Which one to get?

[Kurt]

I am looking at buying my first DVD and am looking at three differnt ones...any idea at which one to get. Very new at all of this and don't intend to alot right now...backup files and transfer some movies from the computer to play on the DVD player. Here are the models:
BENQ DW1620
NEC ND-3540A
SONY DWQ28A

Thanks

[Subby]

I'm sure someone far far more knowledgable than me will answer soon, but my 2c...

I'm quite the newbie, and have found the Benq 1640 (latest model, 1620 is older) to be a great burner. It hasn't given me one coaster, has given me mostly really good quality burns, is fast, quiet, and seems to have great firmware support from Benq.

From my experience and from what others have generally said (including the review on this site, check out the stickies in this forum for it), it's a great all rounder, which should fit the bill for your type of usage. It also has a large range of compatibility with different media. (but you should still check out the best brands to use with it).

It also gives you good and fast Dual Layer support, so you can use 8.5GB discs now, or in a few months down the track when DL media really drops in price you are set to go.

That's my 2c - I havn't had any experience with the other burners you mentioned, I will leave that to others!

good luck

[Dartman]

I have Both BenQ drives and they both do really well with most media. The NEC has mixed reviews but it does pretty well too. The Sony is a LiteOn rebadge most likely and will be the worst of the 3. Get the 1620 or the newer 1640 would be my choice too.

[Ian]

I actually went out and bought a DW1640. That should say something about the drive.

[Scour]

Hello!

My new drive is the Benq 1640. I´ll try only a few media, but it looks good, get it

[dodecahedron]

My new drive is the Benq 1640. I´ll try only a few media, but it looks good, get it

congrats on your new drive, mate

[ETP]

ditto

[Scour]

congrats on your new drive, mate

[Gabe]

I vote for the Benq. It´s a very good writer, without doubt one of the best you can get.

Waht I don´t like, the Benq have problems with DVD RW.

[thegdog]

I do really like my BenQ 1640 a lot. The only problem that I have had with it thus far is that Memorex 16x DVD+R media (with the RICOHJPN R03 MID code) will only burn at 8x. No matter what I try. Including selecting to overspeed it.

And the scans on it come out good at the end, so I find it odd that its throttling back and not going to 16x because of media issues.

Strange.

Otherwise, I really like it.

[dolphinius_rex]

I do really like my BenQ 1640 a lot. The only problem that I have had with it thus far is that Memorex 16x DVD+R media (with the RICOHJPN R03 MID code) will only burn at 8x. No matter what I try. Including selecting to overspeed it.

And the scans on it come out good at the end, so I find it odd that its throttling back and not going to 16x because of media issues.

Strange.

Otherwise, I really like it.

If you're using SolidBurn/OverSpeed, try refreshing the solidburn media (erasing the created write strategy's) it could be the first disc was borked, and is holding the whole media type back.

[Scour]

If you're using SolidBurn/OverSpeed, try refreshing the solidburn media (erasing the created write strategy's) it could be the first disc was borked, and is holding the whole media type back.

Question: When I activate SB for known media, did SB learn with every burn or use the first learned strategy for the media?

[dolphinius_rex]

If you're using SolidBurn/OverSpeed, try refreshing the solidburn media (erasing the created write strategy's) it could be the first disc was borked, and is holding the whole media type back.

Question: When I activate SB for known media, did SB learn with every burn or use the first learned strategy for the media?

Supposedly, it takes one burn to learn, and bases each future burn off of that. If I understand correctly.