Thursday, June 26th 2008
ASUS Might Discontinue Optical Drive Production
DigiTimes reports that the OEM contract ASUS has with Pioneer for manufacture of its optical disc drives will expire in July, 2008 and it is likely that ASUS abandon its disc drive manufacturing, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
Pioneer High Fidelity Taiwan, Pioneer's Taiwan subsidiary, confirmed the expiration of the OEM contract in July and the expansion of the company's own ODD production capacity in southern China, adding that Pioneer will consider new OEM partners to maintain its production efficiency following the expiration of its contract with ASUS.
Source:
DigiTimes
Pioneer High Fidelity Taiwan, Pioneer's Taiwan subsidiary, confirmed the expiration of the OEM contract in July and the expansion of the company's own ODD production capacity in southern China, adding that Pioneer will consider new OEM partners to maintain its production efficiency following the expiration of its contract with ASUS.
9 Comments on ASUS Might Discontinue Optical Drive Production
1. ASUS used to make ODD's for Pioneer (no wonder Pioneer's drives were that expensive, they were made by ASUS).
2. Their contract expires, Pioneer indicates it will source it's drives from another OEM.
3. There's not much market for ASUS' own brand of ODD's (the way LG/Samsung/Lite-On have).
4. Close.
We have to wait for an announcement from ASUS on this. Customers of ASUS brand aren't as badly hit as those of Pioneer since it will be hard to get spare parts / RMA. Warranty services by ASUS have been good so far, users shouldn't have a problem.
It is a bummer to see a pretty decent optical drive maker get out of the business though, too many cheap piles around and not enough of the really good ones anymore.
I dont believe ASUS ever made OEMS. According to one MaximumPC article, their drives were made by Pioneer (it was one of their reviews of DVD Burners)`