52x24x52x Cendyne CD-RW at Staples for $17.95 after $22 instant off and $40 MIR

InfiniteSadness · May 20, 2003

Originally posted by: tyoung88

5224W - BENQ
5224P - BENQ
LTR-52246S - Lite-On
CRW-5224A - ASUS

Thanks for posting that. Are those labeled on the back next to the upc code? Where should I tell the CSR to look for those numbers?

tyoung88 · May 20, 2003

The model reference that I posted is on a big white sticker on the back of the box. It's a big table with 2 columns and like 20 or so rows. I believe the "model" row is near the bottom, I think it might even be the last row.

Anyone have any opinions on the ASUS vs LITE-ON comparison? I guess at this price you really can't go wrong, nevertheless I'm curious what people think of these two drives.

Karsten · May 20, 2003

Scored a Lite-One at STaples Southlake (Atlanta) I had the guy show me all 3 and I had the gand pick betwen Asus, Lite and BenQ.

Devistater · May 20, 2003

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
yes it comes with nero... look at the back of the box for the model number to make sure you get the lite on version. thats what i did. i went through the pile.... LOL

Unfortunately the closest staples here is like 50 miles away. I just ordered online and used the coupon for an extra little bit off. Plus I get free shipping. I'll just take whatever the luck of the draw sends me Besides, I'm going to probably use it in building a system for someone.

Betawi · May 20, 2003

OOS when I tried online.

alighieri · May 20, 2003

Can anyone give me a zip code that worked for an online order?
I have tried 53210,97008,58401,48221, and 30319 all with OOS

Thank you
Alighieri

NemoD · May 20, 2003

i just got the asus model. how does it compare to the lite-on model?

1Cheap2Crazy · May 20, 2003

I was going to pick this up at my local B&M along with the apc battery but decided not to since it was Model 5224P, a BenQ burner. I wanted a Lite-On.

BenQ review, a 6.8/10

Lite-On review, 7.5/10

Karsten · May 20, 2003

Not picking this one up for any reason is crazy! To have a replacement drive as worst case cenario for 17$ is a steal! Heck... buy it and sell your used one to a friend or relative for 10-15$ and have a brand spanking new model.

Just my 2 cents.

nexialist · May 20, 2003

I was going to try to get a lite-on but after reading the reviews decided to keep my ASUS Cendyne.

Dan

Fam · May 21, 2003

ordered online and just got mine, it's the asus model. like karsten said, not getting one because of a bs reason doesn't make sense. this thing will cost me $10.82 after tax, there is no way you can beat that for the fastest speed drive.

Sept1967 · May 21, 2003

Is mine an OEM Asus? I bought one mail order, came in, has a model number of CRW-5224A (but no Asus on the label. Even in Nero, just shows the model, no Asus. And the drive itself only has a single status light and has a flat face . But Nero shows that it has FlextraLink .

Not bad for a $12.50 CDRW (Used $10 off coupon , then plus tax)

Ziptar · May 21, 2003

how noisy are these?? OOS in my area, I will try a store Today...

Qtip · May 21, 2003

I picked up one of the last 3 at Frisco, Texas location yesterday. Turned out to be a BenQ. My tests went great. 640MB in under 2.5 minutes is damn good anyway you slice it. My Pioneer slot-load DVD-ROM drive is louder than this thing is.

SliderNMFD · May 21, 2003

Hackensack NJ Staples had all BENQ (5224W) drives (about 20 of them). Manager got mad at me because I wanted to look at all the serial numbers on the back to find either a Lite-on or at least an ASUS..

I still have two stores to check out Mahwah (Rt 17 North) and Paramus (Rt. 17 South) before I give in for the $17 BENQ drive.

EDIT: These drives were shrink wrapped. I remember reading somewhere (can't remember right now) that the Lite-on's were the ones that were shrink wrapped and the Benq's aren't.

EDIT 2: Just got back from the one in Mahwah. They had two 5224W's and one with a CDC# on it. It wasn't wrapped in celophane and was a normal box (the 5224W's have a cardboard color box with the Cendyne cover over it. I didn't recognize the numbers on the back as any that have been discussed here so I didn't go for it. Paramus tonight it is.

Either way I'm getting this drive for my new PC. Just depends on what the other stores have.

onemo · May 21, 2003

ALL (got many weird looks from CSRs) of them in Killeen, TX Staples are the 5224p Benqs, they got a whole bunch left.

