All right, since no one seems to be on the fanatical side, I'll try to answer one by one. The Italicized lines are the quoted parts.
As covered in the Cdfreak's review, the problems with the PX-716A's 16X DVD write speed seem to be largely attributed to Powerec being oversensitive and dropping write speed in order to ensure quality. Tests with V1.04 firmware shows that Plextor is working out the kinks on this. This firmware is schedule to come out mid-month, so hopefully we should see a big difference.
Tests with v1.04 shows 16x writing speed is still over 6 minutes. LG GSA-4163B writes to DVD-R at 16x in 5:20. LG is traditionally a slow drive maker. What 1.04 does compared to previous revisions of PX-716A firmware seems to be increasing the starting speed to make it a more smooth CAV graph till reaching 16x at the end. It's nothing surprising or new but just resembles what NEC, Philips, and Ricoh demonstrated many times in the first half of 2004. This is the first half of 2005.
Kenshin, you also mentioned other manufacturers releasing drives with faster dual-layer write speeds down the road for cheaper prices. This is inevitably true, but is nice to see Plextor giving us the fastest dual-layer write speeds available right now.
Philips first demonstrated 16x DVD+R writing. Philips first mentioned 8x DVD+R DL publicly and also 8x DVD+RW. Hitachi-LG and probably some other DVD-RAM companies released to the press that they are working on 16x DVD-RAM. They are all for the public eyes to attract attention. As far as I can see, what BenQ and Plextor do regarding the promises of firmware updates to add features that are missing in the first release of specific drive models is also just marketing. It is good because consumers of the drives are going to get free updates to have more features. It is not so good because consumers have to pay now for features planned for future release. It would have been different if it was a firmware update for some past models like PX-708A. I would believe it is a good thing only if companies adds important and significant features and improvements to past models like SOHW-812S and ND-1300A through free firmware updates. Or free upgrade of the hardware itself. Is 6x DVD+R DL and 6x DVD-R DL available right now to end users of PX-716A? If not, Plextor is not giving them to you now. A promise is for the future.
I might pay a premium now, but I won't have to buy that second (less expensive drive) later down the road because the PX-716A will still be up to date.
That depends on whether one wants to have one more or just wants to keep the one already in use. Most people prefer having one more if they can afford it whether it's a car or a PC drive. One can buy PX-712A or GSA-4163B or ND-3520A or DW1600A Pro for US$40 to US$70 and for a little more depending on the markets and where you buy from now and wait for a few months and buy one more drive that has features like 16x DVD-RAM and 8x DVD+R/-R DL for US$50 or less. The combined cost would be still around US$100 and that surely beats PX-716A with the current frmware or some future 1.05 or 1.06 or 1.07 firmware. PX-716A in the US costs more than US$100 and more than US$150 in South Korea. I'm sure PX-716A costs far more than 50 Euros in Europe at this time.
Every problem I read from the review seems to be firmware fixable. That's why it is so good that this review has finally been released for the drive. It's good for Plextor to see these problems and to start fixing them!
Are those problems new to you or to Plextor? GSA-4163B were probably in development in the first of 2004. It burned at 16x both faster and better to more media with pre-release firmwares. How many months since PX-712A and only now Plextor can seriously start fixing the problems? Year 2005 is the year for 100-inch HDTVs and Blu-ray Disk recorders as well demonstrated in Las Vegas right now. This is not the first year to improving write strategies of 16x DVD writing.
I know we have all waited a long time and gone through a lot of faulty hardware (TLA0000) for this drive to bloom, but I really have faith that v1.04 is going to make a big difference. Hang in there till mid-month, the sun is just starting to shine :bigsmile
BenQ DW1600 and NEC ND-3500A were also better than what PX-716A is now before they became available to the general public on CDFreaks. Pioneer DVR-A09 has long been delayed but it's finally out as well.
