Life and death. Joy and sorrow. Good and evil. Such dyads constitute all our life. Computer technologies offer one more example: the two coexistent, but incompatible DVD media standards. DVD+R/+RW and DVD-R/-RW shouldn’t be judged by the plus and minus in their names. It’s all more complex and each standard has its own highs and lows. It’s more important that this division spoils all fun for ordinary users. Did you ever curse the manufacturer because your DVD-ROM didn’t recognize the movie you had borrowed from friends? And is this problem really so hard to solve? Wouldn’t it be better to offer users more flexibility when working with their DVD-drives?

People at Sony must have encountered this situation too often and decided to pack the two standards under the same cover. Their DRU-500A drive is a unique thing as it supports both competing media types. This solution looks logical and interesting. At the same time, Sony itself belongs to DVD+RW Alliance that has fewer members than DVD Forum with its DVD-RW. But Microsoft recently entering DVD+RW Alliance may change the balance to the contrary. Still, this is a question of the future. At present, let’s turn to the hero of this review.

Closer Look