I am perplexed as to the value of such a feature, but it looks like a company called "Utobia" has hacked the firmware of NEC's ND-3500A DVD burner to include the bizarre capability to convert DVD+RW discs to DVD-ROM discs.

Don't ask me why, either. Is -ROM more widely compatible or something?

Utobia has released a DVD recording drive called the "DDW3510RS," an internal ATAPI drive, that features the capability to convert DVD+RW discs to "to ROM" while burning, as well as burn DVD+R/DL thanks to an original firmware. It costs 8200 to 9418 yen.

The somewhat questionable drive is inside of a black box depicting a logo called the "R Designation." o­nly simple specifications such as recording and reading speeds are written o­n the box, but inside was NEC's "ND-3500A" drive with a sticker that has "Special firm up version" written o­n it.

According to ZOA Akihabara, the drive features "Romization" to convert DVD+RW to DVD-ROM while recording, is region-free, and has no DVD-Video ripping speed limitations, thanks to an original firmware. Utobia hasn't said anything about this, but ZOA has confirmed that the drive does indeed contain these functions.

The recording speeds, DVD+R DL at 4x, DVD+-R at 16x, DVD+-RW at 4x, CD-R at 48x, and CD-RW at 24x, are the same as the "ND-3500A."

While the company has not clarified any details about the aforementioned, although it seems to have the image of a "Drive of Enigmas," it seems to take after the "ND-2500A+" previously released by the same company.



Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/akiba/hotline/20041127/etc_ddw3510rs.html

Utobia:
http://www.utobia.co.jp/