Which CR-RW is good?

[cutie_pyie]

Hello,

I want to get a CD-RW for my PC but am looking for an inexpensive one. I am only looking to spend about $100.00 or less if possible.

I will mostly be using the RW for backing up data to RW discs and the CD-R for making copies to CD-R discs. No music or graphics files!!!

Is Universal BUSlink a good CD-RW drive??

Best Buy has a Universal BUSlink 16x10x40 Internal CD-RW Drive
Model: RW1640 for $99.99 with a $20.00 mail-in rebate and I have a 10% coupon, so my cost would be $70.00 for this drive.
I don't know if it has BURN Proof technology (overrun protection) though!


They (Best Buy) also have a Universal BUSlink 24x10x40 Internal CD-RW Drive, Model: RW2440 for $99.99 and with my 10% off coupon, my cost would be $90.00. But is the extra $20.00 worth it?

Are 16X discs MORE available (and cheaper to buy) than 24X discs, or will the 16X discs become MORE expensive since the drives are getting faster and the higher speed discs will prevail?
Since the ReWrite speeds are the same for most drives (10X), and that is probably what I will be doing the most of, do I really need, (or should I say - am I better off with) a 24/10/40 versus a 16/10/40??

I know this is a lot of questions, but this is really a confusing subject area and the choices are so overwhelming to a girl like me!


Thank you for your help!

Sincerely,

Cutie_pyie

[rangeral]

Then a lite-on or ricoh should do never heard of the bus link one which could be generic and you'll end up getting what you pay for plus aggravation. Going with a name brand if you can get the previous years model should be cheap enough, hp's are good, tdk. Check at pricewatch for comparisons to earlier models for a good price.

[bill1971]

Bus-Link is a re-packaged Lite-On. They have "Burn-Proof"
technology. Not as fast as a Plextor or TDK, but basically a
solid unit. I've used a couple of 12/10/32's, and they seem to
perform well.

- Bill

[SEALTEAMTHREE]

In general, when a new burning speed becomes available, the companies that make the media begin to make all of their products that speed. Discs and burners are backwards compatible; a 16X CD-R will work in a 4X burner, and a 4X CD-R will work in a 16X burner. The only problem with slower media in faster drives is you can only burn as fast as the media allows, so a 4X CD-R will only write at 4X in a 16X burner.

[cutie_pyie]

So then the Bus-Link "is" a good drive since it is really a Lite-on?

And would you go for the 16x or the faster 24x speed??

Aren't all 16x (or all 24x) the same speed whether they are a TDK, Plextor,or Bus-link?

What do they mean by 'OEM Bare Drive' on Pricewatch.com

Thanks again.

Cin

[fishninja007]

I have a Yamaha CRW(something), it is a 16write/? rewrite/40read. Mine is very very loud. It doesn't seem to vibrate, as if something were out of balance, its just plain loud. It also makes a kind of high pitch whining. It is loud enough that if I have my headphones on (the big kind that go over your whole ear) and am listening to MP3s at a comfortable volume, the drive noise is distracting. Because of this I only use it when I burn CDs, never as a reader... which is lame... Guess I need some bose noise-cancelling headphones (the only headphones with a 12 month payment plan...)

I don't know if its just me, a friend got the same one. His was out of balance and 'almost shook my computer off my desk'. He got it replaced and says it is quieter now, but still loud.

[SEALTEAMTHREE]

OEM means all you get is a drive, nothing else (such as burning software, blank media, installation guides, wiring ect.). In general, OEM is much cheaper but you can get burned because most OEM products only come with a 30 day warranty, meaning if your burner frys 31 days after you get it, you're stuck with a shot drive.

[Alexandrus]

If you want a solid and fast drive at a low price, search for AOpen 24/10/40 CDRW drive, it is called CRW2440. It is very good and should be OEM under 100$.
I own a Plextor 24X and it rocks, but I've tested the AOpen and it is very good. Another good choice is Mitsumi 24/12/40 but I don't know where to get one.

[bowhunter]

I have two HP 9510i's that operate extremely well and they are very user friendly.

[cutie_pyie]

Thank you all for your input!
How about the following QUE/QPS 24/10/40 (new) for $65.00??

From ZDNET Reviews:

QPS Que! 24x10x40 CD-Rewritable Drive
EDITORS' RATING
Value 8
Performance 9
Installation and configuration 8
Features 7

PROS

• Breakneck speed
• Outstanding price

CONS

• Bare-bones software and documentation

Review

The Lowdown: Some of the best things in life come in simple packages. The QPS Que 24X/10X/40X is a great example. The CD-RW drive is a far cry from fancy, and unpacking the box certainly won't invoke many oohs or ahhs. The drive's barren, cream-colored faceplate is devoid of fancy logos or sleek bevels. And the only software you'll find is on one plain-Jane CD. But once the drive is up and running, it'll definitely raise some eyebrows. At a rock-bottom $179, you won't find a much faster drive for the price.

Key Features

• Maximum read speed (primary format): 40X
• Maximum write speed (primary format): 24X
• Maximum rewrite speed (primary format): 10X
• Interface: IDE / EIDE

I can get this drive for $65.00 after a mailin rebate and it DOES come with NERO 5.x software and all cables, etc.



