what dvd burner to buy?

there are an overwhelming number of dvd burners out there on the market today. i want a cheap ($100USD-$250USD) solution to be able to copy movie dvd's and play them on my xbox. i am somewhat familiar with the industry lingo, but make no claims in being an expert.

another thing i will want to be able to do with this burner is convert my vhs tapes to dvd. i have read quite a lot about how to do this process, but am posting today to take advantage of all of your guys' experience with regards to what would be the best solution for me!

i've read some about the post about the Pioneer DVR106 and was close to purchasing it for $203USD! i will need this by the end of august. do you think i should wait until the market becomes more mature, or does that matter?

thanks you so much for your time,
mark

 

Buy the Pioneer DVR106 without any doubt as it is the best writer available!!!!

Chris

 

does the xbox use dvd-r as it's media? am i right in thinking that most dvd players use dvd-r?

 

DVD-R is more widely accepted in DVD players than +R. The figures are that over 90% of DVD players accept DVD-R and around 75% accept DVD+R. im not sure about the XboX since i dont have one, but my friedn Kevin has successfully used -R in his. Buy decent media such as Ritek G03/4's.

Chris

 

thanks chris!! what about the writing software that will come with the 106? is that alright to use, or should i get myself something else?

also, i am looking at pricing for this and i come to this dilemma here:
http://fatwallet.pricegrabber.com/s...+Products.x=26&Compare+Selected+Products.y=14

looks like the only difference between the DVR-106D and DVR-106 is that DVD-ROM read speed is faster on the DVR-106D. you think i should get the DVR-106D?

thanks again!

 

Yeah, it is funny about the differences between the two. make sure those are correct when you are buying. Also, you will probably have to update the frimware to rip at those speeds anyway.

Chris

 

Avoid the 106.

 

why?

 

Avoid the 106? Have you been smoking what Herbsman is smoking? lol Since it is now less that £130, it is probably the best writer there is available.

 

What's wrong with optorite dd0203.

It has a much larger cache, faster CDR write, and faster DVD read, it's cheap too.

 

Its cheap, yes, is it quality, no?

Take a Daewoo family saloon. Same size of engine and a load of extra features for the same price as a BMW 3 series. Which is the better car? Its the same with DVD Writers.

 

Oriphus you may be a senior member around here but unless you own or have owned an Optorite burner it is only your opinion that the pioneer is better and that the Optorite is cheap and inferior.

I own the optorite drive and have had no problems with it. It burns any media that I put into it. The only problem I had was with Khypermedia but "WHO HASN'T" with that crappy media. I guess all I am trying to say is that you may prefer the pioneer but I'm inclined to go with what brh said about the spec's being better with the Optorite as I am completely happy with mine.

 

This is more a question of would you rather have a BMW 3 or all the internals of a BMW 7 series with the minor annoyance that it happened to say "Honda" on the hood even though it really isn't a honda.

The optorite may be a no-name brand but most no-name brand electronics are actually rebaged brand name electronics and this optorite drive is no exception. The 8 megabyte cache is of primary interest to me. The optorite is also dual format and the HD Burn seems to be quite a nice feature.


Without some hard evidence I'm inclined to view the pioneer drive as paying $50 for a $5 hanes tshirt because it says Calvin Kline on it.

 

We have a BMW 7 series and wouldnt dream of changing it to a 3 series. Same way i have a Pioneer and wouldnt dream of changing to the Optorite. I am glad you are having success with the Optorite and i hope it continues. By the way, it is irrelevat what my membership status is, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, be it newbies, junior or whatever.

 

The point is the internal electronics of the optorite drives are not no-name (only the badge on the outside) and the internals are superior to the pioneer drive you keep promoting. It writes faster and has a bigger cache. You are paying for the little sticker that says pioneer on the outside plain and simple. I'm not sure if the same manufacturer makes pioneer and optorite drives but there are certainly some no-name brand drives made by the same manufacturer as pioneer if not optorite.

 

Oriphus, of course everyone is entitled to their opinion but what I was saying is that you are a senior member here, many people listen to your opinions.

I'm sure you probably have the pioneer drive and are very happy with it. Great!! But what isn't great is that you are giving an uninformed opinion about the optorite drive that others will listen to just because it is you saying it. When your analogy about the BMW 7 series to BMW 3 series is just wrong. I would put the analogy more like: a06 is to BMW 7 series as the optorite is to a super charged Corvette. It may not be as luxurious but it sure is faster.

 

Is someone honestly going to tell me that Optorite, founded two years ago, can create better DVD writers than the Pioneer Corporation. Let me ask another question! Are you honestly trying to tell me that you believe that the quality of Sanyo products are better than that of Pioneer. I tmay look good on paper......but in reality, it will no compare to the Pioneer DVR106. Here is another analogy for you:

Take your Ford Escort (optorite) with a 2 litre engine. Take also a BMW 3 series with a 1.8 litre engine. Which looks better on paper?? Which is better in reality?? Come on guys, dont try and tell me that an 2 year old company producing its first DVD burner is better than the veteran Pioneer company who was the first company ever to make one for the home consumer. **Reality Check people**

 

Again you miss the point entirely. I don't care that Optorite is made by a company that is 2 years old and that everybody loves Pioneer. I am not saying that the Optorite is better. I am saying that it is faster and that I have had no problems with it. You may like your pioneer. Bully for you.

You have never used the optorite therefore your opinion means crap as far as I'm concerned because at least I have a basis for my opinion whereas your opinion is based on how long optorite has been in business. Pioneer was a new company at one point too!! The only thing that means is that Pioneer is more established and probably has better support. It doesn't mean that it is a better product.

I have at least compared the a06 and optorite drive head to head and I know for a fact that the optorite is faster. So please at least get a well informed opinion instead of a ridiculously biased one.

Reality Check done!!

 

What difference does it make if they've been in business 2 days when we've already established it's just a rebadged drive made by sanyo. I see no reason to deem sanyo's dvd drives lower quality than pioneer's without a serious objective study.

Pioneer's audio equipment (i.e.) home receivers would be consider the ford escort of receivers in comparison with good quality high end brands - i.e. onkyo, denon, Marantz or really high end stuff like lexicon, McIntosh, B&K, etc.

Just because pioneer makes shitty audio equipment doesn't mean their computer components are junk and if that's not the case for pioneer that's not the case for sanyo either.

 

Both of you are well off the mark.

Firstly, Imadern. As i said before. Im glad you are having success with your drive and i hope it continues. However, you will not find too many people who would put your optorite on the same par as a Pioneer. It just isnt, FACT.

Secondly, brh996, your comparison is very very wrong. Be careful with your analogies. For the home consumer high street market, brands like Sony, panasonic and philips are the market leaders. Pioneer, are the more expensive audiophile and video products. They are a go between the high street consumer and the next stage of semi professional and extreme home users. Your Marantz (which i love and have an SR9300 THX system), denon and other high end audiophile systems are in a completely different category. Please dont compare the two of them. Its like comparing an Escort to a Ferrari. It doesnt work.

Pioneer don't make shitty equipment. Tell me why the Pioneer PDH50 is the most expensive 50" screen with the most features.

Now fellas, wise up, eh ;-)