Do you agree with my choice of burner?

[gll99]

My first burner a NEC 1300 with herries v1.08 firmware for bitsetting just died. I kept it just to bitset +RW and I still need this feature

My other burner 16x LG4163 is fine but it won't bitset +RW but like I said I need this feature.

Therefore I have a problem.

Looked at locally advertised burners:

LG GSA-H10N ($60) this 16x looked very promising but like my LG4163 these units still can't bitset +rw
Pioneer 111D ($50) but apparently it cannot bitset +rw even with a firmware upgrade.
NEC 3550 ($50) can be made to bitset +RW but I will have to do another unauthorized firmware upgrade

Finally:
The BenQ 1655 Lightscribe ($60). Reviews seem to indicate that this unit will bitset +RW right out of the box. I don't really need the scribe option. I don't even know if discs have to be of a special type to use the feature but if it does what it says with +RW then I'm cool with it. So this will have to be my choice and winner by default.

When you want specific info, reviews in many places are to say the least p!$$poor and often short on helpful detail.

Any helpful comments will be appreciated

[TaoTeWingChun]

Get either the NEC or the Pioneer. I've owned lots, and I would definitely get one of these two, no problem.

If you get the NEC, you can get bitsetting firmware and get to burning your +RW's as DVD-ROM right away. If you can wait for a new firmware on the Pioneer, you likely won't have to wait more than a few weeks.

Cheers and good luck!

TTWC

[lordsmurf]

Pioneer, NEC, LiteOn, LG ... pick one of those 4, nothing else.

[gll99]

Did you notice that I need +RW bitsetting

Since I already have owned a NEC drive and flashed it easily to get bitsetting, I will leave that option open.

The Pioneer cannot do +RW bitsetting and that is the only reason I am buying a second drive. Unless the sites I visited were all wrong about the pio that's why I eliminated it as a choice.

I know for a fact that the LG cannot do +RW bitsetting

I have not researched the Liteon so I'll look at that one. Thanks.

Any specific issues with the BenQ? It seems to have great reviews.

[TaoTeWingChun]

My Pioneer DVR-110D does bitsetting - not sure why the DVR-111D wouldn't.

Look on Club CD Freaks or The Dangerous Brothers websites and you might find a firmware for that drive that will allow it to do bitsetting. If it's not there, you can always request it!

Cheers!

TTWC

[gll99]

@TaoTeWingChun
It can set +R with a firmware upgrade but in my searches here and cdfreaks all comments said no Pioneer can bitset +RW and the same is true for LG.

--------------------------------------------
I have been looking at Lite-on as per lordsmurf's suggestion and so far one model is locally advertised at $50 it is the 160P6S. The specs look good but I can't find out anything about (book type setting) bitsetting +RW. I d/l the manual for that drive from their site and it doesn't even mention the subject.

[TaoTeWingChun]

gll99,

Every firmware update I've run across that bitsets does so for both +R AND +RW. And I've just burned a DVD+RW in my Pioneer and my Apex sees it as a DVD-ROM.

Not sure what the guys at cdfreaks are referring to, but mine is golden.

I need to purchase another burner for one of my other machines, and I might just go to BestBuy and grab that DVR-111D for $50 (on sale!!!). If I do, I'll gladly post my results.

Cheers!

TTWC

[NG]

The BenQ 1655 Lightscribe ($60). Reviews seem to indicate that this unit will bitset +RW right out of the box. I don't really need the scribe option. I don't even know if discs have to be of a special type to use the feature but if it does what it says with +RW then I'm cool with it. So this will have to be my choice and winner by default.

the BenQ dw1650 is the same unit sans lightscribe and is cheaper.

If you're having trouble finding it in the states www.ncix.com carries it and ships from BC to USA.

[gll99]

TTWC

Could you load that +RW into DVDINFOPRO and snap a pic of the media info for me. The Apex wouldn't really tell you the book type would it? What you are telling me could change everything. Like I said it's hard to get detailed reviews and there is a lot of misinformation out there that's why I'm cautious.

The only reason I know about the NEC and LG brands is because I have first hand experience but with the other brands I'm at the mercy of what various users are saying.

