Computers and Related Hardware/Software

groink wrote:Well, dropped my hard earned dough on a Pioneer DVR-A07U. Should be good!!!! Time to shut down and drop the puppy into my PC...

http://www.cnet.com/Pioneer_DVR_A07U/4505-3205_7-30787007.html

Looks good, G... Does the 8X drive merit the extra cost? Didn't you say in the past that writing at higher speeds wasn't necessarily good (more write errors and the like)?

bmwracer wrote:
Looks good, G... Does the 8X drive merit the extra cost? Didn't you say in the past that writing at higher speeds wasn't necessarily good (more write errors and the like)?

I don't think I'll be using the 8x anytime soon. It's very true that 8x has compatibility problems with other DVD drives, including PC drives and DVD players. So I plan on just sticking around the 2x to 4x speeds, depending on the media that I use and where's it's going to be played on.

--- groink

groink wrote:
I don't think I'll be using the 8x anytime soon. It's very true that 8x has compatibility problems with other DVD drives, including PC drives and DVD players. So I plan on just sticking around the 2x to 4x speeds, depending on the media that I use and where's it's going to be played on.

Then why spend the extra $$ on an 8X when you can get a 4X for less? I guess you'll be ready for the future when 8X becomes the standard, neh? :)

bmwracer wrote:
Then why spend the extra $$ on an 8X when you can get a 4X for less? I guess you'll be ready for the future when 8X becomes the standard, neh? :)

I bought the drive locally, and it was only $30 more than the 4x. The 8x drive more likely will drop in price by the time the compatibility issues are ironed out, but at the same time I don't like having to buy a new drive every six months. The REAL reason I bought the drive to begin with was to sell my 2x SONY to a co-worker of mine (six months old with six month to go on the warranty). By buying a new drive now, I have a better warranty -- I get to return the drive for an immediate swap (CompUSA) for the next two years if the drive ever bellys up.

--- groink

groink wrote:
I bought the drive locally, and it was only $30 more than the 4x. The 8x drive more likely will drop in price by the time the compatibility issues are ironed out, but at the same time I don't like having to buy a new drive every six months. The REAL reason I bought the drive to begin with was to sell my 2x SONY to a co-worker of mine (six months old with six month to go on the warranty). By buying a new drive now, I have a better warranty -- I get to return the drive for an immediate swap (CompUSA) for the next two years if the drive ever bellys up.

Sweet deal. It's surprising that CompUSA would back up the warranty like that. Usually if there's a problem, it's "see the manufacturer for repair/warranty service." You didn't pay extra for this warranty, did you?

bmwracer wrote:
Sweet deal. It's surprising that CompUSA would back up the warranty like that. Usually if there's a problem, it's "see the manufacturer for repair/warranty service." You didn't pay extra for this warranty, did you?

$24.00 for the 2-year extended warranty. I think it's good piece of mind for me knowing that if my drive goes belly-up, I can get a replacement within an hour. I do this for all of my hard disk drives, too... And the extended warranty works! Just four weeks ago, I sent in my 80GB to CompUSA in Waikele and had it replaced with a new one. Didn't have to mail it back to the mainland, didn't have to get an RMA number, didn't have to social engineer my way into getting an RMA number....

--- groink

anything BUT windows?

Fenrir wrote:anything BUT windows?

You tell 'em Fenrir.

I use mplayer/mencoder/transcode for video editing, and The Gimp for image editing ... and it's all Free running on Linux. I only encode audio to ogg these days, so I wrote a perl script that will take any input audio media (even video), edit it with any effects that sox knows about, and output ogg. It can even rip directly from web audio streams (because mplayer can do that).

Go Linux.

the penguin is your friend

webshot, it automatic switches the desktop background according to timing set. I have different Japanese artresses on my desktop every 15 mins.

bmwracer wrote:That might be wishful thinking... I think the current batch of 4x dual-mode burners will drop to around $60 soon, especially once the 8x burners start to drop in price... :)

You're right. I went to wal-mart this weekend and saw some HP 4X burners for 89.99, so there is still hope for all the cheap bastards in all of us. :beaten:

sid wrote:the media is so expensive =\

that too, about 1 US$ each. Yeah, i know you can get the for maybe $0.65 each if you buy them by bulk, but I'm just talking about having just about a amall spindle of them.

niko2x wrote:You're right. I went to wal-mart this weekend and saw some HP 4X burners for 89.99, so there is still hope for all the cheap bastards in all of us.

Funny you should mention that: I just saw Fry's advertising an 8X burner for $99... My itchy trigger finger is getting itchier... :)

bmwracer wrote:Funny you should mention that: I just saw Fry's advertising an 8X burner for $99... My itchy trigger finger is getting itchier... :)

fry? what's that? Must be just on the west coast...So, yer gonna finally break down and get one huh? and this is the same person that still has dial up and don't wanna spring for DSL/cable? Your my cheap-bastard idol!!! (JK) ;)

niko2x wrote:fry? what's that? Must be just on the west coast...So, yer gonna finally break down and get one huh?

