The Firmware Page

Flash's incomplete review seems to favour the Pioneer drive, but the other tests put up by XDi2600 which compares the Pioneer with a TDK (which is suppose to be the NEC rebadeged) seems to favour the TDK.

Does this indicate that TDK has a better firmware compared to what the NEC drive has, or r there other reasons for the discrepencies?

The TDK and NEC official firmwares are probably close to identical.
One of the differences here is that Flash is using a NuTech DDW082 to do PI/PIF scans.
I am highly skeptical of any observations or "conclusion" that can be formed by looking at PI/PIF scans on an NU drive.
This drive is a poor reader and has been known to produce some wacky scan results at times...

I'm waiting for Kprobe scans done on a LiteOn DVD writer to provide a more trustworthy comparison of media burnt on the 3500A & A08. All of the Kprobe scans I have seen done on media burnt by the 3500A have looked excellent.

You want scans on Lite On Drive?
This is my post in another group:
http://www.cdrinfo.com/Forum/tm.asp?m=75324

Thanks... I guess we have to wait for a more definitive review from Flash.

I use the NU drive for the scans rather than the Liteon for 2 reasons
1: Producing higher readings than the Liteon gives a better indication as to any minor differences in the burn quality and BOTH DRIVE's BURNT DISCS UNDERGO THE SAME TESTS IN THE SAME DRIVES so that a direct comparison can be made between the burns.
2: I do not posses a Liteon burner

As for now I will not be continuing with these pointless test as my efforts do not seem to be appreciated and I am on vacation

Contrary to that impression, your efforts are appreciated, I'm trying to understand the discrepencies in the two reviews so as to make an informed decision if I were to buy one of these drives or recommend them to someone.

Sorry if we gave you a bad impression.

Come on Flash. I have bitten my fingernails to the bone waiting for your conclusion. The suspense has been killing me. (better than Stephen King).
I was going to base my purchase on your valued opinion.
Fair enough, your having a vacation, but we still want to know what your findings are when you get back.
Cheers

What? Did I miss something?

I don't know, Flash seems a but chaffed over my questions regarding the two reviews and comments about his use of the Nu drive for readings. Wasn't referring to you or everyone generally with my comment.

@Flash: Your tests are highly appreciated by many users - including me.

and here too. i check your review everyday for updates. Keep up the great work.

Just because I prefer another PI/PIF testing method it does not mean that your tests are pointless or unappreciated.
I have thanked you multiple times for posting your test results.
It seems that you are too easily offended by the discussion of other testing alternatives.
I was just pointing out that **I** would not form any conclusions based on NU PI/PIF scans.
Have a good vacation.

Ritek DL disks now under

svp

Your efforts are entirely appreciated

NU's scanning method always has been superior to Lite-On's but yes, they both have flaws.

But live with it - they are the best we have!

I haven't seen this link posted here yet.

Happy reading!

http://www.flashman.dsl.pipex.com/Pioneer-NEC.htm

I ordered the NEC from Newegg prior to seeing this test. It seems like they're both very good.

[align=center]I am now! I have access to post my own reviews as from this weekend [/align]
[align=center]You have not looked very far I have at least 5 links to this review in this very thread
BTW this link is obsolete use the NEW ONE[/align]

My Bad. You gotta love the new prices. I paid $305 for a Sony DRU-510A and it just crapped-out, only 2 weeks after the warrantee expired.

What a real rip-off.
I never touched any SONY drive since they released their crippled CD-burners with removed DAO mode ability.

Hello guys.

I have a little question on that drive perhaps Flash already found out about that. I read the ND-3500A is able to set the book-type-field of DL Media to DVD-ROM. But I didn

This might help someone:
NEC 3500 writes to the following media as descrobed:

Verbatim DVD+R (rated 8*speed-I do not know the media code) at 12*speed
Verbatim DL (rated at 2.4*speed) at 4* speed

I was told this by someone who tried these types of media. No problems with either type of media.

Still no word on this? I read some other threads that say the Pioneer drive doesn't really do 16x until the last few seconds and that it can corrupt your disc at that point. Does the NEC have this problem too? What's the final verdict between the drives? Will Plextor come out with a 16x or greater burner that will trump these two? Thanks.

The NEC 3500A is a very good drive. It's slower than the Pioneer burning at 8x but much faster when burning at 12x of 16x.

Plextors bound to come out with one but look at the price of the NEC. It's a bargain.

The 108 is about 1:40 faster at 8x, about 15-20 sec slower at 12x and about a minute slower at 16x from what I've tried and read (my 108 is 8:00 @ 8x, 6:56 @ 12x and I'll probably never bother with 16x to try and shave another 10-15 sec from the 12x).

I'm upgraded to the 108 from the 2500 and I'm happy so far. I suspect I'll burn a lot more media at 8x while I have the drive than 16x and couldn't see upgrading from the 2500 to 3500 that doesn't burn 8x any faster. I went with the only other choice that seemed to have the burn quality I've gotten used to with the 2500. The 3500 reads faster then the 108 (16x vs 12x) but I use a LiteOn 166s for all my reads.

Mike