Dvd burner Recommendations?

[kilik777]

My friend is buying a dvd burner drive within the next week or two. Any suggestions on good drives that meet the following qualifications?
1. Under $100
2. Single layer
3. Dvd+r

Quality over speed is the number one priority. I have a TEAC that came with my Dell and i heard Lite-on and Nec make some good drives. Anyone have any suggestions and also good places to buy them at?

[Capmaster]

Pioneer 107. You can get them for about $60 online, I believe. I have one and it's superb. DVD +/-R, RW, CD-RW, and reads DVD-RAM

DL, go with the 108

[MOVIEGEEK]

I would get a NEC 3500A.
DL,16x DVD writing,Bitsetting,<$100USD.
Even though DL/16x media is expensive and hard to find you will have the most up to date writer,in a recent test by c't magazine the NEC performed as well as the Pioneer 108.

[lenti_75]

pioneer 108 or nec 3500

if you want bitsetting, go for nec.

[jaxxboss]

^
What he | said

[daamon]

Hi kilik777,

After much reading of opinions and reviews etc. I went for the Pioneer DVR-106D for my first burner a few years ago. It served me very well and is working flawlessly to this day. Because of that, I had no hesitation in buying the Pioneer DVR-108D (16x DL).

So, Pioneer 108 or 107 if you're not fussed about DL. I've also regularly seen NEC recommended as a good brand.

[handyguy]

What kind computer is it for?

https://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters

[Shocker Milwaukee]

NEC-3500

[kilik777]

Oh yeah there is a 4th qualification i forgot to mention. It must be able to be hacked by dvd region killer or some other type of similar program. The computer is a pentium 3, hewlitt packard/dell hybrid.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Oh yeah there is a 4th qualification i forgot to mention. It must be able to be hacked by dvd region killer or some other type of similar program. The computer is a pentium 3, hewlitt packard/dell hybrid.

DVD Region Killer should work on most drives as well as AnyDVD or DVD Region+CSS Free.

[Vanderlow]

Go for the BenQ DW1620. Bitsetting, CD-DVD Speed PI error reporting, good reader, no hacked firmware to use to get the best out of it.

[Treebeard]

LiteOn 812s, can be changed to dual layer writer w/ firmware upgrade.

[aero]

I would get a NEC 3500A.
DL,16x DVD writing,Bitsetting,<$100USD.
Even though DL/16x media is expensive and hard to find you will have the most up to date writer,in a recent test by c't magazine the NEC performed as well as the Pioneer 108.

Agreed. Love mine

[samijubal]

The NEC rocks.

[djcc]

Does the 3500 "rock" out of the box, or does it require hacked firmware to achieve that status?

Also, thought I heard that NEC was to release an "official" firmware update shortly.... was that a rumor, or is such an update pending?

[samijubal]

Out of the box.

[budz]

LiteOn 812s, can be changed to dual layer writer w/ firmware upgrade.

Why purchase a single layer dvd burner when dual layer burners are currently being released??? In my opinion it would be best to purchase the newer dual layer burners instead of a single layer burner that would need a hack firmware. The liteon write quality doesn't impress me much. I use mine mostly for Kprobe scans. Plextor and Pioneer have better quality burns than Liteon drives.

[djcc]

Out of the box.

Thanks. Forgot one other question. What util(s) enable book type on this drive? Noticed Benq has their own, but that does not appear to be the case with the NEC 3500....

[MOVIEGEEK]

Out of the box.

Thanks. Forgot one other question. What util(s) enable book type on this drive? Noticed Benq has their own, but that does not appear to be the case with the NEC 3500....

Right now you have to use Nero or DVDInfo Pro.On October 25 NEC will be releasing a retail version for around $99USD which I'm hoping will have a utility and other goodies.
As for fw 2.27 read THIS THREAD.

[djcc]

Right now you have to use Nero or DVDInfo Pro.On October 25 NEC will be releasing a retail version for around $99USD which I'm hoping will have a utility and other goodies.
As for fw 2.27 read THIS THREAD.

Thanks again for the info. The screen shots in the link for bitsetting - was that Nero & DVDInfo Pro respectively in the first message? I've never used Nero - my Dell 8200 came with Roxio software, which has been fine for my CD burner. In fact, I cannot imagine anything easier for copying CDs - something I do a lot of so my originals to not get trashed in my car or boat. Do not know if I will have to kill Roxio & make the switch to Nero, or something else, once I have a DVD burner. Does Nero have some big advantage over Roxio, or would that question be better posted elsewhere on this forum?

I was about to pull the trigger on the OEM 3500, but I can wait 2 weeks to see if the retail has any advantage. Wonder how long it will take the retail 3500 to get into circulation after its "release". I thought NEC only made OEM products in the US. Looks like they have decided to change strategies.

[RickTheRed]

1. Under $100
2. Single layer
3. Dvd+r
Quality over speed is the number one priority.

Why +R?

[samijubal]

Good question.