Should I get a BUSlink 48x12x48 for $25? Quick Decision

[rclayton17]

Hey all, pretty much everything about my computer is 2 yrs old, including my HP 9300i cdrw (10x burn speed).

I saw an ad for a BUSlink 48x12x48 internal cdrw drive for 25 bucks. That's after mail in rebates, of course...

I was wondering if I should go out and buy it 2mara cuz I haven't seen a newer burner for 25 bucks before.

I like make backups of my music cd's and my games (some of which i can't becuz of copy protections). I use Nero and clonecd.

1. Is it a cheapo product?
2. I think it says smartburn on the box... is that like burn proof or something? and is it good?
3. will it be able to handle the copy protections for music and games? (actually, im curious... which burner can handle the most protections out of any burner?)
4. If you were me.. would you get it?
5. dumb question, but just wanna make sure. will nero and clonecd work?

[cfitz]

According to the description you gave, the drive you will find in that box is a LiteOn. LiteOn makes good drives and is popular with many readers of this forum. The box will include a copy of Nero. You can read a review of the LiteOn LTR-48125W here:

http://www.cdrlabs.com/reviews/index.php?reviewid=131

cfitz

[rclayton17]

heh, quick response...thanks

oh yeah, it might be in the review, but just incase... does it do correct efm encoding? clonecd's list of compatible burners shows 1 or 2 stars... or sheep heads i should say... does anyone know what this burner rates at?

[sonyman]

The drive is actually a Lite-On LTR-48125W or a LTR-48126S (I don't know which), both of which are extremely good burners. It will work with both CloneCD and Nero.

1. Lite-On is of exceptional quality.
2. Smart-Burn is an exceptional buffer underrun protection system.
3. It can handle as many copy protections as any other burner.
4. Hell yes!
5. Both will.

A lot of companies including Buslink and Sony actually rebadge Lite-On drives. The only differences between a Lite-On model and the BUSLINK are a) who you call for support and b) the absence of a sticker saying "www.liteonit.com.tw.

-Scott

[coolestnitish]

Looks like you got all your questions answered (darnit i was late lol). I would say go for the drive. $25 looks amazing. You might wanna mention where, so other people could use the offer too (just a suggestion).
Is it a retail version? Does it come with Nero? Is it brand-new or refurbished? Although I haven't seen MIRs on refurbished OEM drives, I was curious if it is a new drive or not?
$25 is absolutely unbelievable.

[cfitz]

Looks like you got all your questions answered (darnit i was late lol). I would say go for the drive. $25 looks amazing. You might wanna mention where, so other people could use the offer too (just a suggestion).
Is it a retail version? Does it come with Nero? Is it brand-new or refurbished? Although I haven't seen MIRs on refurbished OEM drives, I was curious if it is a new drive or not?
$25 is absolutely unbelievable.

BuddhaTB already has this covered. Check the hot deals section:

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=7629

cfitz

[rclayton17]

ok ok, but only becuz you asked

It's in the Best Buy ad for today (sunday) on page 29, i think i got one yesterday too but i didn't look at it dang it...............................................

It's brand new in box as far as i know.. doesn't look like anything suspicious...

it probably comes with nero

OH, it says BUSlink 48x12x48 internal cd-rw drive (rw4848).... freak, i didn't think to mention the rw4848 if that means anything...

BTW it starts out as 69.99, then theres a 20 mir, and 25mir

[rclayton17]

sorry for posting once again... but there better be some there when i get there 2mara cuz i told you where!!!!!!!!!! j/k hehe blah blah blah

[rclayton17]

dang it.. you post something then you read something and... gay!!!!

ok yeah i see... that guy posted those deals already. Do you think they will still give rainchecks or whatever if the product runs out b4 the 4 day sale ends?

[lightningbaron]

It's a great deal with two conditions provided that you remember to submit all the rebate and you actually get the rebate checks back.

Very good probability it'll be a Lite-On 48x12x48 and bundled with Ahead Nero BurningROM as other forum members indicated. It's an excellent choice to serve as a replacement for your two year old HP 10x burner.

Hot deals at Best Buy tend to fly off the shelves like hotcakes.

[rclayton17]

Yeah, if i buy it i will mail in the rebates the same day. Hopefully the checks come back.

Hey all, will the firmware for this drive need to be updated? Or should I say, is there a firmware update available, and if so, what does it fix? thanks for reading my crap.

[rclayton17]

Heh, i just now looked at the hot deals channel, and notice that there is a hival 48x and buslink 52x from compusa i believe... LOL, deals everywhere

do you still get the rebate deals if you buy them online?
a lot of you seem to be wanting to get the buslink 52x, and i read something about being able to do better with cd protections?

so basically, can i get the deals if i order online cuz compusa isn't close, AND is the 52x buslink better at burning copy protections and in what way?

[rclayton17]

ok, i have posted way too much, and im sorry. im stopping after this

I guess that buslink 52x rebate is over so if i get anything im just goin to best buy and getting that 48x buslink

just plz answer my firmware update question if ya could plz

[BuddhaTB]

Heh, i just now looked at the hot deals channel, and notice that there is a hival 48x and buslink 52x from compusa i believe... LOL, deals everywhere

The BUSlink 52x is no longer on sale at Compusa. That deal expired this past Saturday. However, OfficeMax has the same BUSlink 52x drive for $50 this week. The drive is made by Lite-On.
Check it out here:
Cendyne 52x24x52 Internal CD-RW Drive

[rclayton17]

ok so i broke my promise, im posting again.

Would you highly recommend that i get that one over the 48X?

More dumb questions.. but i have to ask: still has smartburn, correct efm and all that good stuff?

[rclayton17]

ok last question. Im goin to class so when i get back ill decide

I'm planning to buy the 48x drive from Best buy since it's close and its only 25 bucks (mir, doh). i know the 52x cendyne from officemax is 50, but i probably wont even burn at 52x.

1.Is there any reason why i should spend 25 bucks more to get the 52x
even tho i probably wont burn at that speed?
2. Do you think that these fast drives will EVER be less than 25? it's hard to imagine them being much lower in the future eh?

Note: im a 19 yr old on a budget

thank you so much for all of your help

[lightningbaron]

Ask yourself the following questions:
- Between a 48x and 52x burn speeds, you save about 10-20 seconds with the 52x burn speed, does 4x makes a difference?
- Between 12x rewrite speed (48x12x48) and 24x rewrite speed (52x24x52), this will depend on how often you use rewriteable media, do you use rewriteable media often?

If you answered "no" to both of the above questions, go with the 48x12x48.

Both drives are capable of encoding EFM correctly. Ultimately, it's your call!

[cfitz]

As you have noted, the difference between 48x and 52x, speedwise, isn't so great as to justify a 2x price difference. As I see it, you have two factors to consider:

1. The 52x rewrites at 24x (CAV - so the average is actually only ~18x), while the 48x rewrites at 12x (CLV - so the average is truly 12x). Is that important to you?

2. Some have reported that the newer 52x has better media compatibility than the older 48x. This is tougher to judge. Check TheWizard's media compatibility thread to get some data: http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=6005 .

cfitz

[rclayton17]

well, i decided on the 48x and I haven't opened it yet...
I have only rewritten a cd like once in my lifetime hehe

Anything i should know b4 trying to install it?

i have win98se