Memorex 52x24x52. Keep it or take it back?

[Zero]

I picked up a Memorex 52x24x52 the other day as a bit of an impulse buy. After reading a few unfavorable reviews on it, however, I started to have second thoughts about keeping it. Yet on this board I've seen some quite favorable posts about it. So what's the story? Did I buy a dud or not? Are there any comparable drives that you would recommend instead? I'm a total newb to this, so please bear with me.

[Ian]

Where did you see unfavorable reviews? Just wondering since I really haven't seen any reviews of it at all.

[dodecahedron]

your Memorex drive is a rebadged Lite-On 52246S drive.
if you scan the forums here you will see many favorable opinions on it. the general concensus around here is that it is a great drive.
i wonder, what are the unfavorable reviews you read about it? where from?

Ian reviewed the CenDyne Lightning V 52/24/52 which is also a rebadged Lite-On 52246S, so basically it's the same drive you have. i recommend you read his review:
http://www.cdrlabs.com/reviews/index.php?reviewid=160

bottom line: keep it!

damn, Ian, you beat me to it! should've typed faster

[Zero]

Thanks for the reply . The first review I read really wasn't all that negative per se, it just wasn't favorable either. I found it here.

[dhc014]

Some people think that the Memorex firmware is superior to Lite-ON firmware. I don't think so, but it could be... It's a great drive and you wont regret keeping it. I've got the Memorex 48x24x48 drive and it's a Lite-ON as well.

[Ian]

Ah, ZDNet. Yeah, I have to agree with them about the manual and support. Memorex the company isn't the best (hey Memorex, where's my free 24x CD-RW disc?) but the drive itself is pretty good.

[jase]

When was the last time you read a CDRW manual anyway? The only time it's conceivable you would need it is in the initial installation. If you've got past that bit, who cares about it The LiteOn 52x is one of the better budget CDRWs out there, and I doubt you'd find it easy to get a better writer without spending a lot more money. I'd keep it.

As for support, surely if the drive dies you send it back to the store you bought it from, and if you're simply not satisfied with the performance or have compatibility issues all manufacturers just pay lip service (after keeping you on-hold on the phone for half an hour) then stiff you anyway? That's always been my experience anyway, although the after-sales service standards might be better in the US....

I'd be interested to know where ZDNet get the idea from that the Cendyne 52x writer has "better performance" than the Memtek, given that they are the same drive with a different sticky label affixed. Perhaps different software, I don't know, but the drives themselves are no different.

[Ian]

jase, you have no idea how many people email me (or use this forum) because a companies tech support was bad or non existant. You and I can install drives in our sleep, but there are still a lot of people out there who can't. Having a good manual can make it or break it for these people. Anyway, I see where ZDNet is coming from at least in this aspect.

As far as the Memorex and CenDyne drives.. maybe you have to be a crack smoker to work for Ziff Davis?

[jase]

I see your point. Perhaps we should create a "perfect" manual for a CD writer for people to download if they're having problems? As all drives are much the same when it comes to installing them it wouldn't be too hard.

[dhc014]

TDK drives come with an installation video, or you can download it here (45MB!). It's pretty easy to understand...