Recommended DVD Drive?

[jgbishop]

I got Myst IV for Christmas, but my system does not have a DVD drive. Can anyone recommend a good DVD drive? I'm not real interested in writing DVD's, but I'll take suggestions for anything.

 

[Horsepower]

I just got this one.

 

[overst33r]

http://www.newegg.com/app/view...description=27-152-032

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: mariok2006
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...description=27-152-032

Based on many suggestions I just got the one above as well. I've yet to hook it up though.

Oh, if you go to http://www.slickdeals.net there's a deal for that drive and 50 blank 8x DVD-R's for $40 after 2 mail-in rebates ($50 and $40 on the rebates).

 

[laurenlex]

Originally posted by: mariok2006
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...description=27-152-032

Even if you aren't interested in burning dvd's, get this anyway. Because you will soon be interested in burning dvds and this drive rocks.

 

[peter7921]

Originally posted by: laurenlex

Originally posted by: mariok2006
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...description=27-152-032

Even if you aren't interested in burning dvd's, get this anyway. Because you will soon be interested in burning dvds and this drive rocks.

/agree

With the price of DVD Burners so low, theres no point getting a standard DVD-Rom. BTW the NEC is my pick as well.

 

[jgbishop]

Looks like a great drive. I think I might pick it up!

It would be great if it was beige though...

 

[Kishan]

get the NEC 3500a. Problem solved

 

[jgbishop]

Yeah, I would. NewEgg doesn't have it in stock though.

 

[MiNkIm]

I would get this one the NEC 3520A
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=27-152-035&depa=0
Seems to be the updated version of the 3500a, difference in cost low

 

[jgbishop]

Yes, I was just looking at this one. I read through a preview of the drive which had some problems, but they were looking at an early version of the drive (I think).

 

[sunase]

I have a slot drive, trays are a PITA.

 

[Baked]

Be very cautious of the new NEC 3520A. It will auto change booktype for DVD+R to DVD-ROM, and there's no option to turn it off. So if your DVD player (stand alone) can't read DVD-ROM format, you're gonna have a problem.

I suggest you get either the Lite-On 167T or AOpen 1648 DVD-ROM drives for now, and wait for firmware updates on the NEC 3520A before putting money on it.

 

[MrCodeDude]

Originally posted by: sunase
I have a slot drive, trays are a PITA.

Wow, I can't believe someone actually said that. Slots can pretty much eat your CD. At least with trays, when they malfunction, you can usually get your cd back.

 

[Baked]

I can't believe somebody is still using Pioneer's slot load DVD-ROM. That thing might look cool, but it's the loudest mofo I've ever used. Not the mention the problem you'll get if a disc gets stuck in there. It ain't so easy to get it out like conventional tray optical drives. Plus, you can only read one type of optical disc, the regular 120mm kind, while trays can read all kinds.

 

[jgbishop]

Alright! The silver one is now in stock at NewEgg. I think I'm going for it!

NEC 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Drive, Silver, Model ND-3500A S, OEM

 

[sunase]

>you can only read one type of optical disc, the regular 120mm kind

Pfft. I've had to use irregular sized CDs a total of twice in more than 10 years. One was some preview disc that came with an X-Men movie and the other was a free promo one given at a concert in Central Park. Both were pretty much worthless, but easy enough to view by popping in my much less convenient, tray loading burner. Since mini CDs cost as much or more than mass produced regular CDs no one with any sense uses them.

>Slots can pretty much eat your CD

Eating a CD is again rare. It happens once in the lifetime of the drive. At that point you unscrew the cowling of the drive, get your CD out, and declare it dead. New drives are dirt cheap anyway. I've had mine for years and it has never eaten a disc, so this this isn't exactly a plague on us owners. In comparison putting up with a stupid tray is something you do constantly throughout the life of the drive.

>loudest mofo I've ever used

Increased noise level is unnoticeable to those without psychological problems. I know some wackos that won't use power supplies with anything other than punched hole ventilation (much worse than grills for air flow) because of the increased noise, so I suppose people like that are out there. You shouldn't assume normal people consider something as quiet as an optical drive to have any meaningful sound output, however.

 

[Baked]

If you don't think the Pioneer slot load is the louder than virtually all other optical drives on the planet (this coming from someone who has used nearly a dozen different brands of optical drives, from CD/DVD ROM to burner), you have a hearing problem. Seek medical attention before you go deaf.

 

[imported_Beavis]

If you want a DVD Burner Drive

Lite-On 16X DVD Dual Drive, Model SOHW-1633S Beige, Retail


If you just want a DVD Rom Drive

Lite-On White 16X DVD-ROM, Model SOHD-167T, Retail

 

[Baked]

NEC has better burn quality than Lite-On. Chip in a few more dollars and get the NEC 3520A.

 

[icejunkie]

Originally posted by: Baked
Be very cautious of the new NEC 3520A. It will auto change booktype for DVD+R to DVD-ROM, and there's no option to turn it off. So if your DVD player (stand alone) can't read DVD-ROM format, you're gonna have a problem.

I suggest you get either the Lite-On 167T or AOpen 1648 DVD-ROM drives for now, and wait for firmware updates on the NEC 3520A before putting money on it.

Originally posted by: Baked
NEC has better burn quality than Lite-On. Chip in a few more dollars and get the NEC 3520A.

Huh?

 

[jgbishop]

If I get a DVD drive without any software included, what programs do you guys recommend for burning DVDs?

 

[Mem]

If I get a DVD drive without any software included, what programs do you guys recommend for burning DVDs?

Buying the Lite-On 1633S retail burner includes Nero 6 ,which`s one of the best burning software available,as to quality of Lite-On to NEC?...I`ve no problems with my Lite-On 1633S and would stack it up against any NEC model available.

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: icejunkie


Huh?

Right...

Originally posted by: Mem

Buying the Lite-On 1633S retail burner includes Nero 6 ,which`s one of the best burning software available,as to quality of Lite-On to NEC?...I`ve no problems with my Lite-On 1633S and would stack it up against any NEC model available.

Did you get the full version or Nero Express version? Last time I checked Lite-On stopped shipping full version of Nero starting from 811S.

 

[Mem]

Did you get the full version or Nero Express version?

I already have full version of Nero 6,however the one that came with my retail Lite-On drive was Nero 6 OEM Suite version,btw also came with PowerDVD 5 as well(CD key included).