external dvd writer suggestions please

[daverose808]

hi...
i am looking to purchase a high quality, reasonably priced external dvd writer. i dont have usb 2.0 ports on my pc, but i do have firewire/ilink/ie3334 and regular usb. my home pc is a standard windows xp home, and i have a dell laptop. i would like one that is reliable and isnt picky with media, that will make disks that will play in my dvd player and will also make data dvds. sorry if i sound like such a newbie, i am. im looking to buy it from amazon this week, so if u know of any great deals they are having on a specific writer, please let me know! thanks so much.

oh, and if anyone can also point me to free dvd burning software that would be great too!

thanks again,
dave

[yoda313]

Hello,

Free dvd burning software????

Dvdshrink + dvd decrypter

Kevin

(iso mode )

[tekkieman]

hi...
i am looking to purchase a high quality, reasonably priced external dvd writer. i would like one that is reliable and isnt picky with media, that will make disks that will play in my dvd player and will also make data dvds.

You may be asking for a little too much. There are several high quality reasonably priced DVD writers. As far as not being picky with media, and making discs that will play in your DVD player.......well, if there was one of these miracle devices, a lot of wouldn't be here, would we?

Externals are typically priced much higher than they're worth compared to buying an internal writer and an external case and doing it yourself. Everyone will have their favorites. I tend to favor NEC, and love my BenQ.

[tmh]

BenQ 1620 from TigerDirect or eWaggle. Mine is from eWaggle because the enclosure + 1620 cost wasn't much less than the already put together USB 2.0 enclosure DVD writer (1620). I don't have a single complaint after 3 months. I've only used Memorex -R, HP +R, and Imation +RW disks so far, but no coasters caused by the burner and usually at 8x or so.

[Dr. DOS]

My Personal Fav... TDK Indio Drives

[daverose808]

tekkieman, thanks for the tip....
is there any advantage to buying the enclosure and internal dvd writer? meaning, if the price is the same, why buy two things, which is one more thing to worry about breaking
i imagine one advantage is that, one day, if i become tech-savvy enough, i should be able to install it properly... but is there anything else i should consider in making that decision?

also, of those suggested (benq, nec, etc...), are all models of the same company relatively the same? or are all necs not created equally? :P

thanks for all the feedback!

dave

[daverose808]

kevin, what is iso mode? are the links u gave me only for movies or only for data and not the other? meaning, i assume u mentioned iso mode to distinguish it from something else... i just dont know from what or what it means itself!
thanks.

[tekkieman]

tekkieman, thanks for the tip....
is there any advantage to buying the enclosure and internal dvd writer? meaning, if the price is the same, why buy two things, which is one more thing to worry about breaking
i imagine one advantage is that, one day, if i become tech-savvy enough, i should be able to install it properly... but is there anything else i should consider in making that decision?

also, of those suggested (benq, nec, etc...), are all models of the same company relatively the same? or are all necs not created equally? :P

thanks for all the feedback!

dave

If the price is the same, there's no real advantage. Some of the cases do not come apart real easy, so having a do-it-yourself might make it easier to change drives as technology progresses. I never really look at externals because they typically are more, but if you find one with both USB and Firewire, then that should be fine.

Certainly, all models by the same company are not the same. However, sometimes the difference is only a firmware flash away (e.g. NEC 3500 -NEC 3520, or BenQ bulk to BenQ 1620).

[daverose808]

great!

... anyone know of any good deals or sales currently going for any of the benqs or necs?

[daverose808]

dell's website is selling the
PLEXTOR
8X/4X/12X DVD+RW / 8X/2X/12X DVD-RW / 40X/24X/40X CD-RW PX-708UF External Multi-Format Drive - FireWire / IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0
for $163.27...
that sounds like a good price, with free shipping...
is it a good one?