Pioneer BDR-101A Drives - Able to use future discs? - Blu-ray Forum

RHOPKINS13 · 05-12-2006, 09:21 PM

Now that there are blu-ray drives out and available for buying, does anybody know whether these first drives will be able to read the 100 gig and 200 gig discs planned for the future? If I bought a Pioneer BDR-101A drive off of TigerDirect's website for $999 right now, would it be able to read and write to the 100 and 200 gigabyte discs planned to come out in the future?

phloyd · 05-13-2006, 12:59 AM

No.

IIRC the Pioneer was only targetted at 25 GB discs.

This may have changed but be sure to find out before buying one!

Look for the Panasonic and IOData to do both 25 and 50 GB discs.

It is possible that firmware updates could allow the future discs to be written but I would not count on it.

zombie · 05-13-2006, 03:37 AM

I'd be shocked if all of the Blu-ray players couldn't handle BD50. I doubt they'll all handle discs with bigger capacity than that though.

The Cyndicate · 05-14-2006, 11:37 AM

Let me try to explain the information I know about this.
I am a programmer, and I am aware of the dumps, and the Mips I have seen and talked about with hardware makers of these drives.

Lets take DVD drives as an example. This is what I know, its not 100% applicable to ALL drives however.

In DVD drives, before they thought about dual layer burning, the drives were only calibrated for single layers, and could NOT be upgraded because the laser was stationary, and could not be tilted or altered with code. However, if a drive was set up for two layers, I dont see why the firmware could not be upgraded for 3 layers or more layers. Because the laser itself is NOT stationary, and CAN be programmed.

I have confidence that they learned from past cd/dvd mistakes, and that it will be upgradable. Ill tell you this much, Im gona grab one in a month, and Ill dump the firmware, and rip it apart.

thunderhawk · 05-14-2006, 07:24 PM

Do you mean you'll rewrite a firmware? Or at least look under the hood or ..?

Mate, if you'll do the first, and if you spread the firmware.. (under friends ofcourse

) Then I'm gonna buy that model too

Well.. I also hope it'll be upgradable... But you never know with unreleased stuff and unannounced information...

The Cyndicate · 05-15-2006, 02:31 AM

Well, here is the main problem. You will NEVER get the manufacture to upgrade the firmware. They want you to spend money on a new drive. Thats how they make money. It will take someone like me to rip it apart and reprogram it.

phloyd · 05-15-2006, 06:01 PM

Granted they don't go back to older recorders but there were some recorders that were firmware upgraded to handle DL discs when they first came out.

However I do suspect that was more of a case of the spec not quite being finalised before the burner was released, so the capability was there but not all the little details.

This could easily be the case for the Pioneer drive since it is ahead of the curve compared to the 50GB capable drives...

Anyways, only time will tell for sure. Personally I have had too much trouble with Pioneer DVDR to consider spending $1000 on something they make...

The Cyndicate · 05-16-2006, 12:28 AM

Well ill put it like this,.. Sony had its very first dual format dvd burner. I bought it for 400 bucks. The DRU-400a I think it is. It has upgradable firmware. The drive is PURE SHIT! It mostly only works with Sony dvd discs. It will not even take some pressed normal discs. Example, Movies will not play on it, and games like Battlefield 2(DVD version) or Star Wars 'Empire at War'(DVD Version) will not even be recognized by the drive. I have had these problems since the very start, and Sony would make NO effort to fix or replace the drive. Yes they gave updates, and I applied them, but they made the drive WORSE. I tore the firmware apart, made it region free. However the laser programming was not in the firmware update and that made it hard to try and fix. The drive STILL does not work, and was a wasted 400 bucks. I would NOT purchase Sony products. The PS2 is the same way. I love Playstations, but Sony uses the cheapest parts they can find, and I have had FOUR PS2's Break, and the laser fail. My Current PS2 is only working because I recalibrated the Laser myself. Beware of buying Sony products.

You REALLY need to becareful when buying new technology. Remember Blu-Ray is going to change the world. BIGTIME! Make SURE you look over what you are going to purchase, make SURE you register the warranty so you can have these problems fixed.

I am NOT brand loyal. I choose the best based on performance only. I have had VERY good luck with Panasonic stuff. So I might wait for a Panasonic drive.

However, Pioneer takes the risk to bring you the newest products first. That should be rewarded. Yes, some of it might not be perfect, but you have to understand that they are bringing it to you FIRST, without as much testing that other companies will have. Hell, other companies will use Pioneers drive as data on the drive they are going to market. So of course it will be better then the Pioneer.

Its all about paying the price for being the 1st.

JTK · 05-20-2006, 04:19 PM

^^

One point out of that post:

When was the last time Panasonic really put out a good DVD player? How many years ago was that?

I must say: I'm somewhat skeptical to see them putting out a $1500 BR player.

JTK · 05-31-2006, 04:01 PM

Pioneer Ships PC-Based Blu-ray Disc Drives:

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/...29&newsLang=en

05-12-2006, 09:21 PM	#1
RHOPKINS13 New Member Member since:May 2006	Pioneer BDR-101A Drives - Able to use future discs? Now that there are blu-ray drives out and available for buying, does anybody know whether these first drives will be able to read the 100 gig and 200 gig discs planned for the future? If I bought a Pioneer BDR-101A drive off of TigerDirect's website for $999 right now, would it be able to read and write to the 100 and 200 gigabyte discs planned to come out in the future?

