New LG DVD-R and DVD-RAM writer is here!

[Bloody Aztec]

http://www.lgeus.com/Product/CD/GMA4020b.asp

It showed at my local PC store for 400 canadian bucks. Wow! It uses SuperLink, can write to dvd-r at 2x and 1x, and write to cd-r at 12x, 8x and 4x.

Comments?

[VEFF]

It only writes at 2X as you pointed out.
4X DVD-R burners are available now...

Packet writing to DVD-RAM wasn't reliable in my experience, (used to have a Panasonic DVD-R/DVD-RAM combo drive).
Then again I had similar problems with CD-RW packet writing.
Memorex media might have some problems I suppose.
In any case, with DVD-RW media available for a few bucks, DVD-RAM isn't really needed.

The TEAC and Pioneer 4X DVD-R/DVD-RW burners are only about $259 or so.
The 4X DVD-R / 4XDVD+R Sony DRU-500A (dual format) is pricier than those, now that the Dell steal is gone (got mine for $228 shipped).

[Kennyshin]

The first LG DVD Multi writers are largely for the OEM market. I haven't seen anyone in South Korea who has one. Most DVD writer users have Pioneer, Ricoh, or Sony.

I don't know how good the Ritek 9.4GB double-sided DVD-RAM media are but they cost $5 in Tokyo. If they are reliable enough, I'll maybe get a Panasonic LFD-521JD DVD Multi for $270.

http://akiba.ascii24.com/akiba/news/200 ... 2-000.html

[Bloody Aztec]

I know it only writes on DVD-R and at 2x and 1x but I don't care about DVD+RW and 4x writing; 2x writing isn't even perfect anyway, I plan to buy cheap media and burn at 1x, I'm not in a hurry. I don't care about being able to write to DVD+RW, I only want DVD-R for it's compatibility and low price.

Damn, I'd love to buy a Teac DVD-Writer, but Teac's presence in Canada is negligible, they're nowhere to be found...

[dodecahedron]

Damn, I'd love to buy a Teac DVD-Writer, but Teac's presence in Canada is negligible, they're nowhere to be found...

isn't the Teac a rebadged Pioneer? get a Pioneer!

[Bloody Aztec]

True...

[Bloody Aztec]

Humm has anyone used it or seen it?

[Bloody Aztec]

http://www.ab.wakwak.com/~yan/review/st ... a4020b.htm

Japanese review of the drive, can't understand babelfish's japanese gibberish!

[Kennyshin]

http://www.ab.wakwak.com/~yan/review/storage/gma4020b/gma4020b.htm

Japanese review of the drive, can't understand babelfish's japanese gibberish!

I think I also posted often about this drive at CDFreaks, CDRLabs, DVDplusRW, and other forums but can't remember exactly when and where. The drive was actually planned for mass production more than one year ago. Some reviews were done at South Korean review sites like KBench.com and PCBee.co.kr but they are all in Korean.

I have a friend at PCBee and he did some tests himself and also used some of the cheapest DVD-R on the market a few days ago. He liked it but LG seems to be reluctant to sell it for anywhere below 400,000 Won (retail price about 500,000 Won, or about US$410 in Seoul and about US$270 in Tokyo) so he's now waiting for Samsung DVD Multi instead.

More DVD Multi pictures.





Logitec LDR-N21FU2 DVD Multi IEEE 1394 & USB 2.0 for 42,799 Yen

[Phoenix '97]

I'm wondering how this drive performs when reading back DVD-R(W) media. Is it faster than the Pioneer drives which seem hopelessly stuck at 2x, or something like Toshiba's SD-R5002, where it starts reading at 2x close to the centre of the disc and reaches 5x at the edge, with a ~3.75x average? I'm trying to decide between this LG drive and the Toshiba, they're roughly $30 (Cdn.) apart around here.

[Bloody Aztec]

If you have a good price in Canada let me know .

[Kennyshin]

Panasonic 521 has the same price in Japan as many previous models from Toshiba, Hitachi, LG, and Panasonic's own. Not sure how well 521 performs and when 3x and 4x DVD-RAM will be available.

[Phoenix '97]

I got $420 for the LG and $440 for the Toshiba.

[Kennyshin]

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php ... post367153

Getting even cheaper.

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/akiba/hotline/20021228/price.html

IO DATA DVR-ABH2 for 29,999 Yen

2x DVD-R
2x DVD-RAM
1x DVD-RW
10x DVD-ROM
12x CD-R
8x CD-RW
32x CD-ROM

Panasonic LF-D521JD for 31,800 Yen

2x DVD-R
2x DVD-RAM
1x DVD-RW
12x DVD-ROM
12x CD-R
8x CD-RW
32x CD-ROM

1 USD = 120 JPY

[Kennyshin]

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php ... post367644

Radius DVD Multi ATA07048 27,900 Yen (US$233)

[Kennyshin]

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/akiba/ho ... l#mty521jd

Panasonic LF-D521JD OEM Mighty Japan MTY-521JD 29,502 Yen (29,800 Yen - 298 points) = less than US$250