[GKar]

The LG GSA-10N does allow booktype setting to DVD-ROM for DVD+RW with stock firmware. You just set it in Nero options changing it from Automatic to DVD-ROM. This series of burners puts out excellent quality check disks witn Verbatim +/- R media. $33 delivered thru Newegg.com. It is a Hitachi OEM. The LG GSA-10L Lightscribe model would suit you just fine and provide the bitssetting you want.

[gll99]

NG

Do you have the 1650 and are you happy with it. Does it bitset +RW like they say out of the box. Clearing up that point alone would make my decision that much easier. I don't mind paying a few $$$ more for the Lightscribe even though I may not use just it so I don't have to chase around looking for a drive. At least I know I can get the 1655 locally.

btw) I'm in eastern Ontario (in keeping with my persona I'm visiting from the tundra of course)

[NG]

NG

Do you have the 1650 and are you happy with it. Does it bitset +RW like they say out of the box. Clearing up that point alone would make my decision that much easier. I don't mind paying a few $$$ more for the Lightscribe even though I may not use just it so I don't have to chase around looking for a drive. At least I know I can get the 1655 locally.

btw) I'm in eastern Ontario (in keeping with my persona I'm visiting from the tundra of course)

I just checked the site and you'll have to search for dw1650 to find it btw. It appears to be a special order right now so it might be awhile b4 it goes on sale again at a discounted price (last was $38 CDN iirc).

I like it. Had some problems before but that appears to be because of Norton anti-virus bloatware. Once I switched av progs it's been working great.

I can't answer the rw bitset question but I'd recommend asking Digital Dolphin about it. W/o signing up for another forum you can ask him about it on blankmedia.ca.

[gll99]

Thanks for all the comments you are really all adding to the confusion but it's really appreciated.

@GKar

I could take a similar picture with my LG but the +RW blank disc had already been bitset to DVD-ROM in my NEC-1300. The LG and Nero will not override my setting if I set it as you describe no matter how often I write over it as long as I don't reformat.

If I use a new or reformatted +RW and try to set it with DVDINFOPRO and then try the same thing with Nero the burned disc will show as DVD+RW in the book type when I check it with DVDINFOPRO.

Can you confirm how this disc was bitset from blank or fresh format?

I'm only careful because I know the pitfalls.

you showed me yours so I'll show you mine

[budz]

The BENQ 1650 bitsets to dvd-rom out of the box for DVD+RW media. You can use the BENQ tool called QSUITE 2.1 to set the DVD+RW to bitset to dvd-rom or use it as physical disc type in NERO BURN. The BENQ 1650/1655 have the same hardware the only difference is the lightscribe feature.

[GKar]

Thanks for all the comments you are really all adding to the confusion but it's really appreciated.

@GKar

I could take a similar picture with my LG but the +RW blank disc had already been bitset to DVD-ROM in my NEC-1300. The LG and Nero will not override my setting if I set it as you describe no matter how often I write over it as long as I don't reformat.

If I use a new or reformatted +RW and try to set it with DVDINFOPRO and then try the same thing with Nero the burned disc will show as DVD+RW in the book type when I check it with DVDINFOPRO.

Can you confirm how this disc was bitset from blank or fresh format?

I'm only careful because I know the pitfalls.

you showed me yours so I'll show you mine

You are wise Grasshopper , I apologize, I took a blank and burned it and it DID NOT set it to DVD-ROM.....My NEC 3550 must have did it when I wasn't looking ...

[gll99]

Thanks budz ... that solves one important question about that drive

@all
I'm still open minded until I decide to fork out the $60 +tax by early next week so if you can add more to my confused state on some of these other drives I won't mind it a bit

....but that Benq does seem very atractive

edit:
@GKar... Those sneaky but great NECs
Did you have to update the firmware of the NEC to activate the bitsetting like I had to do with my old 1300?