Thanks again,

CP

[Alex Iannuzzi]

I use to have a Acer 8x4x32 that was an ok drive, it lasted more than 2 years until I sold it.

[Martingi]

Acer is a very good brand, my burner is 3 years old and still working perfect:D :D

[Ancient_Mariner]

My HP9100i gave up the ghost after two years and I've been looking around for the same thing as Cutie Pyie. www.newegg.com carries both Plextor and Lite-On. Plextor has a $30 off promotion right now which will bring the cost below your threshold on a fast drive, and the Lite On drives fall beneath your threshold as well. I am still debating Plextor or Lite-On, but will probably go with Plextor as it uses Roxio software, with which I am more familiar.

Good Luck.........

[Alex Iannuzzi]

Yeah, Acer is a pretty good brand and my Cd-burner has lasted 2 years and more.

[Kurylo]

Get a SAMSUNG 8x8x32x for $88-90.
Or a TEAC 16x10x40x for $120. I have such TEAC. It is worth paying $20 more. Believe me.

[Roy Wilkins]

tdk velo cd 24 X for $60 after rebate in circuit city, i just bought one & they are very good, no under buffer run error.:)

[cableguy69]

My GF has the veloCD too, really nice drive and the software that goes along with it is really good too. I have a Sony 8x4x32. It's over a year old, and I haven't had one probelm with it.

[suzuki1]

For 90.00 you can pick up the acer 24x10x40 at a comp show

[outlaw_revolver]

You can get the support of phillips and there great cd-rw's for most under 100$. Mine works good!

[RayH]

Go to Office Max this week. They have a 16x Hi Val for $60. No rebate hassles. I personally don't see any difference between brands. A handful of manufacturers make them for everyone. When the manufacturer has a bad batch, it'll affect their own brand and those that are rebrands.

OEM means you just get the drive. If you don't have software or can't get someone to give you the software, get a retail kit that includes software.

[RayH]

I don't know about any $49.95 burners being available at any given day at the above places. But Office Max did have the Hi Val (and Hi Val doesn't make their own) for $59.95 w/o rebate hassles.

Except for Pacific Digital (which sells rebrands), I can't vouch for any the rebates. Pacific Digital sent me two last year at the earlier part of the 8-10 weeks.

Just get the fastest burner you can find for the cheapest price without any rebate hassles. I'm still sluggging along at 4x because my burners are extremely reliable! Slow. But reliable.

I would consider 8x a bare minimum. But how much time are you going to theoritically save if it's burning faster than 12x? Slower burns will allow you to generally use cheaper media.

[rockinmale]

I wanted to mention if anyone is interested. I recently bought a plextor 24/10/40A. I know this is on the pricey side. Although, i do have to mention this is a awesome drive. I can burn cd's on the fly in 4-5 mins. Clone cd is not a problem. Havent made a single coaster yet. I certainly would recommend this drive. Unfortunately the going price is around $160-$170.

[Ancient_Mariner]

I started this thread a long time ago, so I guess I should finish it. I did buy the Plextor 16x after a friend highly recommended the 24x. he 16x seemed fast enough and there was (and is) a $30 rebate on it. Another friend bought the 24x Lite-On and loves it.
I love my Plextor 16x, having used an HP 8x for 2 years. So the whole point of the thread is, I guess, moot. Everyone has his own particular likes and dislikes, and most all of the burners work well.

Cheers.

Bob Adams

[Spider-Dan]

Not sure if you want to burn music CDs or master your own data, or what, but if you plan on copying discs, go with a Plextor. The DiscDupe program that comes with the retail drives is just about as good as CloneCD (better in some areas, worse in others) and you don't have to worry about any compatibility problems. In addition, Plextor drives are supported by every CDR program on the planet (for windows, at least). There's nothing more frustrating then finding out you need a certain program to accomplish a task and then spending hours trying to get it to work with your El Cheapo drive.

BTW, on the subject of media; just because it has a rated speed, doesn't mean that's the max. You'll note that media speed ratings normally lag behind new drive speeds, anyway. That's simply the manufacturer's disclaimer. I've burned the gold 74 min Memorex at 16x (finished full disc in 5 min) and they are rated at 8x.

Practically any drive with Burn-Proof (or similar buffer underrun protection) will automatically slow down to account for the media, anyway, if the media can't handle a high speed.

For the record, I have a Plextor 16x/10x/40x, a LG Technologies CD-RW/DVD-ROM (12x/10x/8x DVD). I've used Memorex media for the last 2 years and it's consistenly been great, at any speed. Don't buy the black (PSX lookalike) discs though.

[thajones]

I've built computers with Aopen, Acer, and Lite-On, no problems with any of them. The Lite-On was a little slow on the spin-up, but no problems, and no coasters.

[kenn]

i have used the samsung's as an inexpensive model and never had a problem

ken

[bubbalou32]

Anyone have info on 99min 850MB CDRs?
Saw for sale at CompUSA (CompUsa branded)
Any CD writers or write software capable of burning that size?