(Dead) Cendyne DVD-R/RW 4X Drive (Pioneer) "$149.99" AR & coupon at Staples

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: ckkoba

Originally posted by: HemanC
Quick newbie questions. Would it be possible to burn couple of VCD movies into a single DVD disk and play it on a regular DVD player? I am a big fan of VCD, mainly because they are so much cheaper.

Hrm, could you do this? I'm pretty sure you can using something like Nero. I haven't really seen the dvd burning software so i can't give you a definite answer, but 80% sure!

Someone posted in an entirely different thread that the answer is no. I remember this because I would LOVE to do this as well (put several hours on one disk in SVCD format), but apparently once the DVD player sees the DVD disk format, it will expect DVD video format and will not play VCD or SVCD.

*edit* - Okay, looks like I was wrong. Thanks for the update, tigerbait. I may have to get one of these suckers after all.

 

[huesmann]

There's no reason you can't just burn a DVD using the SVCD file system...you'll just be able to fit a f*ckload more video on it.

 

[unclebabar]

Quick newbie questions. Would it be possible to burn couple of VCD movies into a single DVD disk and play it on a regular DVD player? I am a big fan of VCD, mainly because they are so much cheaper.

you can do it, but you'll probably have to re-encode the video. normal ntsc vcds are i think either 320x240 or 352x240 resolution, which aren't legal dvd standard resolutions. svcd @ 480x480 isn't either. although you might have a dvd player that will work regardless of the standard.

it'd be nice if there was a utility to 'letterbox' the videos into the right resolution

 

[caliyogi]

Hey - do we need a staple's printable coupon to use at store, or can we just go up with the coupon code? if we need printable coupon, where can i find it? i searched google but couldn't find one... thanks.

 

[frogster220]

You don't need or want to try to burn a DVD as an SVCD or VCD. The DVD format includes mpeg1, mpeg2 and a number of resolutions. If you are worried about space, I recommend burning everything in 352 x 480 VBR MPEG2 ~ 2500 bit/sec avg. This would allow about 4 hours of good quality video. If you went with 352x240 MPEG1, you could get almost 8 hours.

http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvd

<A name=ntsc></A><FONT size=5>NTSC (NTSC Film)</FONT>


<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>Video:
Up to 9.8 Mbit/sec MPEG2 or up to 1.856 MBit/sec MPEG1 video
<B>720 x 480 pixels MPEG2
704 x 480 pixels MPEG2
352 x 480 pixels</B></FONT><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><B> </B>MPEG2 (Same as the CVD Standard)<B>
352 x 240 pixels</B> MPEG1 (Same as the VCD Standard)<B>
29,97 frames/second
24 frames/second </B>with <a href="http://www.projectorpeople.com/news_info/pulldown_1.asp?page=2" target=_blank>3:2 pulldown</A> (NTSC Film, this is only supported by MPEG2 video)
</FONT><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>

<B>Audio:</B>
Up to 8 audio tracks containing DD (Dolby Digital/AC3), DTS, PCM(uncompressed audio), MPEG-1 Layer2. One audio track must have DD or PCM Audio.

Extras:
Menus, still pictures, subtitles and more.
</FONT>

 

[huesmann]

Dude why's your post all FUBARed?

 

[HemanC]

Seems like the answer is yes. Even though the encoding process might takes hours. I'm going for this deal. I'm sure I'll find use for it besides converting VCD to DVD. Thanks to all the great people of AnandTech.

 

[spinn]

This deal may be hotter for local people...SF Bay Area Fry's Electronics has the Cendyne 4x DVD-R burner for $209.-$30 rebate. PM at Staples to $209 - $30 off (instore coupon) - $50 rebate = $129.

Fry's ad good 2/14 - 2/18

 

[m0ssie]

Am I missing something?

On the Staples website:

The items that feature instant savings give you a code to enter for that instant savings. I haven't been able to use a $off code in addition to the instant savings code without adding another item(s) which will meet the $off minimum requirement without factoring in the price of the instant savings item.

Doesn't look like to me you will be able to apply a coupon on this deal, without jumping through hoops, and getting lucky with a CSR.

YMMV....yuck.

 

[gigglehertz]

This deal may be hotter for local people...SF Bay Area Fry's Electronics has the Cendyne 4x DVD-R burner for $209.-$30 rebate. PM at Staples to $209 - $30 off (instore coupon) - $50 rebate = $129.

Spinn,

Do any of the local Bay area newspapers websites have links for viewing their advertiser's print ads? If so, can you provide us a link? Different region Fry's stores will match prices with each other. If we can print out the ad for the Bay area Fry's showing the $209 price, Staples will match it as long as we can prove it by sending them a fax copy of the print ad, or directing the CSR to the online ad. Or, can you/anybody scan the Fry's ad and post it for us?

 

[OddTSi]

Originally posted by: Tot
The BATTLE is over. Blue light wins. Hitachi, LG Electronics, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Pioneer, Royal Philips Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sharp, Sony and Thomson

Blu-ray didn't win anything. That article says nothing about the DVD Forum deciding to use their format and neither does the DVD Forum website. So we can all assume that they haven't which means that they'll be doing this on their own, like they did with DVD+R. Which means possibly that we'll have two different formats.

