do not receive a list of changes from our engineers regarding specific media improvements.

Thank you,
OptoRite Support"

Yep, pretty useless! What I'm wondering after reading this is why don't they ask the engineers if they can provide them? So I asked them! I replied back to their message and asked them to ask their engineers.

I think everyone should make a note of this when they write their emails. I will let you know what they say back. Let me know if they say the same to you guys.

The more people the better! Everyone get emailing!

[Banshee]

I used to work with their engineers alot, and yes, it's like pulling teeth with them sometime. I even onetime submitted my testing criteria to them to use as guidance, but they still are very neglectful on changelogs.

Maybe I sould contact my old rep there, and see if they'll hire me to come guide their U.S. teams

[dragonfireblade]

Sweet an inside man! Give it a try, let us know!

[dpippin]

Please send this to Optorite, Rough draft based off of dragonfireblade's first post. I redid dragonfireblade's copy and maybe attacking the issue at another angle at how the company can benefit, will help.

Topic I used in email heading: "Changelog /What was fixed in firmware revisions. PLEASE!!"

"One of the main things you will see on forums, esp. the popular Optorite threads at CDRLabs.com, are people confused as they try and figure out what is new with each firmware revision. There are so many revisions (which is definitely a good thing) that we have no idea what new compatibility or fix is added. We might have features that we don't even know we have! This is definitely frustrating users and making it harder to use the drive to its fullest potential.

The best way I see about going about this change, is the way other manufacturers do, which is to provide a log of what is fixed in the
firmware on the Optorite support page and or include the log with the firmware as a text file.

Not only will this not be too hard for your engineers to do, but it will immensely improve customer satisfaction and education along with raising the reputation of Optorite as a company. No matter which way you decide to fix this matter it will be well worth your time, thanks for putting your customers first while providing a quality product."

Thank You

Send to:
"Tech support: support@optorite.com and Sales: sales@optorite.com"

[Telstar]

Someone received a media compatibility list for firmware 2.16 from Optorite in Taiwan and posted it at the following link:

http://jan.csie.ntu.edu.tw/~csieboy/DD0203V216.pdf

Not sure how valid it is, but Optorite should at least make it available on their website.

[dragonfireblade]

Sweeeet! Where did you find that?! That is awesome! I hope it is actually accurate. It would have been nice if some other companies were on there as well (such as Memorex and Verbatim). That might be nice to do also, we could make an updated list that would have all the brands and stuff that we have used that are not on the list.

Although this is good, it would still be neccessary to have changelogs, so we can see if fixes for known and unknown issues being fixed, and how compatibility changes.

Good work Telstar!