Most likely. Actually a near-complete overhaul of my PC when I get my tax refund... :D

and this is the same person that still has dial up and don't wanna spring for DSL/cable?

You got it. Why pay for DSL when I can use the high-speed line at work?

Your my cheap-bastard idol!!! (JK) ;)

Cheap bastards unite!!! :sweat: :hehe: :hehe:

bmwracer wrote:
Funny you should mention that: I just saw Fry's advertising an 8X burner for $99... My itchy trigger finger is getting itchier... :)

Yep they are coming down in price. A few weeks ago I picked up a external Lite-on SOWH-812S. After rebates price was $99.00. Very nice 8X dvr-/+ & -rw/+rw burner and external too.

Scorpion wrote:Yep they are coming down in price. A few weeks ago I picked up a external Lite-on SOWH-812S. After rebates price was $99.00. Very nice 8X dvr-/+ & -rw/+rw burner and external too.

Way cool. USB? Firewire?

groink wrote:
I bought the drive locally, and it was only $30 more than the 4x. The 8x drive more likely will drop in price by the time the compatibility issues are ironed out, but at the same time I don't like having to buy a new drive every six months. The REAL reason I bought the drive to begin with was to sell my 2x SONY to a co-worker of mine (six months old with six month to go on the warranty). By buying a new drive now, I have a better warranty -- I get to return the drive for an immediate swap (CompUSA) for the next two years if the drive ever bellys up.

--- groink

Say this posted on dvdrhelp.com

Pioneer releases new firmware for DVR-A07XL and DVR-107D.


http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/computer/dvdwriters/dvr107d/support/DVRA07_FW112342/disclaimer.aspx


v1.12 changes

DVD-R/RW Writability Improvement
+R/+RW Writability Improvement
DVD Playability Improvement
CD-R/RW Writability Improvement
CD Playability Improvement
DVD-RAM Playability Improvement
Support 8X writing on New Mitsubishi ChemicalCorporation(Verbatim) DVD-R Media
Support 8X writing on New RITEK DVD-R Media
Support 8X writing on New Daxon +R Media
Support 8X writing on New Prodisc +R Media
Support 8X writing on New RITEK +R Media


I heard some others were having problems with their Pioneer DVR-107D. I think this firmware update has helped.

I see you said you had the first generation Sony (DRU-500A) dvd burner. Were you only able to burn at 2x speed. I know when I got mine almost a year ago I upgraded the firmware. I was still only able to burn at 2x. But that was mostly using Nero and a few other burning programs. I starting using Dvd Decrypter and was surprised some 1X media starting burning at 2x speed and 4x media burned at 4x speed.

For Gateway users, Gateway has bought and is taking over eMachines. In addition to that, all Gateway stores will be closed in the next couple of months. Um, is this an April Fools joke??? :mecry:

I'm not exactly a happy camper here. My computer's warranty is up, but I have been looking into a new computer. Now, however, if I get my next one from Gateway as well, WTF am I supposed to do if my computer needs service????????? :mad: I wouldn't be able to take it into the store for service. Am I supposed to ship it?? F*** that! I would refuse to pay for such a thing for something under warranty, and it would take forever for repair and to get it back.

My entire family has computers from both Gateway and eMachines. Both brands have done us really well with service and quality. If this'll become a hassle like I'm dreading, I'll be damned if I buy my next comp from Gateway. :crazy2: I actually got mine due to a huge price discount and Pennsylvania's occasional computer-purchase sales tax break, meaning they waive the sales tax for computers once in a while so everyone at that time rushes to buy one. Dou shiyou kashira?!?!?! :nut:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/micro_stories.pl?ACCT=144245&TICK=GTW&STORY=/www/story/04-01-2004/0002139696&EDATE=Apr+1,+2004

KouSeiya315 wrote:For Gateway users, Gateway has bought and is taking over eMachines. In addition to that, all Gateway stores will be closed in the next couple of months. Um, is this an April Fools joke??? :mecry:

In Hawaii, the only vendor-owned store here is the Apple Store in Ala Moana. Otherwise, you can only buy the really big-name brand PCs at the two CompUSA stores and the one Circuit City store. There's a tiny store in Kalihi that sells SONY. Other than them, Dell and Gateway PCs are only available via mail order.

What I'd do is call Gateway and see if there are any 3rd-party repair companies in your area that are authorized to service Gateway PCs during the warranty period.

--- groink

groink wrote:
In Hawaii, the only vendor-owned store here is the Apple Store in Ala Moana. Otherwise, you can only buy the really big-name brand PCs at the two CompUSA stores and the one Circuit City store. There's a tiny store in Kalihi that sells SONY. Other than them, Dell and Gateway PCs are only available via mail order.

What I'd do is call Gateway and see if there are any 3rd-party repair companies in your area that are authorized to service Gateway PCs during the warranty period.

--- groink

Yeah....I would definitely look into it before buying again. It just pisses me off because I have THREE Gateway stores in my area. I only needed a repair once and I got my computer back in 4 days after taking it to the Langhorne store for service. Other than that I'm more likely to go to Best Buy or Circuit City (for anything but a Compaq, LOL) because I don't really like Dell.