Best DVD reader ?

Which in your opinion is the best DVD media reader, that can handle rental DVDs (meaning with lots of scratches) very well?
I have a BTC 1004, NEC 3550A, BenQ 1650, Richo DVD-Rom/CDRW (I cannot remember the model) and a Matsushita DVD-RAM UJ-812.

I find the BTC can out-perform all the others in read abilities. It can read most scratched up DVDs that others fail.
There have been a few disks that BTC cannot read that others have succeeded in reading. Most of the time they cannot read it too.

Please suggest a really good reader.

Thanks,

I assume you are asking about used rental movies you have purchased. Asking about copying rental movies that you don't own is in violation of our rules and will get you a warning card or worse. Moderator redwudz

I've used a couple of DVD ROMs, presently have a Sony 1615 and a Toshiba 1912, both which read anything I have. I rarely have a scratched DVD, though. If I do, I usually clean and polish it before ripping.

Thanks for the answer.

No I am not trying to rip anything at all.

I use my PC as the source for the projector. (My projector does not have component, only composite and VGA inputs).
I have tried to connect one of these drives as an external drive to my laptio. (Matsushita is built in my laptop).
Of all these Ricoh is the oldest drive and the worst performer.
BTC's burn quality is is bad. I recently obtained NEC and then a BenQ hoping they can play the movies better. No such luck.

Now my only options are
1. Upgrade to a projector that accepts component. - OR-
2. Upgrade to a stand-alone DVD player that has VGA output. - OR -
3. Find a better DVD reader for my external enclosure.

I thought option #3 would be the cheapest, that was the motif for the request.

Thanks,

I had a BTC at one point and the thing read (and burned) everything I threw at it. My NEC ND-3550a and LG-4163B are not as tolerant of badly-scratched media. Also have an Aopen (I forget the model) that also reads discs under Win98 that my burners under XP won't.

Originally Posted by lordsmurf

BTC 1004 should be outstanding at reading discs. I own several BTC drives, and use them for reading more than anything else. One of them has never burned a disc, it's my main reader drive.

Is this drive the best for ripping then? [Not just playback]

I'm going to buy 1 new dvdr for that purpose, and another for it's writing ability.

I'm backing my entire collection and some are scratched up rental purchaces.

And is there best dvdr when it comes to writing playable dvd-r and dvd +r DL for stand alones? [disragarding it's ripping ability.]

I back up my kids cartoons on dvd and let them watch the copy. I hope thats legal.
BTW whats a warning card or worse ?
Just like to know for the future
sony dru 810 e

Guys I've never heard of BTC, is this short for something. I tried googling it w/ no luck. Thanks

I think they sell under I/O Magic (Staples) sometimes too. Then again, I/O Magic can be anything.

Computergeeks.com sells BTC drives. Here is a BTC dvd-rom:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=BDV-316E-DO&cat=DVD