How to select a good DVD writer

Hi.
I would like to buy a DVD writer.

1) I have not many ideas how to pick a DVD writer.
When selecting a DVD writer, what aspects/specifications do I need to focus on?
Do you have any criteria when selecting your DVD writer?

By the way, this is my temporary criteria:
- support DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW; DVD+/-R (DL), DVD+/-RW (DL)
- stable (or longer warranty period)
- can read most discs correctly, even the lower-quality discs (eg data burnt on poor-quality discs, or discs burnt by poor CD/DVD writers)
- the noise factor is unimportant (unless it is too loud)

Info about my computer:
- my motherboard is A7N8X-X, only support up to 2*UDMA 133
- I have 2 HDDs and 1 CD-RW currently. I think the DVD-writer will replace the CD-RW.
- I use my DVD writers mainly for reading videos/audios, burning DVDs for videos/audios, and for file storage & data backups.


2)
Which brand or model will you suggest me buying?
And **most importantly**, why?


3) About DVD write types and writing speed:
.. a) For the write types, as far as I know, there are CAV, CLV, ZCLV, PCAV [any more?].
Are these factors important when choosing a DVD writer?
Which one should I prefer?

.. b) For writing speed, I'm not sure if speed is important.
Even if they support very high speed, is it unwise to burn at that high speed since it also increase the chance to spoil the DVD?
If so, what's the point of getting a very-high-speed DVD writer?
I'd just use the lower speed to burn a safe DVD.
What do you think?


4)
Maybe it's a stupid question.
But is it true all DVD-writers can read CD and VCD (Video CD)?
And is it true all DVD-writers support at least:
- CD-R
- CD-RW
- DVD+/-R
- DVD+/-RW
??


5) Better DVD media
Apart from dual-layer DVD, is there any better DVD media in the market now?
If so, what are they?
How good are they?

Should I buy a DVD writer which support these DVD media too?
Why?


Thanks so much for your answer.

 

This question is very difficult to answer.
Now-a-days there are no really bad writers anymore.

Take a look here, on that site there are several links to reviews.

Read the reviews, but don't forget to read the user opinions/reviews too!!
They are very important, practice is what count, and only users know what practice is

 

The only two DVD writers worth getting are either from NEC or Benq. (or one of their derivitives, e.g Phillips are rebranded benq's).

Avoid liteon DVD burners like the plague (and that goes for their rebandeged named rip off sony's drives which are exactly! the same drives as the liteons but with sony written on them and usually £20-40 more. (classic example of paying for the name).

The Benq 1640 is the drive all the experts are raving about. And currently the absolute best drive you can get. Heres a review.

http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/226/11

 

For my new computer, I ordered two CD/DVD writers :
BenQ DW1640 CD/DVD RW
http://www.benq.com/products/product.cfm?product=554&page=specifications
My main CD/DVD reader/writer.
BenQ DW1625 CD/DVD RW - LightScribe
http://www.benq.com/products/product.cfm?product=412&page=features
I didn't need a second CD/DVD RW, but I liked the LightScribe feature.
It's a good way to label your CD/DVD's and it has a very professional look.
Having a second CD/DVD RW as reserve was an additional reason of minor importance. (CD/DVD RW's usually fail, when you really NEED them )
Unfortunately, the vendor told me he can't get them anymore for a long time.
I don't mind about that, because they will improve lightscribe in the next years : maybe the write speed, which is actually rather slow for labels (upto 40 minutes) and certainly the colors ( I've seen examples of colored LightScribe labels).
After all, I can buy a LightScribe CD/DVD RW anytime. The longer I wait, the better.

Why BenQ ? There are so many brands, so many opinions, so many reviews, I didn't get any wiser.
According my readings BenQ wasn't a bad choice and that's enough for me.
Also the very best CD/DVD RW's can fail, if you have bad luck.
CD/DVD RW isn't that important for me.

I won't use my CD/DVD RW to backup my harddisk, that is NOT a good idea IMO.
CD/DVD aren't reliable enough and not convenient for me to backup my harddisk.
If you need several CD/DVD's to backup a harddisk of 80GB upto 300GB or even more and one of these CD/DVD's is bad, your restore will fail too.
I wouldn't advice packet writing (DirectCD or InCD) either, which is even more unreliable.
I will use my second harddisk to backup my first harddisk and later on an external harddisk, if I need more space.

Use CD/DVD's for stuff that BELONGS on CD/DVD, like movies, music, photos, ... and use it also to backup your movies, music, photos, ...
If you are a real collector of movies, music, photos, ... you know in advance that your harddisk will be too small in the future, so you better store them on CD/DVD's immediately.

 

the plextor px-740a is very good. it's very fast and supports dual-layer dvd writting. it also has a very good cd bundle - plextools. it's £39 at dabs.com/uk (code:3RPRD1)
of course i know nothing about it, i just copied that out of a magazine

 

Plextor is also a good brand, my PlexWriter 12/4/32 did a good job during 5 years, but it's high time to get a new one

I also checked the DVD formats of DW1640 :
DVD+R DL 8.5GB, DVD+R 4.7GB, DVD+RW 4.7GB (Closed Session), DVD-R 4.7GB, DVD-RW 4.7GB (closed session), DVD-Video, DVD-5, DVD-9, DVD-10, DVD-18
Nice to know :
http://www.copydvdgold.com/dvd-5-dvd-9.html

 

That's the reason why i wrote before: the choice is very difficult!

Brand BenQ: they produce many products, f.e. i have 3 BenQ TFT-screens, and i'm really satisfied with them.

 

I assume you need special LightScribe media?

What are the costs of LightScribe media?

I was already thinking about buying a Lightscribe burner, now i buy my CD's and DVD's in the supermarket and they are REALLY cheap.....

