OT: Any DVD Burner suggestions for the PC

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:21 pm

I've finally decided to dump my POS iMac with a Superdrive as my DVD creation option.

So I need to pick up a DVD burner for one of my PC's I'm looking for an external one and have some interest in the LightScribe technology.

I've been searching the internet all day and reading reviews and then customers reviews and I am even more confused on what to go with now.

Does anyone have any first hand experience or recommendations on a DVD burner. It's main purpose will be burning home movies of my kids.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:27 pm

The best and most reliable burners have always been Plextors...if you get one of those, you will not go wrong. They are a little more pricey, but it's worth it.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:59 pm

Pioneer DVR09.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 6:41 pm

I have had a sony dvd writer for almost 3 years now and have never had any problems with it, paid almost 400 bucks for it back then and at some point in the near future I will be upgrading to a dual layer burner and my first choice will probably be a sony.

I have read that the lightscribe burners are pretty reliable burners, but using them for printing supposedly takes almost 40 minutes to do a full graphic label with them. I just recently bought an epson r200 printer that prints full color on cds and dvds and it looks really really nice.

eman · Post by **eman** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 6:46 pm

Its hard to beat an NEC DVD burner when you consider its price to performance ratio.

Review
http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/214/9

Price
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... +Recorders

Regardless of what you go with its imperative to make sure you have the latest firmware for your drive. Check the manufacturer for an update or follow this link: http://www.cdfreaks.com/drive

Cd Freaks is an awesome source for information on this stuff.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 7:13 pm

Thanks for all the info guys.

I was at cdfrewaks and was getting lost with all the DVD+, DVD R, DVD RW etc. I just want to make DVD's of my kids to send to their grandparents who live on the other side of the country.

I figure the lightscribe was nice, because I could put a cool label on their for them etc. Vader the printer you're talking about does it right to the CD, or is it still actually a label that you stick on?

I also read that it is hard to find the DVD media to sue with the Lightscribe technology, so I don't know how big a deal that will end of being in my purchase. I just want to get something realtively soon so I can start making the DVD and something that writes quickly. It literally sometimes takes a few hours to burn the DVD's on my iMac, I am hoping a more powerful PC will be a lot quicker.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:23 pm

The epson r200 printer has a cd tray that you put your cd or dvd onto and it prints directly onto them, a 50 pack of printable dvds only cost around 30 bucks, the printer can be bought for less than a hundred.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:43 pm

I would think you'd want a dual or double-layer burner.

The media are still pricey but are decreasing in price. You could also burn single-layer.

The other consideration is what kind of burning software you'd use. I think some drives come with rudimentary mastering software.

But if you're doing home videos, you might want video editing software too.

The drives are cheap and maybe the software is "out there" if you know what I mean.

I think a couple of guys have recently picked up DVD burners.

eman · Post by **eman** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:35 pm

Danimal wrote:Thanks for all the info guys.

I was at cdfrewaks and was getting lost with all the DVD+, DVD R, DVD RW etc. I just want to make DVD's of my kids to send to their grandparents who live on the other side of the country.

I figure the lightscribe was nice, because I could put a cool label on their for them etc. Vader the printer you're talking about does it right to the CD, or is it still actually a label that you stick on?

I also read that it is hard to find the DVD media to sue with the Lightscribe technology, so I don't know how big a deal that will end of being in my purchase. I just want to get something realtively soon so I can start making the DVD and something that writes quickly. It literally sometimes takes a few hours to burn the DVD's on my iMac, I am hoping a more powerful PC will be a lot quicker.

One problem you might face is compatibility. Many DVD players wont play certain formats. Ive found through trial and error that minus media (-) seems to be the most compatible. YMMY though.

I know you want to keep it simple but if you really want to increase compatibility Id get a unit that is capable of changing the bit lead-in setting so that you can make the burned disk appear to be a DVD Rom to the DVD reader. This will ensure that your 60+ year old parents (who are probably technologically challenged) wont run into trouble when the go to play "Little Johnnies Greatest Hits' DVD.

kicko · Post by **kicko** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:38 pm

almost all players play +r's the odd ones that don't should do a -r , its very easy to make another copy. they all do the same job the only real difference is some read media types better then others.

Noledog · Post by **Noledog** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:54 pm

going to second the NEC DVD burner recommendation. have a 4x single layer burner that has performed flawlessly. i have the bios upgrade to make it a dual layer burner, but like someone else mentioned the media is steep so no point yet.

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:02 pm

I'll go ahead and third the NEC 3540 burner as a very reliable burner that will work with almost any media. I've had mine for about a year and I have yet to have one single coaster with it and I burn a LOT of dvds.

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:04 pm

I am a plextor fan myself.

I have a single layer +r/rw burner - whenever I decided to build a new pc, I am sure I will throw a dual layer one in there.

kicko · Post by **kicko** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:28 am

understand that coasters are not always a drive issue, most likely software or media being used. do yourself a favor and be smart about the blanks you by, their not like cd-r's

WillHunting · Post by **WillHunting** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 11:28 am

I am going to third the NEC recommendation.

I was a big fan of Plextor CDR drives back in the day, but their DVD writers are abit more expensive than the competitors. So I gave NEC a shot (since they are so ridiculously cheap and heard good things about them).

Anyway, they burn flawlessly and I have yet to have a coaster. Highly recommended.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 11:44 am

kicko wrote:understand that coasters are not always a drive issue, most likely software or media being used.

Yep. I was swearing at myself when I bought the cheapest drive I could find, but once I switched the rendering software I haven't had one problem since.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:37 pm

Danimal wrote:I've finally decided to dump my POS iMac with a Superdrive...

Ummmm...Sport73...where are you!?!?!?

Digital Sportspage

OT: Any DVD Burner suggestions for the PC

OT: Any DVD Burner suggestions for the PC

Re: OT: Any DVD Burner suggestions for the PC