No problems ripping here.

I've got a DRU500A. I think the current model is the 530A or something like that. They've gotten really cheap, too. I think I saw it in a brick and mortar store for around $130, and was jealous because the numbers before every 'x' were half again as much as my drive, which was more than twice as expensive

But anyway, Sony, which did indeed have the first all-format drive, makes one solid burner. I personally wouldn't go with any other drive, given how this one has performed. I've burned over 250 DVDs and 300 CDs and still going strong.

Regardless, the use of a DVD+RW disc is wonderful. I've burned so many test video DVDs I've lost count.

Oh, and when you do get a drive and want to start making your own video DVDs, IMO there is no better choice than DVDlab. It's by far the best DVD creation software, with near-professional quality and capability but very useable. It's definitely worth the sub-$100 price tag. Heck, it's worth twice that.