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05-13-2006, 12:59 AM	#2
phloyd Blu-ray Guru Member since:Dec 2003 Location:California Trading Score:5	No. IIRC the Pioneer was only targetted at 25 GB discs. This may have changed but be sure to find out before buying one! Look for the Panasonic and IOData to do both 25 and 50 GB discs. It is possible that firmware updates could allow the future discs to be written but I would not count on it.

05-13-2006, 03:37 AM	#3
zombie Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:May 2004 Trading Score:864	I'd be shocked if all of the Blu-ray players couldn't handle BD50. I doubt they'll all handle discs with bigger capacity than that though.

05-14-2006, 11:37 AM	#4
The Cyndicate Banned Member since:Oct 2004	Let me try to explain the information I know about this. I am a programmer, and I am aware of the dumps, and the Mips I have seen and talked about with hardware makers of these drives. Lets take DVD drives as an example. This is what I know, its not 100% applicable to ALL drives however. In DVD drives, before they thought about dual layer burning, the drives were only calibrated for single layers, and could NOT be upgraded because the laser was stationary, and could not be tilted or altered with code. However, if a drive was set up for two layers, I dont see why the firmware could not be upgraded for 3 layers or more layers. Because the laser itself is NOT stationary, and CAN be programmed. I have confidence that they learned from past cd/dvd mistakes, and that it will be upgradable. Ill tell you this much, Im gona grab one in a month, and Ill dump the firmware, and rip it apart.

05-14-2006, 07:24 PM	#5
thunderhawk Moderator Member since:Jul 2004 Location:Belgium	Do you mean you'll rewrite a firmware? Or at least look under the hood or ..? Mate, if you'll do the first, and if you spread the firmware.. (under friends ofcourse ) Then I'm gonna buy that model too Well.. I also hope it'll be upgradable... But you never know with unreleased stuff and unannounced information...

05-15-2006, 02:31 AM	#6
The Cyndicate Banned Member since:Oct 2004	Well, here is the main problem. You will NEVER get the manufacture to upgrade the firmware. They want you to spend money on a new drive. Thats how they make money. It will take someone like me to rip it apart and reprogram it.

05-15-2006, 06:01 PM	#7
phloyd Blu-ray Guru Member since:Dec 2003 Location:California Trading Score:5	Granted they don't go back to older recorders but there were some recorders that were firmware upgraded to handle DL discs when they first came out. However I do suspect that was more of a case of the spec not quite being finalised before the burner was released, so the capability was there but not all the little details. This could easily be the case for the Pioneer drive since it is ahead of the curve compared to the 50GB capable drives... Anyways, only time will tell for sure. Personally I have had too much trouble with Pioneer DVDR to consider spending $1000 on something they make...

05-16-2006, 12:28 AM	#8
The Cyndicate Banned Member since:Oct 2004	Well ill put it like this,.. Sony had its very first dual format dvd burner. I bought it for 400 bucks. The DRU-400a I think it is. It has upgradable firmware. The drive is PURE SHIT! It mostly only works with Sony dvd discs. It will not even take some pressed normal discs. Example, Movies will not play on it, and games like Battlefield 2(DVD version) or Star Wars 'Empire at War'(DVD Version) will not even be recognized by the drive. I have had these problems since the very start, and Sony would make NO effort to fix or replace the drive. Yes they gave updates, and I applied them, but they made the drive WORSE. I tore the firmware apart, made it region free. However the laser programming was not in the firmware update and that made it hard to try and fix. The drive STILL does not work, and was a wasted 400 bucks. I would NOT purchase Sony products. The PS2 is the same way. I love Playstations, but Sony uses the cheapest parts they can find, and I have had FOUR PS2's Break, and the laser fail. My Current PS2 is only working because I recalibrated the Laser myself. Beware of buying Sony products. You REALLY need to becareful when buying new technology. Remember Blu-Ray is going to change the world. BIGTIME! Make SURE you look over what you are going to purchase, make SURE you register the warranty so you can have these problems fixed. I am NOT brand loyal. I choose the best based on performance only. I have had VERY good luck with Panasonic stuff. So I might wait for a Panasonic drive. However, Pioneer takes the risk to bring you the newest products first. That should be rewarded. Yes, some of it might not be perfect, but you have to understand that they are bringing it to you FIRST, without as much testing that other companies will have. Hell, other companies will use Pioneers drive as data on the drive they are going to market. So of course it will be better then the Pioneer. Its all about paying the price for being the 1st.

05-20-2006, 04:19 PM	#9
JTK Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2006 Location:www.blurayoasis.com	^^ One point out of that post: When was the last time Panasonic really put out a good DVD player? How many years ago was that? I must say: I'm somewhat skeptical to see them putting out a $1500 BR player.

05-31-2006, 04:01 PM	#10
JTK Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2006 Location:www.blurayoasis.com	Pioneer Ships PC-Based Blu-ray Disc Drives: http://home.businesswire.com/portal/...29&newsLang=en

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