Phillips 8x may be firmware upgradable to dual layer?

[Vanderlow]

article from cd freaks:

Your 8x DVD+R drive might write dual layer discs *Update*

Earlier we reported that a Philips spokesman reported on another site that current 8x DVD+R recorders could possibly be upgraded to support dual layer discs with a firmware update.

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/8471

[Ian]

Sorry.. there are too many "ifs" in that equation. Personally, I think we're all going to be buying new drives if we want that feature.

[Vanderlow]

You're probably right, but that picture with the HP 400i and the babelfish Japanese translation about it being a dual layer burner kind of makes sense now (400i uses a Philips chipset).

[RJW]

Yes but if you checked all data available you would now that the package of the 400i was used with a different firmware and some hardware modifications. The change that dual layer will work with 8x is small.
Still Philips and HP will not confirm anything because if it might do it. It's better for today's marketing if it fails they can say in the end we never promised anything. So that's why things are quite vague.

[Ian]

Yup.. the old "buy our drives now.. it MIGHT be possible".

And then you get "We're sorry.. you'll need to buy our new drive."

[vsekh]

I remember HP and Philips said that their original DVD+RW drives would be compatible with DVD+R drives via a firmware upgrade, but it never happened. HP had to offer upgrades for a small price.

I'm pretty sure they won't make the same mistake again.

[dodecahedron]

I remember HP and Philips said that their original DVD+RW drives would be compatible with DVD+R drives via a firmware upgrade, but it never happened. HP had to offer upgrades for a small price.

I'm pretty sure they won't make the same mistake again.

yeah, but it won't stop them from making vague statements about capabilities and not promise anything.
if someone misunderstands or assumes too much on his own, well they sold another drive and it's that person's tough luck...

[BMR]

Sorry.. there are too many "ifs" in that equation. Personally, I think we're all going to be buying new drives if we want that feature.

I am with Ian on this one. It is not in the best interest of the company to provide the ability to update to such a wanted commodity by the end user. The company will push to have you buy the new drive under the banner that the technology is too different for a mear software update to provide the new level of functionality.

Thus, a new sale is born.

BMR