finding a compatible DVD burner

[AlecWest]

I'm using a low-end 500mhz Pentium III. 256 megs RAM, running Win98SE. I recently asked a local store if they knew of any DVD-burner that was compatible with my system. The clerk shook his head and wished me good luck finding one. I found one ... marketed under 4 different brand names (even though it's the exact same hardware) -- Ricoh MP5125A, Toshiba SDR5002, Pioneer DVR105, and a Memorex unit with no model number specified on the seller's page. All 4 burners only require a 400mhz Celeron or better. Question is, does anyone know of other alternatives I can check out. Let me know.

[BJ_M]

those 4 burners are not the same hardware . but you would have no problems with any of them .. what so ever ...

[lpg2002]

I have a Pentium III 450Mhz with 384Mb ram. This computer works fine with a Sony DRU-500a dvd burner. I can even burn Dvd's at 2x speed without any problems

[AlecWest]

BJ_M -- Thanks for the input. The website I saw those 4 units on showed them to have identical specs ... just different nameplates on the front of the units. What are the differences between those 4 brands and do you see one of them as being superior to the other 3?

lpg2002 -- Thanks for the input on the Sony DRU-500a. Matter of fact, checking out the specs, it seems to be better than the 4 units I was looking at.

Had a general (dummy-type) question, too. How much (timewise) can you put on the DVD-Rs you burn -- 2 hours? 3 hours?

[BJ_M]

i have all pioneer burners (104's and 105's and 201) and they work perfect .. but by all reports the Sony DRU-500a is an excelent unit ... also there is NEC burner thats supposed to be very good (the 1000)

the amount of time on a dvd depends on the bit rate of the mpeg file and if lpcm or ac3 or dts is also/or used

[mcdermd]

i have all pioneer burners (104's and 105's and 201) and they work perfect .. but by all reports the Sony DRU-500a is an excelent unit ...

I had heard that the DRU-500a is actually a Pioneer drive that's exclusivley licensed to Sony?

[BJ_M]

no -- not at all