Home :: Computers :: Components :: Drives & Storage :: DVD-ROM Drives  

CD-ROM Drives
CD-RW Drives
DVD-ROM Drives

DVD-RW Drives
Floppy Drives
Hard Drives
Tape Backup Devices
USB Flash Drives
Zip Drives
Sony DRX510UL 4x USB 2.0 DVD?RW Drive

Sony DRX510UL 4x USB 2.0 DVD?RW Drive

List Price:
Your Price:
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 >>

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best 4x external DVD drive on the market. Period.
Review: After doing extensive research, I made the decision to purchase Sony's DRX-510UL external DVD drive. I had two primary needs: 1.) The ability to backup large amounts of personal computer data; 2.) The ability to make backups of my DVD movie library using "DVD X Copy Platinum" software for Windows from 321 Studios (highly recommended -- and available on Amazon.com -- as the included software does not make such backups). On all counts, I made the right decision to buy this particular burner.

Sony delivers a superior product: It stays cool during operations; the unit is sturdy; every disc I've created has worked (no coasters after making over 60 discs to date); and it operates quietly, too. I use Memorex's DVD+R and DVD+RW blank media; I've also used TDK's Armor Plated DVD media successfully, too. (They cost double what other blank DVD media costs, but yield 100 times greater resistance to dirt and scratches, plus repel dust. It's worth the investment, esp. if you have family or friends that must touch/use the DVDs themselves... and tend to scratch them.)

While this drive can burn/read DVD-R, I haven't used this format and cannot comment.

To consider, too: The 8x DVD burners are becoming available as of this writing. While those new 8x units are faster, bear in mind the price of the 8x media, plus the new-ness of the software drivers. The Sony DRX-510UL may be 4x speed, but has a proven track record at this point. The 8 meg. cache on the 4x (vs. the 2 meg. cache on the 8x) may sound like an advantage, but 8x units are still faster. It's a matter of whether you want to spend extra $$ for slightly faster performance, plus slightly pricier blank DVD media -- or not. Then again, you could also wait a year or two for the blue laser DVD burners which ought to yield over 27 gigs. of data. It depends on what you need right here, right now -- and can afford. Technology is ever-changing.

Before buying, make sure your DVD player(s) can handle the DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW or DVD-RW format(s). You'll want to burn DVD discs which are compatible with your players. My home DVD player could handle what I burned. However, after taking a disc to a friend's house, we found their older DVD player would not play it. (Note: It is said that 90% of "newer" DVD players can handle DVD+R discs.)

Also: Evaluate your computer system for true USB 2.0 and/or FireWire hardware connectivity. Without it, the burner still operates fast with USB 1.0 and 1.1 -- but nowhere near as fast. Just because you have the USB and FireWire ports doesn't mean they're up-to-date. Check 'em first; upgrade them if necessary to get better speed results.

What would make me happier about this purchase? Linux drivers/support in Sony's product lines.

All in all, the Sony DRX-510UL is an excellent product.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great product!!
Review: An unusual for Sony since great quality at 'affordable price' has never been the Sony slogan but this one just blows it away! Since all new pc's starting feb '04 are going to be equipped with a dvd burner whether or not you want one, going for an external made sense-and the price is just way too tempting considering it's a sony..

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Beware of defective drx-510ul
Review: I become one of those unfortunate customers to get a defective drx-510ul drive.

I am a amateur photographer and wanted a dvd writer for backup of my digital images that run over a 18 GB bow. Bought the drive two months ago used it to burn over 15 dvds, like twice a month couple of dvds. And one fine day the burn process stopped. I tried installing all the latest updates of Record Now, My DVD software the firmware etc. I read somewhere that drx-510ul has the same internal drive as the DRU-510A. Apparently lot users who bought that also have same problem Hope this helps with your buying decision. If you buy test extensivly during the first 30 days or the return period.

Pros: Fastes drive Yet. Dual interface (iLink/USB)

Cons: Stopped working, defective drive.

-

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great burner!
Review: I have used the unit to burn over 100 blanks with no problem.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great DVD Burner + Outstanding service
Review: I've had my Sony DRX510UL for slightly over a year now and have burned in the neighborhood of 500 discs with the only failures being my own fault. I will point out that about 2 months after I purchased my burner, it ceased working and I quickly obtained a RMA (return merchandise authorization) from Sony and returned it for service. To my great surprise, it was back in my hands, fully repaired and working perfectly, in less than 8 days which for any electronic repair job is 'warp' speed. Since that repair, I've had absolutely no problems and I'm about to purchase a second DRX510UL for my wife's computer. All in all, an excellent burner that works with several software programs and should give you no major problems. And on the off chance that your burner develops problems, Sony will stand behind the machine, with a repair and return policy that will match or beat any other company.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Nice drive, with some important compatibility limitations
Review: See also the Sony DRU-510A, which is the internal version of this drive.

Unlike the competition, Sony DVD burners will not let you create a DVD+RW disk that looks like a DVD-ROM. This means the DVD+RW disks it creates will not play in many DVD players, especially those made before 2001. For these players, you'll have to try burning DVD-R disks instead, and this gets expensive since the disks are not reusable.

Search Google for 'compatibility bitsettings' (use the quotes) to locate a detailed description of this restriction, which applies to most, if not all, DVD burners made by Sony, but not to other DVD burners.

Furthermore, though I had no problems burning Memorex 4X DVD+R or 4X DVD+RW media, or TDK CD-R, CD-RW media in this drive, I had a lot of problems burning Memorex 4X DVD-R media. Check the Sony Storage support web site for recommended media before buying.

This Sony drive is fast and flexible, and it works well with recommended media. But if you want to create compatible, reusable, DVD+RW video DVDs, I wouldn't recommend this drive until Sony releases engineering information to developers explaining how to change the compatibility bitsettings on burned disks.

You cannot get around this hardware restriction by using DVDXCopy or Nero Burning ROM or any other utility.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: dvd x510ul;
Review: what is wrong? it will not fit in msy sony viao. get i am stuck


<< 1 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates