Plextor Serial ATA 12X DVD+/-RW Drive for $72.50 after MIR

[Diablo23RD]

Newegg have it on sale now! (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductdesc.asp?description=27-131-328&depa=0)
This is could be nice drive! but lack of dual layer.

[glock19owner]

There is a firmware out that gives it dual layer support...I bought the 712A (IDE) version of this drive and love it...the rec. now feature is great...can actually burn a dvd faster then what it is rated at...then also found some that can not burn at there rated speed...

Burns a lot of my "8x" dvd +r's at 11x...excellent drive...

[cursor]

2 things:

1. Can you give a link to that firmware?

2. I bought this drive more than 3 months ago and haven't received my rebate yet. I emailed Plextor and they said:

Dear Plextor Consumer:

In response to your recent inquiry regarding the status of your rebate, our records indicate a valid rebate is currently being processed. A check will be issued and mailed to you upon completion of processing.

REBATE AMOUNT: $50

Please allow additional time for processing.

If you have any more questions or concerns, please contact us via e-mail at your convenience and we will be happy to assist you.

So I said:
Dear Plextor Customer Service Representative,

Your response is not satisfactory. You advertised that I would receive my rebate in 6-8 weeks. This time has more than elapsed. Allowing 1 week for my rebate material to arrive to you, you have had in excess of 12 weeks to process my claim. This is nearly double the processing time advertised. This is poor business practice on Plextor's part.

If I do not receive sufficient notice that my rebate check has been mailed this week (such as an email with a check number), then I will make proper complaints to online review sites, shopping sites, the original vendor who sold me this item (Dell) and Plextor management.

I will look for your response no later than the close of business on Friday, January 21, 2005.

Respectfully yours,

Caveat Emptor. Great drive, though!

[MonroeM]

Rebates suck. You'll most likely get it though cursor, I don't think Plextor would peeve a customer like that.

On another note, I was really considering buying this drive but I've read a lot of negative things about dual-layer drives. Not sure if it's been discussed here on the forums though. Some enthusiasts don't believe DL will take off too much this year, w/ Blu-Ray and HD-DVD speculated for release late this year. This means prices wont drop a whole lot by the end of the year for DL drives and media, and DL may just end up being completely phased. Mainly because everyone is waiting for Blu-Ray and HD-DVD... like myself.

Bleh, but like I said, nice drive. SATA! w00t!

[glock19owner]

2 things:

1. Can you give a link to that firmware?

Firmware update link (http://www.plextor.com/english/support/support_downloads.html#firm)

Added support for new DVD-R media.
Added support for new DVD-RW media.
Improved the writing quality on DVD-R media.
Improved the writing quality on DVD+R media.
Improved the writing quality on DVD-RW media.
Fixed a bug where a computer may hang while writing the lead-out of a DAO CD written at low speed.
Fixed a bug in which PlexTools Professional will not read a PhotoCD.
Improved initialization of DVD-R media.
Improved initialization of DVD+RW media containing data previously written by another recorder.
Added support for reading of DVD+R dual layer media.

[Aslan]

2. I bought this drive more than 3 months ago and haven't received my rebate yet.



Yeah, I'm sure you'll get it as well. From my experience with rebates they often take much longer than 6-8 weeks, leading me to wonder what the rebate was originally for after getting the money back :)
In your case, I would just be happy that they are still processing it, rather than using some stupid loophole in order to get out of it.