DVD Burner Recommendations

[Germ]

Ok I'm ready to jump in. I think probably DVD-R/-RW and I need some recommendations.

Just remember................I'm not made out of money.

Thanks,
Germ

[F/A-18 MechDood]

Ditto to the above...

I was looking at going with DVD±R /DVD±RW though. I'm still confused about the difference in just - or ±, other than the fact that sony wanted to make their own standard.

[Telexen]

The TDK Indi something-or-other

I've seen a comparison between it, the Sony +/- burner, and an Iomega...the TDK won hands down.

[bill1971]

Germ:

I believe the TDK is made by NEC, as is Plextor, and a few others, including the Dell-branded ones.

Seems that the DVD+R/RWs are a little ahead, as far as compatibility with home DVD players. And as far as RW media, the DVD+R/RW units can reformat on the fly, unlike DVD-RWs.

Lite-On has come out with a dual mode burner,(DVD+ or - R/RW unit, for just under $300. One site said that Lite-On was the OEM mfr for the Sony units. Might be, because they're the same specs.

TDK has come out with a dual mode burner as well, and I just saw a dual mode advertised at Best Buy, made(re-packaged) by Buslink, but I don't know the actual mfr, of which it seems there are only a handful, making just about all of these DVD burners.

For me, personally, I think that I will wait for the next good Dell discount deal, and go for the retail-boxed Lite-On. Best price I can hope for is around $250, vs., say, an NEC 4x DVD+R/RW from Newegg for $150.

Hope this helps a little, and doesn't confuse. . .

- Bill

[Telexen]

I know I've read over and over that -R/-RW are far more compatible on home DVD players...

Lite-On does make the DVD +/- RW drives for Sony now.

I'm going to get the TDK when I have money...according to reviews it's more stable than the Sony, and a lot less money.

[Siliconjunkie]

This doesn't really fit your criteria, but DO NOT get a HP-DVD100i/j. I have one and have nothing but compatibility issues. Only reason I am not really upset is I got it from a friend for $100. Its worth that for 5 gig backups since basically its the only thing that can read its discs.

[Germ]

Thanks for the input everyone. Now I have to bust open the piggy bank.