 

The history of LightScribe :
http://h10058.www1.hp.com/digital/entertainment/us/en/resources_info/lightscribe_faq.html#whatIs

Review on LightScribe
http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/columns/executive_tech/article.php/3463801
Examples of LightScribe
http://www.lightscribe.com/use/winterholidays.aspx?id=226#
Giving prices is a bit difficult for me, because I live in Belgium.
Verbatim CD/DVD seems to be very good for lightscribe.
http://www.epinions.com/content_212937838212

If you google on the net, you will find lots of stores, but they are more expensive than normal CD's.

Keep also in mind, that you have to LIKE/LOVE LightScribe, many users don't. They prefer to use a printer to label their CD/DVD's.

 

Oops!

You better redraw the order!

Just read this on the BenQ website:

Europe, 21st of December, 2005 – BenQ announced two new additions to its DVD ReWriter line up, the BenQ DW1650 and BenQ DW1655. Both model features dual cooling system, BenQ’s proprietary Solidburn technology and BenQ’s exclusive Write Right technology. What is more, DW1655 also features convenient Direct Disc Labeling capability.

With the embedded Light Scribe technology, the BenQ DW1655 DVDReWriter is able to offer users a convenient way of labeling the discs by just simply flipping the disc over to the label side and insert it into the drive after finishing burning the tracks onto the data side of the disc. The BenQ DW1650/1655 DVD ReWriter supports both DVD+R and DVD-R recording at 16x.

The BenQ DW1650/1655 DVD ReWriter features BenQ’s proprietary Dual Cooling System technology which effectively reduces the risk of over-heating during high-speed reading and writing as well as a more reliable. The BenQ DW1650/1655 DVD ReWriter also features the BenQ’s exclusive Write Right technology which yields a perfect control over the laser beam angle and the power rate being projected onto the disc. The BenQ DW1650/1655 DVD ReWriter supports both DVD+R and DVD-R Double Layer recording at 8x and 6x respectively.

Equipped with BenQ’s proprietary SolidBurn technology, the DW1650/1655 DVD ReWriter provides users with superior optical writing that enables a faster and over speed burning while maintaining at an excellent burning quality. The users can choose to activate or deactivate the SolidBurn Technology and Over Speed Burning feature by using the QSuite application interface.

End of the story.


Today i have read a lot about the differences between the DW1625 and DW1640, i wait 'till the new burners 1650/1655 can be delivered and buy without any doubts the DW1655.

The DW1655 has the same specs as the DW1650 (plus LightScribe)!

Between the "old" models 1640 and 1625 there are remarkable differences, and it seems that BenQ has make the both new models 1650/1655 equal.

 

Smokey,
Thanks for the update, but I'm afraid it's too late. They are assembling my computer already
Belgium isn't exactly a great country to buy computers : expensive and never the latest hardware/software of anything.
My new computer is already OLD, only the hardware components are new.

I bought my computer for other reasons :
1. AMD Athlon 4400+ 64Bit X2 Dual-Core Processor
2. 2 x 1024MB RAM
3. 2 x WD Raptor WD740GD HDD 74gb 10000rpm SATA 8mb Cache 4.5ms

The rest wasn't important for me and can be replaced anytime.
After all CD/DVD RW aren't that expensive.

 

I love my Burner ... It supports all formats +R/RW/DL -R/RW and DVDRAM. Mine is a year old now I bought last November but it's a great burner ... and nice a cheap now ... I'm sure it'd be available in your area - here's a link for a local store - http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10055584&catid=

 

I have three DVD burners and the are all LG brand they burn all formats and I have never burned a "coaster" they have been exceptionaly dependable and are recognized by almost all burning programs if not all. I would put them up against any other brand for quality and dependability.

 

The specs are great!

In the Netherlands €52,- for the brandnew BenQ DW1655....

 

Today i was looking for a new burner, and have seen the LG DVD RW+/- 16x Double Layer GSA-4166B LightScribe.

Not bad at all, i was hesitating between the BenQ DW1655 and the LG GSA-4166B, but i decided to order the BenQ.

BTW: this LG is indentical to the HP 840b/i.

 

The Netherlands and Germany are indeed cheaper countries for computers, but I don't live there.

@Dog and bigC,
If I ever become a "Global Moderator", I will buy a LG CD/DVD burner too

 

Looks good too, is the LG GSA-4163B, isn't?

Seems to me the same as the GSA-4166B without LightScribe.

 

Antwerp is 30 minutes away from Breda....

 

Right, but I don't have a car. One more car in Antwerp and the traffic freezes
52 EURO + gasoil car = price in Belgium LOL.

 

Ya that's the model, lightscribe wasn't available when I bought it (a little over a year ago), although I'm so use to scribing my chick scratch on my no label (no name/house brand) disks, I'd probably buy the same model today - I get 200 DVDs for $38 - I've used over a thousand - and I've never burnt a coaster (in linux or Windows).

Yup I'm a burning junkie

 

I believe you, your avatar looks like a CD/DVD, at least the shape

 

Further comments not necessary.....

 

You can do a lot more in Breda than buy a burner when you know a little more about the city...

There are places where you need another kind of burner!

 

ErikAlbert, i guess Marcos need some explanation about Belgium, has nothing to do with this thread, please look here and bring some light in the Belgium NOD32-darkness

Thanks in advance!

 

Should I buy a DVD burner now?

Should I buy a DVD burner now?

Hi.
I'm not sure if DVD burner is going to be outmoded soon.
Actually apart from DVD burner, is there any other kind of burners that I can consider?
The one I realise is Blu-ray burner which should be available soon.
Any others?

Is it still okay to buy a DVD burner at this moment?
Or should I consider other burners?
Or else?

Thanks for your reply.