Right time to buy a burner ?

[Dwight]

With christmas around the corner we're bound to see some DVD-Writers
being sold for...somewhat reduced prices. I'm interested in knowing though, is it now the right time to buy a dvd-burner ? The speeds offered are usually up to 2-4X. Is there any guidelines for a newbie like me in choosing a dvd burner ? I guess they have to burn + and - discs ? anything else ?

[tumbar]

Go ahead and jump in with both feet.

So many of us paid out 250-300 for a 1X burner. Pioneer 103-104.

Personally I'd go with dual format 4X.

I would imagine we will see $99 burners for Christmas.

[tig2002]

In my opinion, and as people already stated, it is always a right time to buy DVD burner when you really need it. Otherwise, it is never a right time to buy DVD burner, as any other PC component...

[handyguy]

have a look at whas on sale black friday 2003:
http://blackfriday.everydeal.com/

[housepig]

I think the big thing, with any computer component, is to realize that size/speed will go up while cost will go down.

so decide at what point you are willing to buy, at what point the money vs. ability is comfortable for you. for me, I waited until dvd burners were 4x and about $350 (a Sony DRU 500-AX, right when it came out).

am I bugged that I could get 2 or 3 burners for that money? no, because I knew that was going to happen - I've been happy to have been burning discs for 9 months, and not waiting for the prices to drop.

once the burners start getting to 8x for $99, I'll probably buy another one, even though 6 months later there will probably be 12x for $69.99....

[Dwight]

Actually, speed is not the key to me. Compability is. My standalone does not handle stuff burned at high speeds well.

I take it all these modern burners come with buffer underrun etc. prevention methods and burn-proof style technology ?

I would still use my 4X cd-r/rw for audio discs if it had the underrun prevention. I guess I'll pick a 4X +-r and rw burning machine out of the sea of different models soon.

[spiderman2k1]

If you need one very very bad then go to www.newegg.com by LG or pioneer. I was think of buying a new burner and am wait for duel layer DVD burning. They have said that 8X DVD burner might have firmware update's to burn duel layer but time will tell.

[Vanderlow]

They have said that 8X DVD burner might have firmware update's to burn duel layer but time will tell.

And it was said by a Philips person, so I'd go with the Nutech 081 (its uses a new Philips chipset) although its only a + it has bitsetting capability and its rumored to maybe being - upgradable too.

[Gazorgan]

I got my NEC 1300a for under $120 delivered. I've been delighted with it's performance. Not coasters due to the burner (just a DVDDecryptor bug). Once you do 14 minute burns, your hooked for life.

Bulk 4x RITEK G04's are $58 for 50 units deliverd, no tax no freight. That's pretty dam good anyway you slice it.

Is my 4x going to be worthless next year when the 8x's are out? No way, just think of all the issues tha 8x media will have (based on the issues we have seen with 1x/2x/4x media). I personally wan t8x media to drive down the cost of 4x media!!!!!!! 14 minutes versus 8 minutes isn't tha big a deal, it's not like I'm burning 10 DVDR's a day :P

As to dual layer....frankly I may pass for awhile. I mean I have yet to come across a DVD that I really wish I had dual layer. There are some set's it would nice to put 2 on 1.

Whose starting the guide for 2 DVD's to 1 DVD?

[DereX888]

$150 nowaday gives you decent 4x dual format burner, or even multiformat (ie LG GSA4040 with -R/RW, +R/RW, -RAM).
If $150 is too much what youre willing to spend - wait till next Christmas
If 4x speed is too slow (? less than 15min to burn a disc is IMO already fast enough for average home user) then again - wait till next Christmas

You should also consider blank media prices/compatibility. While some models (sony shi* in general from my experience) are very picky about blanks, some others are less picky (pioneer models in my experience). IMO media compatibility with your burner is as important as its price, if not even more important - you will buy/use blanks for as long as you will use the burner, while you'll pay for burner only once (and dont forget to expect it to drop the price within month from the day you've bought it too )