[budz]

Thanks budz ... that solves one important question about that drive

@all
I'm still open minded until I decide to fork out the $60 +tax by early next week so if you can add more to my confused state on some of these other drives I won't mind it a bit

....but that Benq does seem very atractive

You're welx! The PIONEER 111D/111L drive doesn't bitset to dvdrom for DVD+RW media. I'll do a test burn with DVD+RW media on 1 of my other pc's that has a 111L drive. Then I'll post a screenshot of the results from DVDINFO PRO or from DVD DECRYPTER.

Yes that BENQ is attractive and get it while you can because manufacturing of the drive is probably over. It's too bad LITEON now owns BENQ's optical drive dept.

[TaoTeWingChun]

gll99,

Here's the last disc I just burned from my Pioneer DVR-110D:

Cheers!

TTWC

[gll99]

Thanks again budz.

I have a bunch of Memorex 2.4 and 4x +RW which I use a lot to record tv shows on my pc... footballl, hockey, shows and some movies. Sometimes my standalone players get picky when I don't bitset the discs. One Apex player in particular always rejects the discs unless I do it. If it's avi format then I play them on my Philips dvp-642 and it's usually ok but I have had an occasional hicup until I started bitsetting as a regular thing.
The dearly departed NEC1300 and my LG4163 have had no problems burning these discs so while some people don't like Memorex I really can't complain. The only issue I have now with the NEC gone is that if I need to reformat a disc I won't be able to bitset it. I have a lot of discs so could just remove them from the loop until I get another burner but I miss not having the second drive when I'm checking stuff.

[gll99]

gll99,

Here's the last disc I just burned from my Pioneer DVR-110D:

Cheers!

TTWC

TTWC,
your input is very welcome but I have conflicting information about Pioneer drives. I hope you can appreciate my confusion since I have never owned one myself.

Now can I ask another question?

Did you read my post to GKar?
Can you confirm similar to what I requested from him

I noticed from the pic that you also have a NEC drive could that be how it got bitset originally?

Is there a thread somewhere that specifically mentions firmware updated to pioneer drives that adds bitsetting to +RW discs

Thanks

[budz]

Here's a DVD+RW disc burned in a PIONEER 111L drive with 111L tdb 8.26 internal firmware
Here's the info from DVDINFO PRO & CD/DVD SPEED:

[pepegot1]

Plextor 760A is a good performerer. It was able to read and rip a DVD that my Liteon DVD ROM could not do and fast as hell.

[Jeremiah58]

gll99,
I've just bought NEC ND-4571A to upgrade from, still working, NEC ND-2500A.
They even presented me a new model from NEC, it's ND-5000 and something, but since the newer model does not support writting to DVD-RAM, I have bought ND-4571A.
So far so good, it's extremely fast reader and writer. I have tested it with a few - and + DVD R, RW, DVD DL and DVD-RAM - everything looks perfect.

[lawnman]

PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-110:

Firmware Revision: 1.39
Interconnect: FireWire
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)
Cache: 2000 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RAM, -RW, +R, +RW, +R DL
Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes
Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: No

[TaoTeWingChun]

gll99,

At the time I took that shot, I was using my Pioneer DVR-110D, which is why you're seeing it from my NEC drive. As that Pioneer is my mainstay drive, I pretty much have it cranking almost round the clock.

As I said, I might go to BestBuy today and grab that 111d, and I've already scouted various firmwares for it, so I will likely hook it up and post back with its results sometime later tonight.

Also, I also use the same +RW's from Memorex, and my Apex player did go a little bonkers on me until I started bitsetting to DVD-ROM, which is how I do all of my +R/W's now if I want to see anything burned to my ReWritables.

I'll post back later!

Cheers!

TTWC

[bevills1]

My NEC 3520A does not bit set with official firmware, but it bit sets both +R and +RW single layer to DVD-ROM with Liggy's latest firmware. I suspect same is true for newer NECs, but you may want to check that before buying one.

[gll99]

Great and helpful comments guys. I have more specific thanks and comments to offer but I'm only visiting here briefly today.

A close friend and relative was rushed to hospital shortly after my last post. It's pretty serious and I've had to put my plans on hold for a few days.

I'll get back on this one.

Thanks again.

[normcar]

As far as I know, there are no problems with Benqs, just hard to find now. I have used Benqs with no problems with bitsetting, as you can change this any time you want.