Best Data DVD Burner - Fry's Electronics

[kukm66]

Does anyone know anything about this brand? They are marketed in a generic box with their brand name. I am wondering who makes this burner and if it is worthwhile. Currently it is selling for $199 with an $80 mail rebate.

[Laddydaddy]

Are you sure it is not BEST COST? If it is, the burner is the Pioneer 104. I know because I have one. Although I think I am overdue for the $80 rebate.

[kukm66]

You are probably right as I am not sure about the last part of the name.
Can you give any input as to its capabilities, pro's and con's?

[Laddydaddy]

I've only made a few DVDs with it, but all have played in all 3 of my dvd players. One is a Toshiba and another is a Panasonic. Both will not play anything but DVDs. The manuals for them even state they will not play DVD-R or DVD+W discs, yet each played the Pioneer DVD-R discs I burned without hesitation. My third dvd player is an Apex which also played the discs. I think the burner is great. For the price you can't beat it. I can't think of any cons at the moment. Check out the DVD writers section on the left for other people's opinions. :P

[hwoodwar]

I don't know how familiar you are with Fry's. If you are familiar with them then ignore this. I just wanted to caution you to make sure you look over the box completely to make sure it doesn't have one of their white "returned" labels.

[Laddydaddy]

Thanks for the warning. I'm not familiar with Fry's at all. They are new here in Las Vegas. I do know however that their technicians in the upgrade department are not that knowledgeable. If you ask 5 different technicians the same question you will get 5 different answers.

[hwoodwar]

Laddydaddy:

I have four Fry's stores within about an hour and a half drive from where I live (Silicon Valley is about an hour's drive), so I am very familiar with them.

I felt that maybe I better expain a little about the "returned" labels. Fry's regular price/description/product code label is a white label about 3 inches by 1 inch with black print on it. When an item is returned and they decide to put it back on the shelves, then additionally they add another white label about 3 inches by 1 1/2inch with blue lettering that states something like: "This item has been returned. It has been inspected and tested to make sure it works according to specifications. It still carries the original manufacturers warranty." The safest thing to do (since they use these labels) is to stay away from anything that has one of these labels on it. I don't trust them to test it and why buy something that someone else has already had a problem with.