Need new dvd writer - which one ?

[jjbtnc]

Haven't seen a recent 'which one ?' question so thought i'd post. I need a new dvd writer and wanted to check peoples opinions. It has to be able to burn dvd-ram - i use this quite a lot for backing up my important stuff and already have disks that i must be able to read and also a few blanks that i need to write to. Before it was quite easy to choose as there were not that many that did dvd-ram. I had an lg 4160 which was ok 'till i electrocuted it, now there are a lot more makes that do ram.

I was thinking of going for the latest LG a 4167 i think or the latest NEC 4551. I've wanted to try the NEC as they always seem to get good reviews, the only thing putting me off however were some comments that with the available firmwares for the NEC, the drive only worked with a couple of dvd ram makes. I didn't want to buy it and find it didn't work with the media i already have.

I off to have a search and check out NEC firmwares but if anybody could provide info/opinions that would be great.

Also any other ram drives that might be worth looking at or have extra features ?

[garryheather]

I'm using a 4551 in an external case with no problems, the LabelFlash is a bit of a gimmick if you ask me but it does have that "Wow Factor", especially if used on the data side.

I also have a Pioneer 110 (NOT the D Variant), which I am very pleased with. You can probably pick one of these up at a good price now the 111 is out.

Both handle DVD-RAM and should serve you well, my experience suggests you won't have problems with either (although I note what you say about firmware - Pioneer update theirs very frequently where-as NEC seem to play catch-up).

[OneSickPup]

NEC has not marketed the 4551 in the United States but from what I have read it would be a good choice. I agree the Pioneer 110 or 111 would be very good choices as well. We tend to only get the 110d and 111d here in the States (doesn't support DVDRAM burning AFAIK). I own an LG GSA 4167B and would recommend it as long as you can live with a few of it's shortcomings. It is a slow reader/ripper - yet it may very well be the burning speed champ at 5:30 or less on 16x media. It can be a bit particular about media but does extremely well if you stick to grade A stuff. And LG definitely supports RAM as well as anybody. Good luck.

[lacywest]

Well I use a Lite-On 1693S inside a external USB2.0 enclosure with my laptop at work.

At home I have two computers ... each of them has a Panasonic SW9583 DVD Burner inside.

Also at each computer is a USB 2.0 enclosure and one computer uses the Pioneer 109 ... works fine. And the other computer ... is a Plextor 740A [80 bucks on Ebay]

Here is a link to the Panasonic (SW9585C) DVD±RW Dual Layer Burner

http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/view.php?cid=29&id=1722

http://www.dvhardware.net/review/13771