I Need a DVD writer? What would you buy?

[cotswoldcs]

Looking for a DVD writer and am torn between the following:

Sony DWG-120A10 Ivory
£26.21
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/produ...oductID=398367

NEC ND-4570A-GEN Ivory
£25.60
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=353424

Asus DRW-1608P2 Ivory
£28.19
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=174217

All are about the same price. I've always gone for NEC before as they had good reveiws a while ago. It's for a standard AthlonXP based system with a beige case (hence the colour). I've never rated Sony before although they are fairly quiet but I'm tempted by their latest offering as it looks quite impressive.

What would you recommend?

[johnny02004976]

check out http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=72891

i posted this a couple of weeks ago - lots of recommendations

i went for the Pioneer 111 btw - v nice drive

[TooNice]

Of the list, I'd go for the NEC.

Although I am probably going BenQ for my next drive.

[cotswoldcs]

johnny02004976 - thanks for the link. I found it very interesting.

To sum up what I've learnt so far:

Plextor and Pioneer are very good but pricey.

The NEC drive gets the most positive feedback from people.

I do like the looks of the Sony drive - anyone bought one to confirm (only have Scan's picture to go by). It also is a bit shorter which is a bonus.

No opinions on the Asus. Lite-on and BenQ got just one mention.



Sooooo..... I'm still torn between the NEC and Sony. The NEC seems a better drive but the Sony looks better. Decisions, decisions!!! Heck, it's not a lot of money and certainly not a big decision to make but I hate buying something and then regretting it later - don't you?

[johnny02004976]

tbh if i was going to buy NEC or Sony id go for the NEC, my spare rig has a NEC drive in it and i love it, no probs at all. This seems a great deal especially as it has lighscribe and RAM functionality:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=383635

(remember its a silver one, couldnt bring myself to post a beige one )

[Funkstar]

I wouldn't say the Pioneer is expensive

Pioneer
http://svp.co.uk/products-solo.php?pid=1020 - £22.98

NEC
http://svp.co.uk/products-solo.php?pid=998 - £24.98

also available for about the same price each at Scan

Personally i would go for the Pioneer, always liked them.

[e36Adz]

Pioneer or NEC, cant go wrong with either of them

[BigBry]

I had a few issues with some Sony drives recently. 1 died after a short time, the other (just a DVD player) wouldn't register that I'd changed a disc and would always tell me the last DVD was still in it? I never understood that.

NEC gets my vote.

[Koolpc]

NEC are very good units. Have always bought them. The Pioneer is supposed to be good too.

[Funkstar]

Just to add, if you are getting a Sony, you are as well just getting a LitOn i believe they make them for Sony

[cotswoldcs]

I've just ordered the NEC drive from Scan.

Thanks for persuading me not to buy Sony!!! I know it was the right decision. Thanks everyone!

[Koolpc]

You won't be disappointed with the NEC. Let us know what you think of it.

[GFiSH]

I bought the NEC last week, haven't used it yet though. Put one in my Dad's Shuttle back in the summer and was impressed with that.

[cotswoldcs]

I've installed the NEC drive now and am impressed by how narrow it is. The older ones were much longer and the new ones are much neater. Ideal for a small case!

It doesn't look particularly good but looks aren't everything!

[ash_rm]

It doesn't look particularly good but looks aren't everything!

What were you expecting, a gold face plate or something? lol

I've had my NEC 3500 for years now, and it has never let me down.

It's the only part of my computer that hasn't been upgraded!

[TooNice]

M'well, in general, it is pretty rare for a DVD-Burner to let down as long as the media used are decent. My Pioneer 106 is old. Slow. But it hasn't let me down so far either (no coasters in the.. several hundred burns - oh wait, except a media that doesn't work with -any- burner someone gave me.. but none of the media I've bought for myself). I still want to get a BenQ drive at some point, but it is hard to justify it when the current drive still hasn't died. I am surprised how long this drive is lasting TBH.. my CD-RW drives never lasted that long. Even the Lite-On 52x32x52 drive I bought together with my Pioneer 106 is starting to have tray issues.