Does anyone have any experience with the Sony DRU-700A DVD±RW? It's the new dual layer writer.
Are they also made by LiteOn as are the DRU-540A and 510A?
Should I get the dual layer (Sony branded) for $143.99 or a single layer for $97.99 (LiteOn SOHW-1213S 12X DVD±RW)?

If you don't have a DVD burner at the moment I suppose you could go for a dual layer burner. Just know that at the moment the media isn't widely available at the moment. Considering the price of the media, I don't see any reason to upgrade from my single layer drive, but for you it would probably be worth it.

By the way, I don't know how good they are, but there are NEC dual layer drives on Newegg for $80 or $90.

Yeah I just got the DRU700A. But I can't help much since I've only burnt one single layer DVD so far. I don't even have any dual layer media to try. I though the drive might come with one since they are so new but it didn't.

Don't know about it being a LiteOn, but the guys over at anandtech say it's the same as a Gigabyte single layer internally and that the Gigabyte burnt a dual layer disk with some special beta firmware. Seehere

Dual layer is also quite slow to burn in case you didn't know. 8x for single layer vs 2.4x for dual layer (and I think 2.4x on both layers).

Seems to work so far although I know that doesn't help much.

Not to change the subject (though I rudely am) but I heard somewhere that Pioneer 106 (A06) DVDR drives could be firmware upgraded to dual layer. More accurately, I read that Pioneer demonstrated dual layer ability on an A06 that was firmware upgraded.

So, (my connection to the thread) maybe you CAN upgrade from single to dual without buying anything. Hm......