I picked up the DVD drive on ebay, I was told it was hardly used and in new condition. The drive arrived and the seller was accurate, the drive looked like it had never been used before.

The box contains the drive, the iLink cable, a Vaio iLink cable, and a power cable. The CD included contains the Sony software that isn’t all that great (Click to DVD and Drag’n Drop CD+DVD), so I didn’t bother to install it.

The drive itself is rather compact. It’s a little bigger then a CD and about as thick as 5 or 6 jewel cases. It has a large eject button and a pin for resetting the device if the need arises.

I plugged in the drive to the Vaio iLink port. The computer installed the drivers automatically and the power cord was not required. A restart was needed to complete the install.

Upon rebooting the PC the DVD drive showed up as expected. You can eject the disk via My Computer. You can use the built-in Windows writing software to make the drive a writable one.

I decided to burn a CD-R (800MB), a DVD-R, and a DVD+R. All three were able to be used in my other PCs, and both DVDs were playable on my set-top box. I did not have any errors or create any coasters. I was able to hit the max 4x on the DVD burns.

According to Sony, “Two i.Link ports available. Connect one to a VAIO Notebook PC, the other to a digital camcorder and burn your own home videos to DVD!”, this won’t apply to me, but it might be useful for someone out there.

Positives:
1. Draws power from Vaio iLink cable (one cable required)
2. Relatively small and light
3. Multiformat

Negatives:
1. Single Layer Drive
2. Slow, 4x write speeds

I wouldn’t suggest getting this drive if you have a means to an internal one (TR) but for a 505 with limited choices, this seems like it fits well.

UPDATE: Fn+E Ejects the disk when the drive is connected.

Erik

[quote author=“gAmEs0n”]from here, it looks like you changed the keyboard
did u?

No, I don’t have the tools yet…and when I do, I still don’t know if it’s possible.

Erik

Cool review Tifo….! I have the same drive only it is an earlier generation (PCGA-DDRW1). Mine is a silver one and I really like using it as a second DVD burner for my MX or as a stand alone DVD write for the GRX. The stand that comes with it saves space on the desk.
I have used Drag’n'Drop CD+DVD and actually upgraded it to the latest version (an offer that popped up from the JP maker), and Click to DVD ver. 2.1 seems to be far more stable then its previous versions.

The black DVD burner really matches your X505.  :wink:

I recently picked up a VAIO wireless keyboard and a mouse that is used with VAIO V series and use it with my VAIOs which seem very practical (I have not gotten my VGP-WKB1 keyboard yet, prolly write a review once I return from overseas). Update: bought PCGA-DDRW3 for my X505 and U750P recently.

Stan

the drive look so bulky and heavy next to the the x505. thanks for the review.

[quote author=“tifosiv122”]Negatives:
1. Single Layer Drive
2. Slow, 4x write speeds

u can change the drive inside DDRW2 to DVD+-R 8x or DVD+-R 8x with DL :D

[quote author=“NTS”][quote author=“tifosiv122”]Negatives:
1. Single Layer Drive
2. Slow, 4x write speeds

u can change the drive inside DDRW2 to DVD+-R 8x or DVD+-R 8x with DL :D

And how exactly do you do so?  :?

This looks good and even matches my S170P, I only wish that Sony had retained the DC jack on the S so that it could be powered by the computer.  :?

eric,

do you know the part number for that i.link cable? (the one with the firewire+power)

[quote author=“jso902”]eric,

do you know the part number for that i.link cable? (the one with the firewire+power)

Not off-hand, but I can try and find out in the next few days.

Erik

would the firewire/dc cable work with non-sony devices without any modifications? if so what non-sony devices can utilize it?

The one that came with the DVD drive has a proprietary end that is designed for the DVD drive…so its unlikely that you could use it with anything besides the DVD drive. On the other end, the firewire/dc part…i’ve never seen another unit have that connection, but I could be wrong.

Erik

According to my service manual, the part # of the iLink cable is:
1-823-439-21

Sony Spare Parts (both online and over the phone) does not show it in the computer and cannot price it or order it.

Erik

bummers

i was hoping to splice the cable up and convert it into a 6 pin.  that way i could actually use the port as a firewire + power (6pin)

[quote author=“tifosiv122”]According to my service manual, the part # of the iLink cable is:
1-823-439-21

Sony Spare Parts (both online and over the phone) does not show it in the computer and cannot price it or order it.

Erik

Now that idiocy is over, will Sony start putting 6-pin Firewire jacks on their laptops? Will pigs fly? Stay tuned!

Hi all,
i ordered the DDRW2 for $399 a few days ago from dynamism (together with my x505) but today i saw the following on the http://www.sonystyle.com => 

PCGA-DDRW2 $399:
Improved speeds
Max: DVD+R, DVD+RW: 4X, DVD-R, DVD-RW: 4X, DVD-ROM: 8X, CD-R, CD-ROM: 24X, DVD+R, DVD+RW: 2.4X, DVD-R: 4X, CD-R: Max. 16X, DVD-RW: 2X, CD-RW: 8X1

PCGA-DDRW3 $399:
Max: (Read) DVD+R Double Layer: 4X, DVD+R, DVD-R: 8X, DVD+RW, DVD-RW: 4X, DVD-ROM: 8X, CD-R, CD-ROM: 24X, CD-RW: 20X
(Write) DVD+R Double Layer: 2.4X, DVD-R, DVD+R: 8X, CD-R:24X, DVD-RW, DVD+RW: 4X, CD-RW: 10X1

They are offering a better version of the ddrw2 for the same price! I feel….a tiny bit cheated ? I also don’t understand that the prices are the same?ayways, just wanted to let you know this,
bye,

Alexander

[quote author=“Alex82”]Hi all,
i ordered the DDRW2 for $399 a few days ago from dynamism (together with my x505) but today i saw the following on the http://www.sonystyle.com => 

PCGA-DDRW2 $399:
Improved speeds
Max: DVD+R, DVD+RW: 4X, DVD-R, DVD-RW: 4X, DVD-ROM: 8X, CD-R, CD-ROM: 24X, DVD+R, DVD+RW: 2.4X, DVD-R: 4X, CD-R: Max. 16X, DVD-RW: 2X, CD-RW: 8X1

PCGA-DDRW3 $399:
Max: (Read) DVD+R Double Layer: 4X, DVD+R, DVD-R: 8X, DVD+RW, DVD-RW: 4X, DVD-ROM: 8X, CD-R, CD-ROM: 24X, CD-RW: 20X
(Write) DVD+R Double Layer: 2.4X, DVD-R, DVD+R: 8X, CD-R:24X, DVD-RW, DVD+RW: 4X, CD-RW: 10X1

They are offering a better version of the ddrw2 for the same price! I feel….a tiny bit cheated ? I also don’t understand that the prices are the same?ayways, just wanted to let you know this,
bye,

Alexander

Quite a ‘sony’ thing that mate. They do that just to surprise us and make some of us feel like idiots. Maybe someday some sony MD will write a book and explain to us the clandestine world of strategizing sony products. Till then, keep drooling over your XBRITE or wait for the new TR prototype !