LG DVD-ROM's

[slimpy]

Hello! As always, great site Ian...

I have been considering an LG DVD-ROM (either the DRD-8160B or the newer GDR-8161B) to replace my Hitachi "Digital Vibration Device" in my Mac G4. Aside from a great deal of noise & vibration, I've discovered that this drive causes my disks to get scratched. All of this revolves around a really badly designed tray IMHO. Unlike other optical drive trays I've seen, the Hitachi doesn't have a raised lip around the outermost edge (allowing the disk surface to touch the tray bed) and has excess room for the disk to float around (side-to-side).

Note: I can often get the Hitachi to run smoothly by ejecting the noisy disk and re-inserting it very very carefully.

Whew! Now on to my questions...

- How are the LG trays in these areas?

- Are they sturdy? (on my mac, the tray will have to push open a spring-loaded flap)

- Can they handle being pushed in by hand? (again because of the flap design)

- Have you heard anything about LG's newest GDR-8161B model? It's looking like the older drive might be hard to find.

Thanks a bunch.

slimpy

[TheWizard]

The tray on this drive, like all LG drives, is top-notch. They are not flimsy in the least, and they can handle being pushed in by hand.

[mdkathon]

I have the LG DRD-8160B. I love this DVD drive. Let me go over why...

First: its damn quiet, the tray is QUIET, the operation of the drive is QUIET, etc.

Second: it looks good, without trying to look good.

Third: the LG tech support is very good (but very slow).. It took 2 weeks for a reply, but when I did get an answer back from the 'generic tehc support email form' on their website i was suprised. The question was about how i was going to mod the drive (i have since panted the drive silver).. I wanted to know about what paint to use (what paint is better for the plastic they use, etc)... also the front bezel is hard to remove because of hidden attachment nobs.. anyway the email i got back was very detailed, and positive.

the only thing i dislike about the drive is it can be a bit hard to find firmware since LG has a BILLION support sites ... it took me about 1 hour of searching forums/cd websites/lg sites to find the firmware update so i could play LOTR special edition.

other then that.. I'm a happy customer and will be getting an 8161 soon

[casey]

Have one, great drive, but audio extraction is slow, if you are into that sort of thing. ie 10x

[casey]

Have one, great drive, but audio extraction is slow, if you are into that sort of thing. ie 10x

[dmafe]

I just got the LOTR special editon and I couldn't play it. I noticed that mdkathon got new firmware to resolve this. Could you please let me know where you got the firmware. It would help a ton, because I haven't been able to watch my new DVD yet.

[Phoenix '97]

http://lge.ca/pressReleases/firmwaredrd8160b.asp

Upgrading to this firmware seems to have made the tray eject a bit slower.

[mdkathon]

Phoenix, tray slower for you now eh?. I did not notice that.

Odd.

dmafe; it took a bit of digging to find that damn firmware, I think I saved it somewhere if you need it.