Finaly taking the plunge. getting a DVD writer

I have left getting a DVD writer for sometime.
Having once been the proud owner of a BetaMax video I'm reluctant to dive in to new stuff when the formats haven't been sorted out.
The price of drives have now come down to the point that I can't grumble.

I have to chose which format to go with..

1/ I would like to back-up data
2/ Make DVD's that can be played on a domestic DVD player

I will probably get the drive from either www.dabs.com or www.novatech.co.uk

Any sugestions would be helpful... :thumbs2:

I've always liked Plextor.

To satisfy requirement 2, we need to know exactly which dvd player you intend to burn for.

No, they are not all alike, yes, they all take different things, no only a few can handle both formats. :D

So you either get - r or +r or get one that does both.

I was thinking that I would have to go for a duel format machine. My next question is... Is it worth going for a name brand drive or will a generic one do?

depends on who makes the generic... look at the warranty length before deciding.

Stay away from benq.

Here are a few I'm looking at

Sony

OptoRite

NEC

I'm very happy with the TDK dual format drive. Seems to be very reliable. If you use Nero 6, be sure to get latest updates, as the first version choked on DVD-R with the TDK drive.
Jim

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Originally Posted by Pendragon

I was thinking that I would have to go for a duel format machine. My next question is... Is it worth going for a name brand drive or will a generic one do?

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Dual for sure ! for the extra pennies I think well worth while :)

Brand/generic ... well who knows ! Even the flipping 'manufacturers' or should I say 're-branders' ?!? can't keep track, I have a client with a pioneer one & their support can't say for sure whether matsush-ita or some other maker made it originally :rolleyes:

I have clients with sony ones really made by lite-on, pioneer ones that are for sure matsush-ita & some that maybe aren't :D, & philips ones made by nec & even ones badged nec with inards & firmware done by Philips !!! Most bloomin' confus-ing !!!!

Warranty is definately a word I want to hear all about ;)

... my writer is by optorite, it works with some players 'fantastic' but not all

i have used a pioneer dvr-a103 for a few months with no compatibility issues. i burn to dvd-r media and have used nero and dvd x copy. good luck. i have heard of issues with dvd+r but have never used it, so i don't have any input on that.

A cheapo MITSUMI DUAL RW DW7802TE works great and there well under $160 Canadien... Never had one go bad yet and I've sold quite a few... If your going high end then go Plexor or go home .... Just my 0.02

I've got two now. Sony DRU 510A and an Asus DRW-0402P/D 4.7GB DVD+/-RW 4x DVD-R, 2x DVD-RW,4xDVD+R, 2.4xDVD+RW, 16x10x32x CDRW, 12x DVD INT

They both do a number of formats and work great so far. The Asus was $129.

I have the Sony DRU-510A. Best one on the market. Less than $150 from pricegrabber.com. It's dual format and no complications with ANYTHING! The only thing you have to remember though is that if you want your dvds to be read by domestic dvd players, MOST players read DVD-R and maybe DVD+RW. Only the newer ones will read DVD+R, and only certain ones. Sonys will read DVD+RW and the newers will read most DVD+R cause hell Sony is all about the +. If you are unsure which your dvd player will read, just go with the DVD-R.

Good topic, I'm in the same boat. Gonna pick up a dvd burner on boxing day and I was wondering which one I should get. Now I know.

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Originally Posted by gtiseb

Good topic, I'm in the same boat. Gonna pick up a dvd burner on boxing day and I was wondering which one I should get. Now I know.

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I just bought a Lite-On LDW-411S dual format DVD burner.

Good review on it at cdfreaks


MD