Recommended DVD writer??

I'd like to get an external DVD writer that I could use with my notebook, and future desktops.

Is there a list of recommebded external DVD recorders?
Hopefully, it could also record cD-RW and CD-R?

Notebook has USB and 1394 ports.

 

If you go for a slim one, then I could suggest Samsung and Asus.
If you go for a standard external recorder then I suggest the newest lg model you can find. These are usually usb models.

 

Then I would consider getting an eSATA adapter for your notebook, then use an eSATA external drive.

 

What are ecommended esata adapters for notebooks?

 

I don't have any experience with any particular model to offer any advice, but there are several to choose from.

 

I just purchased a Pioneer DVR-X162Qexternal DVD player . $100.80 (free shipping from Amazon or Buy.com),

 

Looks nice and price is good. I hope it meets your needs for years to come.

 

Received Pioneer DVR-X162Q. about 2 weeks ago.

Finally, unpacked the critter today.
Drive would not spin up.
Sending back to Amazon tomorrow.

Should I get a Samsung instead of a Pioneer?

 

That's too bad. I don't think Pioneer makes (rebrands?) drives of any less quality than Samsung, or Sony, or any other major brand. You just got a lemon - it happens with any them. Maybe it was dropped. I think you take your chances with any choice so go for the one that has the features you want, at the price you like.

 

1. amazon shipped drive via postal service. Bad choice.
2. Seal on drive box was opened, but nothing else looked like it had been abused.
3, No detail on how to install.

I shut off the counputer.
Connected the drive.
Powered up the drive.
Attempted to reboot.
Reboot hung until I turned the drive off then on during the reboot.
Took a long time, but Vista installed a driver for the DVR216. Have no idea whether that was the right driver.
Vista assigned a drive letter to the drive.

When I clicked on th edrive, I was asked to insert a disk.
However, as soon as I close the tray, the tray opened ansd I was asked to insert a disk.

Drive never did spin up.

After removing th edrive, I heard something that might indicate that a part might be loose internally.

I was not at all pleased with Pioneer tech support, but that's another story.

I had done an image backup shortly before this mess.
I am now attempting to restore C partition.

 

i use an LG drive and im very happy with it.

 

LG's web site does not work with Firefox.

 

works fine for me

 

I see that LG web site now works with Firefox 3.5.5.
Did not work with with 3.5.4.

 

that is strange...

 

One possibility is that AV software was interfering.

 

Hmmm, that's suspicious.

 

Correction: I had been using 3.5.3.
I then installed 3.5.5.

 

Maybe the site was down at the time.

 

I'd recommend LG, products are wuite good and so are their customer redressal.