Update Bought the NEC 3500a a couple days after my original post below. It's a great drive, but you certainly won't go wrong with the Pioneer either! They both use NEC chips. You won't go wrong either way
NEC 3500a cost = $85 shipped
Pioneer cost = $90 shipped
I've tried to find reviews online, but they aren't that great yet because the firmwares are young. From what I understand, the Pioneer cannot do bitsetting, but then again, I don't even know what that is?
From the reviews, here is what I understand about the differences:
NEC Pros: $5 cheaper, uses 16X CAV burning instead of Z-CLV like the Pioneer (better quality burns?) Able to bitset (once again, I don't know if this is important)
Pioneer Pros: Burns 16x faster because it starts burning @ 6x instead of 4x like the NEC. Apparently pioneer has a better reputation for working with various media (less picky than the NEC?)
Uhg, help me decide =( I'm sure they are both good drives, I just want to be able to burn the highest quality discs at 8x and higher and work with a lot of DVD players, I am not really worried about Dual Layer discs because they cost so much.
Thanks guys, I need to place the order today =)
NEC 3500a cost = $85 shipped
Pioneer cost = $90 shipped
I've tried to find reviews online, but they aren't that great yet because the firmwares are young. From what I understand, the Pioneer cannot do bitsetting, but then again, I don't even know what that is?
From the reviews, here is what I understand about the differences:
NEC Pros: $5 cheaper, uses 16X CAV burning instead of Z-CLV like the Pioneer (better quality burns?) Able to bitset (once again, I don't know if this is important)
Pioneer Pros: Burns 16x faster because it starts burning @ 6x instead of 4x like the NEC. Apparently pioneer has a better reputation for working with various media (less picky than the NEC?)
Uhg, help me decide =( I'm sure they are both good drives, I just want to be able to burn the highest quality discs at 8x and higher and work with a lot of DVD players, I am not really worried about Dual Layer discs because they cost so much.
Thanks guys, I need to place the order today =)