Need Advice on what DVD writer to buy for what i need to do.

I am looking for a DVD burner... I have determined that i will need a computer writer preferably external.. I am going to be using it for burning
a collection of Videos that i have on DVD RAM's Discs (its a earlier DVD RAM Only Drive)so they can be watched on a Standalone DVD Player. Also
would be doing some archiving of some computer files... I figure i will do
this for now and wait for the blue laser stuff to swap out my vcr and eventually transfer my videotapes to dvd..

My Question what DVD writer would be good for what i want to do??

I have XP Windows, 956 MB RAM, 1.8 GHZ, I have a firwire port (any problems with this and transfer rates on externals?

I would buy Pioneer or Cendyne. Cendyne are sold at office max and staple's with rebat'es for $169.00 I my self like DVD-R better. If you want DVD+R I would buy HP or Verbatim DVD+R drive they also sell Verbatim
for about $199.00 at office MAX on sale. I hate the DRU500AX made by Sony I had two of them nothing but problem's

Curious what type of problems you had. Seems like everybody, bar none, have problems, as it seems there are no standards. All software works some of the time, and all doesn' work some of the time...depending on what you are wanting to play the DVD, etc.

I have a Sony DRU-500A (NOT AX). Haven't had it too long, but like the fact that it will burn -R, +R, /RW, etc., and it seems fine for me. Haven't had it very long though.

As another poster said a week or so ago... only people who have problems with the DRU-500 series drives post. Those of us who have had no problems don't. So here I post again - I've had a DRU-500A for about 3 months and have had no problems with it. I've burned about 100 DVD's and another 100 or so CD's using Nero and it just works.

ULTRAMAROON

I saw that post too. And, to be sure, you are right, the reason for posts is because of problems. And, my point about everybody having problems, is true.

Glad to hear that Nero "just works" for you. It does for me too, if I play on my equipment, which is an Apex. But as soon as I send DVD to friends and family, invariably, it will NOT work for some of them. So, you will have problems as well some day if you send them out.

I too love my Sony. But have only had it a couple months.

For Everyone:

IMO...Bottom line, as far as I'm concerned, is that you need to determine what type of equipment you want to play the DVD on; then read through this forum; read the DVD PLayers section to the left; and determine who is successful with what. Some will work with only certain types of burns (UDF 1.02, UDF 1.50; certain software works better for some than others. It can be frustrating. If you plan to send DVDs to other people, with varying equipment, it will be problematic. If you are burning just for yourself, it will be a lot easier to figure out.

ewingr and ultramaroon if you buy Kpermedia I bet you will not be able to burn them that good on your DRU500AX also look at this website other people are having problem's burn Kpermedia and Memorex also

http://www.ebisschop.nl/dru-500a/

My pioneer AO4 can burn Kpermedia with no problem's some brand's work fine with the DRU500AX other brand's do not work that well. If your burn on a dru500ax only buy certified media. There are other posting problem's not post by me. Alot of people do not find the problem's if they do not have Kpermedia or Memorex.

I've had 50 out of 50 Memorex DVD-R's successful with most of those as DVD2ONE burns set to 4472 Megs (ie, burn right to the edge) and about 50 Verbatim DVD+R's. Haven't tried KPermedia (and probably won't). I just buy whatever Best Buy have in stock at the time...

In my opinion, just about any drive will work fine. But get the format that works for your standalone. If your standalone can play both that's great. If you are looking for a -r drive, may I recommend a pioneer/cyndene(sp?), if you are looking for a +r, may I recommend the TDK infiniDVD, and if you want a dual format, may I recommend waiting a 2-3 months, from what I hear, and have been reading there are more companies that are releasing dual format drives other than sony, so the prices may be more competitive than paying the premium for the sony drive. Once again these are just my opinions.