Techies,
Pls advise if this is a good buy.
USB 2.0 / Firewire External DVD ±R/RW
For someone who is not too keen to open the CPU and remove the existing CD-RW to insert a DVD-writer.
Thanks
looks pretty good however pretty expensive compared to internal ones
Price looks good,but wouldn't compromise on the brand name.
BiB... I don't think internal DVD writers are cheaper than $149. Not sure, as I haven't done a lot of market research.
TnC... What other brandnames are available for external DVD writers with all formats?
$149 for buslink external drive is pretty good but u are wrong about the internal ones. Check out the following…
Universal BUSlink 4x Internal DVD±RW/±R/CD-RW Drive - $89.00
Mad Dog Multimedia Dominator 6-in-1 Internal DVD-R/-RW Drive - $79.98!
One supreme advantage of an external DVD writer is that they can be used to transfer gigabytes of data from one computer to other.
Well, think about it this way. You are getting a DVD+-R/W for about $80-85, and then you are getting an external case which is both 1394 and USB 2.0 compatible. I think its worth the price. I recently bought the external case for about $60. So, if you are not comfortable with opening with the box its good.
You should make sure its compatible with the CD/DVD burning software that you are going to be using or use, and read some reviews if it burns at all the proper speeds. There's no use buying a unit which people can't get good copies off of.
The website says
Package Contents: External DVD Drive; Included Software: Roxio Easy CD Creator DVD Edition, PowerDVD. Power Cord & Adapter;USB Cable (USB 2.0 High-Speed & Firewire 1394 Ready);Sotware CD; Blank Media User's Guide;
So? is the software good enough?
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*Originally posted by Faisal: *
The website says
Package Contents: External DVD Drive; Included Software: Roxio Easy CD Creator DVD Edition, PowerDVD. Power Cord & Adapter;USB Cable (USB 2.0 High-Speed & Firewire 1394 Ready);Sotware CD; Blank Media User's Guide;
So? is the software good enough?
[/QUOTE]
Roxio will allow you to digitise a VHS tape or a TV program into a mpeg 2 file which you can then burn into a DVD. If you want to back-up a commercial DVD better dl DVD Shrink which is a freeware. This little gem will copy a protected DVD bindhaas.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Arvind: *
Roxio will allow you to digitise a VHS tape or a TV program into a mpeg 2 file which you can then burn into a DVD.
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This is true only if you have video capture card in your computer or some kind of USB dangle.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Asif2000: *
This is true only if you have video capture card in your computer or some kind of USB dangle.
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I assume that if you install a DVD writer, a video capture card is a must. I would stay away from USB tho. Not sure that the bandwidth is there.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Arvind: *
I assume that if you install a DVD writer, a video capture card is a must. I would stay away from USB tho. Not sure that the bandwidth is there.
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Not necessarily. My primary use for a DVD writer is not to copy DVD or cerate DVDs out of my VHS tapes. I use it mainly for storing backups, ghost images and large data files.
You are right about the USB connection. You don't get the same frame rate.
I do have a capture card which I ocassionally use to record my personal 8mm tapes recorded by my camcorder to create VCDs which I later copy to CDR using CDRW drive not DVDRW. I do this to send these CDs back home for my folks to watch. This way, they don't have to convert the VHS from NTSC to PAL and they don't have to have a DVD player or DVD ROM to watch them. They can simply watch them on any compuetr with a CD Rom Drive and a VCD player software
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Asif2000: *
I do have a capture card which I ocassionally use to record my personal 8mm tapes recorded by my camcorder to create VCDs which I later copy to CDR using CDRW drive not DVDRW. I do this to send these CDs back home for my folks to watch. This way, they don't have to convert the VHS from NTSC to PAL and they don't have to have a DVD player or DVD ROM to watch them. They can simply watch them on any compuetr with a CD Rom Drive and a VCD player software
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How come VCD's don't have to specify PAL/NTSC? They play regardless. DVD's have to be the right type.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Arvind: *
How come VCD's don't have to specify PAL/NTSC?
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This is the question of the day. I am not really sure.
the following site sells some software, and they claim you dont need any separate dvd burner to burn dvds
www.logicalinnovations.com/instaclone2/
what are your comments?? too good to be true??
DVD -> CD-R is not exactly something new. Its been around for many months. Previously ppl used to donwload three separate Freewares and do it themselves. The some companies started offering one packaged to do the whole thing. Is a bit time-consuming though, and the storage capacity of CD-R is no way near DVD's anyway.
So if the purpose is just to make cheap CD-R copy of a DVD, then this will work. If you want a full DVD then you need to burn it into a DVD.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *
DVD -> CD-R is not exactly something new. Its been around for many months. Previously ppl used to donwload three separate Freewares and do it themselves. The some companies started offering one packaged to do the whole thing. Is a bit time-consuming though, and the storage capacity of CD-R is no way near DVD's anyway.
So if the purpose is just to make cheap CD-R copy of a DVD, then this will work. If you want a full DVD then you need to burn it into a DVD.
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Just for an FYI, the CDR copy of DVD is usually a VCD. Thats what most of the advertised software programs do. Though VCD is very good quality format and widely accepted and recognized, its no where near the DVD quality.
Yes. Although your statement that VCD is "very good quality format" is debatable. Its widely playable in most DVD/VCD players, yes.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *
Yes. Although your statement that VCD is "very good quality format" is debatable. Its widely playable in most DVD/VCD players, yes.
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VCD is a very good quality format when recorded correctly.
Re: External DVD Writer
i am looking at Sony External DVD+/-RW Recorder Drive, Model DRX-700UL
its gotten mostly good reviews but some bad ones as well....anyone else use sony burners? how are they?