The DW1655's software bundle is very similar to what BenQ has included with their previous DVD writers. Along with BenQ's own QSuite utility, this disc contains a number of applications from Nero including Nero Express 6, NeroVision Express 3, Nero Recode 2, Nero BackItUp, Nero ShowTime 2 and InCD.
Nero Express 6 - With Nero Express, Nero has taken the features and performance people have come to expect from Nero Burning Rom and combined them with a user friendly interface. While the interface has been simplified, Nero Express still supports more advanced features like VCD and DVD creation, CD/DVD duplication, overburning, CD-Text and realtime audio filters
The version of Nero Express that BenQ included with their new DVD±RW drive is 6.6.0.14. You can download the latest version of the software from Nero's website.
NeroVision Express 3 - NeroVision Express 3 is the latest version of Nero's video authoring application. Using a user friendly interface very similar to that of Nero Express, NeroVision Express makes it easy for users to capture, edit and then burn their favorite videos to VCD, SVCD or DVD or export it to Nero Digital format.
NeroVision Express also lets users add things like transitions, custom backgrounds, animated menus and text effects. You can even use it to turn your photos into custom slide shows.
Nero Recode 2 - This new program from Nero can copy unprotected DVD videos onto recordable DVD media. If the source disc is larger than 4.7GB, Nero Recode 2 has the ability to remove unwanted material and compress the contents so that it will fit onto a single blank DVD disc.
Nero Recode 2 will also let you convert your DVD movies to Nero Digital. Using Nero's own MPEG-4 audio and video encoder, an entire DVD movie can be compressed so that it will fit onto a CD. Better yet, Nero Recode 2 does this without any loss of quality.
Nero BackItUp - If you're looking for a way to quickly and easily backup your data, Nero BackItUp is the answer. This new program from Ahead Software lets you backup your data to CD/DVD, hard disc, image recorderor another computer on your LAN.
Nero ShowTime 2 - Nero ShowTime is Nero's software DVD player. Along with support for DVD's, ShowTime can be used to play back VCD's, SVCD's and miniDVD's as well as any MPEG or AVI files you might have on your hard drive.
InCD 4 - InCD is Nero's packet writing software. Like Roxio's Drag-to-Disc or Sonic's DLA, it allows a person to use their CD-RW or DVD±RW drive as a big floppy disk. The person can then drag and drop files onto a CD-RW or DVD±RW disc. Many people consider InCD to be one of the best packet writing tools because of its simplicity and performance.
BenQ QSuite 2.1 - The DW1655 also comes with BenQ's QSuite utility. This group of tools displays information about the drive and lets you adjust many of its functions. Along with the ability to set the booktype, you can enable/disable features like OverSpeed, SolidBurn, WOPC and Test Write. While not normally part of the DVD+R/RW spec, Test Write will let you run burn simulations on this type of media.
Using the QScan tool, you can also test blank DVD media for Tracking and Focus Errors, or TE/FE. By measuring a disc's TE/FE signal, QScan is able to determine its quality and whether or not it will successfully burn at the desired speed. For the best results, the lines on the graph should remain low and relatively flat.
The DW1655 also has the ability to measure a disc's PIE/PIF/POF and Jitter rates. Unfortunately, these tests are not supported by QScan. However, they are fully supported by programs like CD Speed and DVDINFOpro.
While affordably priced, BenQ's new DVD writer delivers a good number of features. The DW1655 supports most CD and DVD formats and sports some pretty impressive specs. The drive is capable 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+R DL, 4x DVD-R DL writing speeds and a maximum DVD read speed of 16x. Of course, BenQ's new drive isn't just about speed. Along with support for LightScribe, the DW1655 includes many of the features we've come to expect from BenQ like Write Right, SolidBurn and bitsetting. With all this, it's easy to see why the DW1655 gets the full 10 points for its features.
