Sony to shut down optical disc drive division

[nsane.forums]

Sony will stop making optical disc drives for PCs in November and will competely shut down its Sony Optiarc subsidiary by March, due to falling hardware prices and higher competition.

The era of PCs having some kind of optical disc drive installed may be slowly coming to an end. One of the biggest makers of such drives, Sony, has announced it is getting out of the business in the next few months.

According to a Japan Times story, the Sony Optiarc subsidiary will stop making disc drives in November and the entire division will shut down in March 2013. The subsidiary is expected to be liquidated. Sony said the decision was due to higher competition from other companies that have sent prices for optical disc drives down to record low numbers.

It's more than possible that other disc drive makers could follow in Sony's wake. We have certainly seen more notebooks being released without an internal disc drive.

While most desktops still ship with an included DVD or Blu-Ray drive, we have also seen the rise of downloadable software as a viable alternative to purchasing software on a disk. While Windows 7 allows users to play DVD movies with its Windows Media Player, Microsoft has removed that feature from the basic version of Windows 8, although it is restored when people purchase the optional Windows Media Center add on.

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[DKT27]

That's sad. Most computer have CD/DVD/Blu-Ray drives. One requires them atleast at some point.

What's even more sad is, from what I've heard, Sony is said to be the best in making optical drives.

[ck_kent]

Cheaper price really is the major factor why they're losing the top spot they've been known for decades ago. Samsung and LG are ahead of them (Sony, Sharp, Panasonic) now because they can offer more features with a cheaper price. It's just recently that they're starting to drop their prices, especially in HDTVs, because they've been losing the market.

[vissha]

Sony is the worst brand i've seen ever! Its optical drives are one of the top flawed product. I've seen myself(thru frnds' sony system/laptop) and many users of Sony Optical drives might/will have experienced the major problems within days/months of purchase/service.

Problems:

1. Most of the local CD/DVD Media won't be detected by the drive.

2. Most of the Branded CD/DVD Media(even SONY) excluding Moserbaer won't be detected by the Sony's Drive.

3. None of the Media will be detected.

I'm so happy about this Good News! Atleast now people will buy good optical drives other than Sony!

[DKT27]

Problems:

1. Most of the local CD/DVD Media won't be detected by the drive.

2. Most of the Branded CD/DVD Media(even SONY) excluding Moserbaer won't be detected by the Sony's Drive.

3. None of the Media will be detected.

You've reminded me of some real life problems with drives. Indeed, those problems are renowned.

[Nima]

I have used ASUS optical drives for years and I am really happy with it. :)

Actually, I have an ASUS DVD-Writer x24 and use it for many years, and yet not had a single problem with it. ;)

My last optical drive was a Sony DVD-ROM I think, and as far as I remember, It worked very fine for me. :think:

Anyway, good decision in my opinion, better for Sony to focus more on other major products, like TVs, new smart phones and most important, digital cameras. ;)