In our over our heads... need some guidance.

[techimpaired]

I'll try to make this quick. My husband and I just bought a new Dell and knew we wanted a cd & dvd burner, but decided to save some $$ and buy the burner from Tiger Direct. In the meantime, we have a BenQ 16x4x16x DVD±RW / 2.4x DVD+R DL / 40x24x40x CD-RW / Black / Dual Layer / OEM DVD Burner (yes, I copied and pasted). I don't know what brand/kind of blank DVD's we need. How do I know what will be compatible... and also, I'm worried about the dual-later feature. Do we HAVE to buy dual-layer dvd's? Aren't they a lot more expensive? Hope someone can help. Thanks in advance.

Danielle

[lordsmurf]

Can use SL or DL, either one.
DVD-R and DVD+R are fine.
DVD-RW and DVD+RW are fine.

I hate that BenQ drive.
Good luck getting it to work with software.
Good luck getting it to not burn coasters with even good media.

If you're buying a new drive, get a Pioneer.

BTW, a DVD burner also burns CD-R and CD-RW.

[tekkieman]

I hate having to follow lordsmurf when he trashes the BenQ, but you also need to understand he has his opinion (and is entitled to it), but I have to say, as an owner of that same drive, that I have never had a problem with it (in a Dell as well), and have never burned a coaster with it.

That said, while it is media codes that are important, at the local stores you have no way of knowing what the media code is. So to start you with brand names, I have burned both Sony and Memorex in this model burner, and have no issues at all. I have been using + SL media at 8X speed, and burning with several different apps.

Hope this helps.

EDIT - when the time comes, you can also update the firmware in this drive to retail BenQ instead of OEM (with factory firmware, not hacked firmware), and increase the DL burning speed to 4X

[techimpaired]

Thanks!

[reboot]

Cancel your order with Tigerdirect, unless you really WANT to have two burners...

[Phantom Of The Opera]

I hate having to follow lordsmurf when he trashes the BenQ, but you also need to understand he has his opinion (and is entitled to it), but I have to say, as an owner of that same drive, that I have never had a problem with it... and have never burned a coaster with it.

What tekkieman said!