Best DVD Burner for the money?

[Nutdotnet]

Hey, I was wondering what the best DVD burner for the money was.

I was looking at THIS at Officemax today for $259 AR.

Thanks!

 

[rchapman]

The latest Maximum PC magazine suggested the Pioneer DVR-A04 is a good choice. Most complaints about the drive suggest that +RW drives will ultimately offer faster speeds and greater capacity. This is probably so, however, -RW media is far more compatible with existing DVD players and the media is much less expensive as well.

The guys at Maximum PC got theirs for $250, but the article didn't mention where they got the deal.

Good luck!

 

[SuperSix]

I wouldn't touch anything BUT the Pioneer DVD-A04. THe worst part about any recordable DVD format/drive is that a very low percentage of the finished disks will work in regular DVD player, HP being the worst. I did a LOT of research on this subject, and if you want the best (for now) get the Pioneer. Check Pricegrabber for a good deal. *I* would get a retail box drive, the software included is worth the extra $$$.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Aight, cool...Pioneer A04 it is then.

Thanks!

 

[jkresh]

I have the pioneer A03 (A04 is the new one), and I agree it is a good drive, but sony just released a drive that could do dvd-r/rw and dvd+r/rw, so you might want to wait for the reviews on that before getting the pioneer.

 

[Shagga]

-RW media is far more compatible with existing DVD players and the media is much less expensive as well.

It was my understanding that +RW had (or will have) better compatibility on stand alone DVD players and will become the prefered standard. However, +RW media is more expensive I agree.

I have the Sony DRU-120A DVD Writer and can rate it quite highly to date...It's a bit more expensive though.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: Shagga

-RW media is far more compatible with existing DVD players and the media is much less expensive as well.

It was my understanding that +RW had (or will have) better compatibility on stand alone DVD players and will become the prefered standard. However, +RW media is more expensive I agree.

I have the Sony DRU-120A DVD Writer and can rate it quite highly to date...It's a bit more expensive though.

+R and DVD-R media have about the same level of compatibility, depending on who you read. However, DVD-R media is cheaper.

+RW and DVD-RW media have about the same level of compatibility depending on who you read, but both are much less compatible than +R and DVD-R.

The cheapest drive is the Pioneer DVR-104, and supports DVD-RW (1X) and DVD-R (2X), as well as CD burning. The Pioneer A04 is the same drive but with more software.

The Pioneer A05 comes out next month, which is a faster version of the A04. The new Sony drive comes out soon, that supports +/-RW, +/-R. The new Panasonic LF-D521 comes out next month, which is essentially a Pioneer A04, but with DVD-RAM support as well.

 

[Maverick]

I wouldn't buy until you can get really good deals on the media and they're available on spindle. I think the media that makes it to retail spindles will be the winner in the format war.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: Shiva112
I wouldn't buy until you can get really good deals on the media and they're available on spindle. I think the media that makes it to retail spindles will be the winner in the format war.

Hmmm... My local shops carry name brand DVD-R on spindles already.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Anyone have any idea what the Cyndyne I mentioned actually is? My Cendyne CD-RW turned out to be a Lite-On.

 

[Spicedaddy]

Pioneer A05 or the new Sony that burns both -R/RW and +R/RW.


Pioneer A04 takes 30 minutes to write a DVD-R and an hour to write a DVD-RW. A05 cuts that in half and has better specs for the CDRW as well...

 

[randomlinh]

from cdrinfo, pioneer claims the first 4x dvd-r.. but sony has had that announced before already... and the sony has an 8MB buffer vs the 2MB buffer on the pioneer... seems like a minus when you're going at 4x and trying to avoid buffer underruns.

 

[Nutdotnet]

What is the price of the new Sony and/or Pioneer going to be?

 

[Spicedaddy]

The Pioneer A05 is going to be the same price as the A04 since it's replacing it. Sony is a little more, I'd say ~300$. (model number is DRU-500A by the way...)


edit--> Here's a review... Looks like it's 330-340$...

 

[Nutdotnet]

Right on! I think I can handle that.

 

[randomlinh]

here's the other question.. how much is 4x certified media gunna run us

 

[InsaneMorphius]

Couple quick things,

I have been looking for 4X media as well, but have not found any yet. Also, most of the Cendyne DVD-R/RWs are Pioneer 104s

 

[Nutdotnet]

So is that Cyndyne that I listed a good deal? (If it is indeed a 104)

 

[Lichee]

Originally posted by: jkresh
I have the pioneer A03 (A04 is the new one), and I agree it is a good drive, but sony just released a drive that could do dvd-r/rw and dvd+r/rw, so you might want to wait for the reviews on that before getting the pioneer.

i was under the impression sony hasnt released their new drive yet. not until the oct or nov timeframe

edit: btw, i have an A04 and bought my 1x optodiscs from newegg at $1.80 a piece. they dont burn at 2x (well u have no option to in newegg). also, 2x media is sorta $$ considerin they just sare you money.

 

[Maverick]

Originally posted by: Eug

Originally posted by: Shiva112
I wouldn't buy until you can get really good deals on the media and they're available on spindle. I think the media that makes it to retail spindles will be the winner in the format war.

Hmmm... My local shops carry name brand DVD-R on spindles already.

which shops? I've yet to see spindles anywhere

 

[Lichee]

Originally posted by: Shiva112

Originally posted by: Eug

Originally posted by: Shiva112 I wouldn't buy until you can get really good deals on the media and they're available on spindle. I think the media that makes it to retail spindles will be the winner in the format war.

Hmmm... My local shops carry name brand DVD-R on spindles already.

which shops? I've yet to see spindles anywhere

staples

$24 for verbatim spindle

 

[runnerb]

I am not up on the dvd recorders. Could someone give me a down and dirty on the following?

what is the difference between dvd-r and dvd+r
and dvd-rw and dvd+rw?

Thanks