The Dual RW DVD/CD recordable drives recently introduced by Sony Electronics will soon support up to 4X DVD+R recording with a simple firmware upgrade. Owners of the internal DRU-500A or external DRX-500UL Dual RW drive will be able to download the free upgrade from Sony's Web site at http://sony.storagesupport.com/freeupgrade on or before Dec. 9.

The firmware upgrade will add support for up to 4X DVD+R recording and will enhance DVD reading performance, making the Dual RW drives even more appealing to users seeking a high-performance DVD burner that supports all of the leading DVD formats (DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW) as well as 24X CD-R recording, at a reasonable price.

With up to 4X DVD+R recording speeds, users will be able to record a full 4.7GB DVD+R disc in less than 15 minutes. The specification standard for 4X DVD+R recording was recently made available, and utilizing the free firmware upgrade, Sony's Dual RW drives will be the first to support it. 4X DVD+R media is expected to become commercially available before the end of this year.

"By offering consumers a drive that supports the most popular DVD formats at the fastest recording speeds available for DVD-R/-RW and DVD+R, we are providing the utmost in compatibility and performance," said Robert DeMoulin, marketing manager for branded storage products in Sony Electronics' IT Products Division. "As initial reviews of the DRU-500A have proven, our Dual RW drives have helped clear the confusion in the DVD-recordable market."

The DRU-500A model has already garnered a number of industry awards, including Editors' Choice Awards from both CNET and CDRLabs.com in October, a Best Buy Award from PC World's December issue, and Maximum PC's Gear of the Year and Kick Ass Awards, also bestowed in December. Availability, Pricing and Warranty

The DRU-500A and DRX-500UL DVD/CD rewritable drives are currently available through nationwide resellers and retailers, mail order catalogs, and select online shopping sites, including SonyStyle.com. The DRU-500A model is available for an estimated price of under $350, while the external DRX-500UL is available for less than $430. Sony supports what it calls "worry-free" installation and easy operation with toll-free customer and technical service, Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. CST, along with a one-year limited warranty from the original date of purchase.