Pioneer 710, BenQ 1620

[LT9000]

1. I just saw the BenQ 1620 for sale at CC. Is this a rare find? Should I grab one?

2. BB has the Pioneer dvr-710 [the latest and greatest 111d I assume] on sale for $59. Since I need s/w like Nero etc., which comes with it [Nero 6] , is this a decent deal? (I'm getting 2 dvd writer's, 1 primary writer, and looking for another drive that exels at reading.)

And if anyone wants to take a crack it this one: Which drives read best. So far I've got BTC 1004, Aopen, and Lite-on. What would be the wisest choice on that?

[budz]

Are you sure it's a BENQ 1620 drive that they have for sale? I'll suggest you buy a REBADGED BENQ 1650 from COMPUSA which is under the brand called, "NORWOOD MICRO", $39.99 after instant and mail in rebate. It's a good reader as well as a burner. If you're lucky you could get a REBADGED BENQ 1640 under the "NORWOOD MICRO" brand as well. It's been reported at some COMPUSA's in the USA which is probably old stock that they are getting rid of. On one side of the NORWOOD MICRO box you'll see DW1650 which is a REBADGED BENQ 1650 drive and it's even on the drive itself.

I'd also suggest buying the RETAIL VERSION OF THE PIONEER 111D from BEST BUY that can be crossflashed to the PIONEER 111L to enable BITSETTING to DVDROM for single layer DVD+R media. This is done by using the DANGEROUS BROTHERS hacked firmware 111L internal 8.19 firmware.

I'll be buying another one of those drives.

[LT9000]

Are you sure it's a BENQ 1620 drive that they have for sale? I'll suggest you buy a REBADGED BENQ 1650 from COMPUSA which is under the brand called, "NORWOOD MICRO", $39.99 after instant and mail in rebate. It's a good reader as well as a burner. If you're lucky you could get a REBADGED BENQ 1640 under the "NORWOOD MICRO" brand as well. It's been reported at some COMPUSA's in the USA which is probably old stock that they are getting rid of. On one side of the NORWOOD MICRO box you'll see DW1650 which is a REBADGED BENQ 1650 drive and it's even on the drive itself.

I'd also suggest buying the RETAIL VERSION OF THE PIONEER 111D from BEST BUY that can be crossflashed to the PIONEER 111L to enable BITSETTING to DVDROM for single layer DVD+R media. This is done by using the DANGEROUS BROTHERS hacked firmware 111L internal 8.19 firmware.

I'll be buying another one of those drives.

It said BenQ 1620 right on the box which I thought was odd.

Will the Norwood say 1640 on the box if that's what's in it?

Do you think the 1650 reads as good as some of these others like BTC and the Lite-on drives? I've got some scratchy disks I want to back-up.

[budz]

The NORWOOD MICRO will say DW1640 on the box if that's what's inside. The 1650 reads just as well as BTC & LITEON. For scratchy discs I use my trusty ole PLEXTOR 708A that will take long to rip but it never fails.