I am a student looking for an affordable DVD drive that can burn dual layered DVD's with excellent quality. I have been looking up TONS of reviews on BenQ, Lite-On, and LG and can't really crunch all the performance test numbers to come up with a solution, there is just way too much data for my brain to compute....lol I am looking for the BEST quality (fewest errors, or PI's if that what they are called) DVD copies I can get, I am not concerned about speed WHATSOEVER and would prefer a 2x dvd-9 burning speed for better results, as opposed to the models that only offer 4x as the minimum (from what I have read 2x is better, maybe I am wrong). I don't really care about CD burning quality as I already have a CD burner and the discs sound just fine to me, this will be a DVD burning drive only, for copying DVD movies. Something for under $115, if possible. Here is what is available to me (plus a few others maybe): http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProdList&cmd=pl&id=CR.184 Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
The problem with the Pioneer is that you can't booktype without 'hacked' firmware ... The NEC and Benq are budget units that support booktyping ... Personally, I'd cough up the extra money and get a Plextor ... Plextor is the best available bar none!
I have no idea what booktyping is... if it is something fancy that a hardcore techy would only use, then I am not too concerned, I just want high quality burning, with as few errors as possible, for around $100.
well, the so called "king of burners" the plextor is more expensive than the others...i believe last time i checked the plextor was about $130...i have no doubts it is one of the best, if not THE best dvd burner out there; but, it's pricey, worth the investment, but the nec and benq as catfreak suggested might be better "budget" buys.
Booktyping is something that anyone who is concerned about their DVDs being able to be played on a wide variety of players should be interested in ... Booktyping explained ... Physically there is a difference between a DVD-R disc and a DVD+R disc that is made during the production process. During the production of a DVD-R disc the lead-in is pre-embossed (pre-written). This overwrites parts of the DVD that contains information about the disc. E.g. the CSS key (part of the copy protection) is in this part on commercial movie discs (This is why you can’t make a 1:1 copy of a DVD). But in this space there is also room reserved for the so called ‘booktype’ field. Changing the booktype field ... This booktype field identifies the disc as either a DVD-ROM, DVD+R(W) or a DVD-R(W) disc and is for a big part responsible for the compatibility. Because this setting is overwritten during the DVD-R production process it can’t be modified afterwards, the laser of your DVD recorder simply can’t write to that part of the disc. During the production of DVD+R discs the space is untouched. Still CSS keys can’t be written to DVD+R discs because every DVD recorder and DVD player has a limit in its firmware to write or read to this space. However, there is no limit for writing the booktype field. Therefor a DVD+R(W) recorder will be able to modify this field by sending a command to the DVD recorder and fool the DVD player. When the booktype field (bitsetting) is changed to DVD-ROM then DVD players are fooled and will think the user has put in a DVD-ROM disc instead of a DVD+R disc and will read it accordingly. This results in an increased chance that the player is able to read the disc and that’s why the ability to change the booktype field (bitsetting) is essential to a lot of users. Certainly owners of a DVD player that requires this field to be set to DVD-ROM, in order to work properly, will prefer a DVD recorder that supports setting the booktype field.
Viva Benq 1620!!!!!! The compatability of my first one was so much better than other burners I have,that I purchased another one for my spare pc.Only 1 old ps2 that cannot play my booktyped plus backups out of 30+ players from my family and friends players/ps2's/and pc drives. It does have the booktyping feature,like catfreak noted. Beautiful backups at the 4x speed.It even burns sony +1x-8x media at 16x! Ripping on the fly? No problemo. No coasters on over 300 backups. My benq's also prefer the plus format.I had 1 coaster this year and it was a verbatim -4x.Not bad out of over 700+ burns. That nec 3540 should also be a very good burner.
Unfortunantly,yes. There was a mild uprising here at AD a few months ago. VenomX05 started a memorex cult and had members including movies27. We have excersized the memorex demons out of movies 27,but there is no healing venom.The ty and verbatim holy water would not rid the memorex demons from venom. He is still lurking around so be on your guard!
It wasn't necessary to exorcise the 'Memorex demons' out of me, the crappy product marketed by Memorex did the job ...
saugmon- and friends ! Kind of sounds like a saturday morning kids show don't it ! Just kidding LOL! What has happened to the Benq 1620 ? Newegg used to have them and now they seem to have sadly dissappeared!as they are only showing the 1625 & 1640 on the website! Wsa'nt the one they used to 0ffer with free CDR & DVD media the 1620 pro? Also if anyone has a 1620 and a1625 or a 1640 how do these frives compare with the 1620? do you think that the 1620 has been discontinued? also Other than the Benq's which brands are of the same or better quality & also have booktyping ability!? out of the box? thanx again & happy Burning Peace!
6 months ago newegg.com had benq 1620 pro/bulk/with software/blank discs/and the bare unit only.All sorts of combinations anywhere from $50-$90. Now I can only find the benq 1625 lightscribe there. I've read the features on the 1640. I thought I heard someone mentioning it also had lightscribe,but I can't confirm. One of those 2 models will definitely be my next replacement.
saugmon- Thanx let us all know what you think of whichever one you end up buying ! thanx again Peace & happy burning