This means that we've all "lost" in a way. The Blu-ray format uses extremely thin disks that require a cartridge to hold the disk (at least it did when they first proposed it) which not only means that special dual purpose drives will have to be made if you want to be able to use your existing DVDs ($$$) but also that this will cost more initially to implement since current DVD making equipment can't be reused. Why am I not at all surprised to find Sony as the head of making an incompatible media type.

What I really want the DVD Forum to pass is the blue laser format that Toshiba and NEC put forward. The drives are backwards compatible with current DVDs and it'll be extremely cheap for manufacturers to switch over to making the new DVDs. Which means low initial cost for us.

But I digress. Has anyone been able to find a $50 off $200 coupon, because I'm having no luck. Only one I've been able to find is a $20 off $200.

 

[Pardus]

Originally posted by: hcarlson

I think you are misinformed. With the last deal people were using 50 off 200 all over the place. I personally used a printable 30 off 150 at a B&M.

Hate top bust your bubble, but you cannot use a online coupon with a instant rebate, i tried it already on other items staples has for sale and many of the online coupons dont even work.

Good luck to all.

 

[hjlin]

Originally posted by: gigglehertz

This deal may be hotter for local people...SF Bay Area Fry's Electronics has the Cendyne 4x DVD-R burner for $209.-$30 rebate. PM at Staples to $209 - $30 off (instore coupon) - $50 rebate = $129.

Spinn,

Do any of the local Bay area newspapers websites have links for viewing their advertiser's print ads? If so, can you provide us a link? Different region Fry's stores will match prices with each other. If we can print out the ad for the Bay area Fry's showing the $209 price, Staples will match it as long as we can prove it by sending them a fax copy of the print ad, or directing the CSR to the online ad. Or, can you/anybody scan the Fry's ad and post it for us?

Fry's Cendyne Ad linky via San Jose Mercury
linky

 

[BlakkIce]

so let me get this straight i just printed out the fry's ad and on sunday im going into staples and they will price match the $209 then i will get the $60 instant rebate bringing the grand total to $149 then i mail in the rebate for $50 and im only paying $99 for this drive, this got so much hotter now

 

[SmoothSL]

Hey, I got this drive on the deal a few weeks ago.. Works great, with the right media..

Do NOT get the Khypermedia stuff.. I was unable to burn anything correctly with it..
I did goto esbuy.com and snatch up some of their 4x stuff... It's ritek, total blanks, and work like charm!!

I also read that the 2x ritek stuff didn't fare too well in this drive... Go all out, get the 4x esbuy stuff.. You won't regret it!

 

[OddTSi]

Originally posted by: BlakkIce
so let me get this straight i just printed out the fry's ad and on sunday im going into staples and they will price match the $209 then i will get the $60 instant rebate bringing the grand total to $149 then i mail in the rebate for $50 and im only paying $99 for this drive, this got so much hotter now

That's not going to happen. The $60 instant rebate doesn't need to be applied, the price as it shows up on the registers will have already taken this off (so it'll show $239). Then they'll drop that price to $209 and you get to apply the mail in rebate for it to bring it to $159.

 

[rockyct]

Originally posted by: BlakkIce
so let me get this straight i just printed out the fry's ad and on sunday im going into staples and they will price match the $209 then i will get the $60 instant rebate bringing the grand total to $149 then i mail in the rebate for $50 and im only paying $99 for this drive, this got so much hotter now

First off, the $60 instant rebate would not apply if you got them to pricematch. Secind, the only way Fry's deal can help is if 1)the rebate is available anywhere and accepts a copy of the UPC (probably not though), or 2) you can get someone at Staples to let you use a coupon with a pricematch, which is YMMV to say the least.

 

[Linglan]

anyone wants to buy one of this and shipped to fellow canadian? That price is just unreal in Canada... wish I was in US


Linglan

 

[3L33T32003]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a TV in/out card, rip the dvd's to your hard drive and then play them on your tv? Since dvd's are gonna be obsolete in 2-3 years why keep putting more $$$ into the technology?

 

[jaybert]

btw, the deal is already listed on the website

Regularly $299.98, now $239.94 - $50 rebate=$189.94! Limit one per customer only.Create, store and share your collections of videos, music and photography

You just cant seem to add it to your cart with the discount though.

 

[yodayoda]

yay, i just got that drive! i called in the order, got the lady to change the price down to $240, applied the $50 coupon, and will cash in the $50 rebate when that pops up on their website. all in all, $140 + tax. woohoo!

 

[jaybert]

how do you know the rebate wont start being valid starting tomorrow?

 

[oLLie]

Originally posted by: OddTSi

Originally posted by: BlakkIce
so let me get this straight i just printed out the fry's ad and on sunday im going into staples and they will price match the $209 then i will get the $60 instant rebate bringing the grand total to $149 then i mail in the rebate for $50 and im only paying $99 for this drive, this got so much hotter now

That's not going to happen. The $60 instant rebate doesn't need to be applied, the price as it shows up on the registers will have already taken this off (so it'll show $239). Then they'll drop that price to $209 and you get to apply the mail in rebate for it to bring it to $159.

You forgot a possible 40 off 200 (if one exists right now)

 

[jaybert]

There is no printable $40 off $200 unfortunately. Only a $30 off $150. I went ahead and ordered the drive and saved a copy of the website to show that the $50 mail in rebate was listed on Feb 15, 2003.

 

[dwrobert]

Woohoo I got one too, I called in, and the lady looked at the website and gave me the 239 price, and I found a valid $50 off $200 so it came to $205 with tax, and then I will file for the rebate.