Which of these cheap burners? Ordering this morning!

[iam29a]

I am placing an order at NewEgg for the wife's new computer and thought I would (finally) consider buying an inexpensive DVD writer. This is what they had in the cheap department:

LG (Goldstar) GMA-4020B for $155
Panasonic LSW-9571-CYY for $155
Toshiba SD-R5002TA for $161

I beleieve all three units are OEM and 2X DVD record.

[tonyp12]

TigerDirect have the Iomega 4X DVD+R for $139

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?sku=I21-8130%20P

[iam29a]

I'm sorry, I should have been more clear. I am only considering the '-R/RW' format, and only from NewEgg this morning. Thanks for the heads-up, though.

[bertmartin]

I have the Toshiba SD-M1502 - no problems with it.

[iam29a]

I have the Toshiba SD-M1502 - no problems with it.

You have a different model Toshia than the model I listed below. And what kind of activities do you do with your Toshiba?

[bertmartin]

Sorry I typed the wrong drive in. I also have the SD-R5002 which is the DVD 2x writer. The other drive is just a DVD reader. I mounted my SD-R5002 in an external Firewire case. The system is only aware of it when it is turned on. Works great though.

I use the SD-5002 to make "home videos" with Video Studio 6. I copy old VHS tapes I want to save (convert to digital with Canopus ADVC-100). I also make backups of DVDs with DVD2ONE.
Bert

[Philbiker]

I have a Panasonic LSW-9571-CYY and I like it fine.

I have had mixed success using 2X with Nero - I've tried three writes at 2x. Two did not test out (I had selected the "verify after writing" option), the third appears to be fine. However, it is important to note that these were extremely cheap DVD-R discs that I don't think were certified at 2x anyway so it was probably the discs that were not 2x compatible not any problem with the drive.

I've written many DVD-Rs at 1X without a single problem at that speed. I've also written many CD-Rs without a single coaster of that variety.

If you plan on using the drive for data at all, the DVD-RAM format is very compelling. I have five Optodisc DVD-RAM discs and I use them for backup like a big floppy drive. It's great, and the software driver comes with the OEM drive.

[FulciLives]

Get the PANASONIC if for nothing else than the fact that it can READ/WRITE to DVD-RAM discs. This will be a godsend if you ever buy a stand alone DVD player from PANASONIC or TOSHIBA that also use DVD-RAM. Why? When you record to DVD-RAM on a stand alone it is very easy to import it into a computer to then edit and create a custom DVD (with fancy menus and custom chapter points) using your computer's DVD burner. Doing this with DVD-RAM means you will not have to re-encode. I said using DVD-RAM you will NOT have to re-encode. That's pretty damn cool

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
DVD-RAM is also great for data storage. It's like having a 4.3GB HDD that is portable.

[FulciLives]

I have had mixed success using 2X with Nero - I've tried three writes at 2x. Two did not test out (I had selected the "verify after writing" option), the third appears to be fine. However, it is important to note that these were extremely cheap DVD-R discs that I don't think were certified at 2x anyway so it was probably the discs that were not 2x compatible not any problem with the drive.

Just a note. People will argue with this until they are BLUE in the face but NERO sucks for DVD burning. It's great for CD burning but forget ever trying to use it for DVD burning. It's best to just use DVD Decrypter along with ImgTool. Both are FREEWARE tools and work great at creating compliant DVD discs.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Philbiker]

DVD-RAM is also great for data storage. It's like having a 4.3GB HDD that is portable.

Considering the speed (2x read/write on DVD-RAM), I think it's more like a 4.3GB floppy drive.

[AarontheRipper]

The Pioneer 105 is the best -R burner out there, and I don't know how much it's going for at new egg, but I know that it can be bought at plenty of places on line for about $170 after shipping costs are included. To find the best price use the price shopper comparison tool that this website uses.

[tonyp12]

It's great for CD burning but forget ever trying to use it for DVD burning. It's best to just use DVD Decrypter

I have burned over 40 DVD+R disc with NERO (actually Nero Express)

No problem what so ever besides when Nero had a bug a few months
ago that made the disc only play on 60% of all DVD players.

The bug is gone on the latest version and the disc probably will play on 90% of all DVD players.

[iam29a]

No one liked the LG drive?

[vmesquita287]

I have the LG GMA 4020B burner. It can write DVD-RAM discs, besides DVD-R and DVD-RW. Comes with a Maxwell DVD-RW and a Maxwell DVD-RAM. Works very well for burning on 1X, never tried 2X altrought the burner supports it. The only problem I had was that burning would never finish the burning job, but turning off DMA Mode for it solved this problem. I don't know if its a Windows XP issue.
Fake TDK media and Optodisc didn't gave me good burns (but I think both are bad medias, anyway). PowerDisc works perfectly and costs me the same as fake TDK media, so I am using it.

[]'s
Vmesquita287

[arcorob]

I hate to differ (but I will anyway)

NERO does NOT suck at DVD burning. Check the error messages under DUMB USER.

Use NERO on a variety of burners and the finished product on a variety of set top players. NTF (No Trouble Found)

[K2]

I have had the Toshiba SD-R5002 for 5 months and am still happy with it for coping dvd videos.

[Beams]

I have the Toshiba 5002 with DVD Dcrypter, Nero, DVD Shrink and burned of movies, and used Video Studio 6 and 7 to capture video from a Hi8 camcorder. No coasters. Like the drive. Got it from Newegg for 177 shipped in April or May of this year.

[Bob W]

This site has the lowest price I have seen for the Pioneer 105 at $157.
http://avlogic.com/product.cgi?code=11121756