WebDude · May 21, 2003

Couldn't add it to my cart via the web site (said OOS), so I went to my local (Chantilly VA) store and they had 5 out on the shelf. Shelf tag said $79, with no mention of any rebate, but at the counter they rang up as $58, and the rebate forms printed out automatically. I got an Asus, think they were all Asus.

Ziptar · May 21, 2003

OOS at the Tampa Store... Store manager checked stock at other stores, closest was New port richey which showed 4 and Tallahassee that showed 20....

In the past on hard drive deals they always say the other stores are out, but other local stores have had plenty...

I suspect they will be doing this deal again next week.. manager checked his pick list and he shows two coming in on Saturday Night..

Tomer · May 21, 2003

Anybody know anything about these friggin BENQ drives?

All our Staples had was BENQ.

I realize a couple years ago I had never heard of LiteOn either, and now it is my drive of choice.
All 25 of the LiteOn's I have purchased over the years will pretty much read and write any media.

Does BENQ do OEM stuff like LiteOn or rebadge others?

Guess we can't really lose for the price, but would still prefer a known quality LiteOn to this BENQ.

udonoogen · May 21, 2003

anyone know where i can find how fast you can burn 16x tdk's? i heard you can burn faster than listed speed on cdrs sometimes ... wonder if i can hit 52x? that would be tizight

Sept1967 · May 21, 2003

Acer Peripherals Inc. sold split off their devision that used to make "Acer" optical drives, and it renamed to BenQ.

So BenQ has been around for years, it was just called Acer.

Originally posted by: Tomer
Anybody know anything about these friggin BENQ drives?

All our Staples had was BENQ.

I realize a couple years ago I had never heard of LiteOn either, and now it is my drive of choice.
All 25 of the LiteOn's I have purchased over the years will pretty much read and write any media.

Does BENQ do OEM stuff like LiteOn or rebadge others?

Guess we can't really lose for the price, but would still prefer a known quality LiteOn to this BENQ.

altonb1 · May 21, 2003

But the verdict is? In order of preference, which drive should I buy if I have a choice of model?

I wanted the Lite-on, so I'llr ank that first, but if presented with a choice between BenQ or Asus, which drive should I buy?

I'm leaving work in about 35-40 minutes and stopping at Staples on my way home, so I'd appreciate as much assistance as possible with this.

Thanks!

tyoung88 · May 21, 2003

After considerable research the following is my preffered choices between the three:

1) Asus
2) Lite-On
3) BenQ

Please see my previous post (above) regarding Asus vs Lite-On

Tomer · May 22, 2003

Thanks for the heads up on BENQ

Not to offend anyone, but IMHO Acer products are the biggest POS products ever made. Looks like I'll be taking these CD-RW's back in hopes of snagging some good LiteOn's or even acceptable Asus's.

I retract my previous post about not being able to lose on an $18 CD-RW drive, but if it's made by Acer, then YES you can (will) lose.

Thanks Again

EDIT: What the h*ll, this damn thing comes with Nero EXPRESS???? whatever that is. The only CD-RW I have purchased in years that didn't ship with Nero Burning ROM.

I looked at Ahead's web site, but still can't tell what Nero EXPRESS is suppose to be. I'm guessing a neutered version of the real thing.

CheetahMk2 · May 22, 2003

LOL.... after doing some massive research on this subject, I cansay the Asus are pretty damn good... if the term 'SD2 Killer' means anything to you, you'd be happy too : ) . It has great DAE, and soon it can be upgraded to a true Asus drive [so the Asus firmware updates will work] so you can get firmware 1.35 and have fun with it....

The Asus has the fastest read speeds, faster than the LiteOn, and although it is noisy, it will get the job done. <Begin technical stuff> For those who the following makes sense to, don't force a MtkFlash or WinMtkFlash yet to a regular Asus firmware, if it is telling you it is unrecognized memory. Even though the .bins for the Asus firmwares are readily available. Half the Cendyne Asus rebadges are MtkFlash compatible [check by mtkflash ? C] and the other half aren't... so those with the MtkFlash friendly version can get a true Asus 1.35 or whatever right now, and the rest have to wait a little while. <End technical stuff>

Since Lite-Ons seem so hard to come by, I'm happy with my lot.

CheetahMk2

52x24x52x Cendyne CD-RW at Staples for $17.95 after $22 instant off and $40 MIR

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