P708A Upgradability ??

[BMR]

Sorry to be a pain about asking this question again, but has anyone heard anything yet about whether the Plextor 708A will be able to be
firmware upgraded from:

2X -Rw to 4X or faster
4X -R to 8X

I know the standard on 8X -R is in development but one would think that if the drive already spins fast enought to do 8X +R then it should be in just the firmware code to allow the upgrade. Similarly, 4X +RW is now possible, so what is the holdup to get 2X -RW up to 4X ? Is this also a standards issue ?

I am currently trying out the LG 4040B which I got from FutureShop, but have 30 days to do so. Some of the recent posts are getting me a bit concerned about this drive. If the the plextor is upgradable, then it is well worth the extra money, and in less than 30 days I will probably get one and return the LG, unless it proves to be reliable, and perhaps they release a new firmware update beyond A300.

Comments are most welcome in these two matters.

BMR

[aviationwiz]

I don't think we will see a firmware upgrade for faster speeds, but this drive is excellent nonetheless.

[tazdevl]

Even if the drive is capable of faster write speeds, it seems that Plextor has a policies in place that prevent them from adding value to the customer ownership experience.

Sony released firmware 2.0F for the 500A/X which increased -R write speeds to 4X to match the 4X +R speed, I think that tells you what the answer is. Since the 708A is capable of 8X +R and if you look @ what Sony did, I find it difficult to believe that Plex couldn't make it happen.

Reason why no one has heard anything about faster - speeds is due to the fact that there has been no new spec released. Does this mean that the + crowd has won the standards war? Dunno.

[MadBurner]

From what I've read the -RW format tops out at 2x!!

[tazdevl]

From what I've read the -RW format tops out at 2x!!

FYI Verbatim will be launching/releasing 8X -R and 4X -RW media in October. With or without a formalized standard I might add.

[Ian]

It was October for 8x DVD+R media. They haven't said when 8x DVD-R media will actually be available.

On a related note, I talked to Plextor today about this. The only main thing I got out of the converstation was that they have to wait for the media. There's no way they can commit to something without working with the media manufacturers to make sure that it works.

[aviationwiz]

Ummm, OK, but they didn't work with media manufactureres for 8x DVD+R, as that is not availible yet, but they may have had pre-release samples.

I know that they didn't work with media manufactureres for 32x CD-RW, as that requires a firmware upgrade to work and that upgrade just came out today! Althought I have heard that 32x CD-RW has worked since 1.03

[Ian]

Ummm, OK, but they didn't work with media manufactureres for 8x DVD+R, as that is not availible yet, but they may have had pre-release samples.

Yes, but they worked with them so you would be able to write to 4x media at 8x. I'm sure they'll work with them again when 8x media is available.

[VEFF]

It was October for 8x DVD+R media. They haven't said when 8x DVD-R media will actually be available.

On a related note, I talked to Plextor today about this. The only main thing I got out of the converstation was that they have to wait for the media. There's no way they can commit to something without working with the media manufacturers to make sure that it works.

So there is at least a possibility...
It would definitely be nice if it happens, although I won't really care that much to be honest if it doesn't, since I have been quite happy with burning everything to DVD+R lately.

Since I have been paying a buck or so for name brand 4X DVD+Rs without the annoyance of rebates * I am more than happy to use +Rs.
Besides, it seems +R is more heavily promoted by the big retail stores, and there are often sales at BestBuy for +R media.


* Rebates can be annoying, even though I haven't been stiffed on one in years (even for CenDyne and QPS rebates, the retailers - CompUSA and OfficeMax respectively - stepped up to the plate and funded the rebates themselves, via a check and a gift card respectively).

[MadBurner]

FYI Verbatim will be launching/releasing 8X -R and 4X -RW media in October. With or without a formalized standard I might add.

The article that I read must have meant "currently" for speed limitations rather than being limited to 2x indefinitly

Thanks tazdevil for the update