Computer newbies: External DVD burner capabilities???
External DVD burner capabilities???
by zippykp - 6/18/08 8:33 PMI began to research USB EXTERNAL DVD writer/burners as part of my hard drive back-up plan, and have gotten completely confused regarding DVD burner capabilities and use.
I merely want to back up Word documents, archived internet info folders, photos and short videos I've taken with that option on my still camera. I'm not copying Hollywood movies or music.
Will DVD burners copy text to a DVD?? (I know they copy audio and video.) I realize there are many examples of burners, and is a burner the same thing as a DVD writer??
I have a failing CD driver built into my computer onto which I could both copy to, and read from the contents of CD's. (Here's how clueless I am.) After you copy something via a DVD burner, I'm sure you can re-read/see what you've done? But do these external burners allow you to read information DVD's from other sources or watch a movie DVDs?
Prices range from $25 to over hundreds. Are there any recommendations? Thank you very much. Zippy
Re: external DVD-writer
by Kees Bakker
- 6/19/08 12:07 AM
In reply to: External DVD burner capabilities??? by zippykp
Yes, burner and writer ary synonyms. It's the same.
Yes, all burning programs have something like a 'data' mode, where they just copy files to a Windows-compatible folder. It's more or less like making a copy in My Computer. Details, of course, vary with the program you use. Most burners come with an OEM copy of Nero, for example. There's also the free CDBURNERXP (works on Vista also).
Yes, with an external burner you can do the exact same things as with in internal one (except maybe booting from it). To view movies you need software, that comes with the burner, but Windows Media Player should work also. No problem at all.
Yes, a burned data DVD is just like a burned data CD. But it contains about 7 times as much data.
Hope this helps.
Kees
DVD + CD
by squirtlewa - 6/19/08 8:19 AM In reply to: External DVD burner capabilities??? by zippykpAt this point in time, the capabilities of current DVD drives are pretty similar. If it's current it'll read + write all regular dvd formats, including dual-layer, and also handle CD formats, too. So the old disks you made when the CD drive was working can be read by the new drive. Blu-ray drives exist but don't seem to be a good match to your situation -- a single blu-ray disk costs about $20 and the drives are still fairly spendy.
I buy whatever is on sale as long as it's a decent brand. Samsung, LG, Pioneer, whathaveyou... the performance is about the same. External drives cost about $20 more than internal, but have the benefit that they'll work easily with your next computer. On a budget you could just replace the broken CD drive
Always verify after you've written files to disk that they're actually there and readable.
Making data files I think is the easy part. What I run into more often is the case where a person thought they were making a DVD or CD that would play on their TV or stereo, but wrote their files in mp3 or .divx format instead (i.e. computer file format instead of DVD player or CD player).
Thanks and another question
by zippykp - 6/19/08 10:55 AM In reply to: DVD + CD by squirtlewaThank you so much Kees and squirtlewa for straightening out what I was almost too embarrassed to ask.
(As for fixing my CD driver: I'm afraid to monkey with anything inside it before I get my photos, research and writings saved elsewhere first.)
I've checked DVD burners and can't believe the price range($25 to almost $1000). I am looking at two Pioneer writers simply because they connect via USB (because I'm familiar with that kind of brainless hookup). One is $35 and the other is $99 (Pioneer DVR-X152 External USB 2.0 DVD/CD Writer). I don't think I have to spend more than that for the minimal, personal tasks I need done but have no real clue. Obviously, the more $$, the more features I might not need. But I'm having difficulty believing the lowest priced writers are adequate/safe to use over time. Besides extras, does cost definitely translate to better quality? and what do you think is the minimum range I should spend.
The last problem is SATA. Many starred writers connect that way and (even after looking at it's external diagram) I don't know if my computer is equipped for it. Should I make an effort to deal with SATA or just steer clear and buy one with a USB connection?
Thank you so much again. Zippy
There's nothing wrong with USB.
by Kees Bakker - 6/19/08 11:48 AM
In reply to: Thanks and another question by zippykp
SATA for internal drives, eSATA (for external drives) is troublesome.
I don't think there's anything wrong with the Pioneer you mention, but Samsung and LG, as the above poster remarks, are good brands also. And www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3538931&sku=L12-1146 for $54.99 surely wouldn't be a bad choice either.
I can't comment on the other one (the $35 one), because you don't tell what it is. It seems too cheap for an external drive.
Kees
Now a question about writing to Dual Layer DVDs
by zippykp - 6/19/08 2:41 PM In reply to: There's nothing wrong with USB. by Kees Bakker
Hi again,
Thanks for the clarification, and head’s up on SATA!
The word, EASY, in the name made the suggested burner seem perfect for me, but I think I may have hoisted myself on my own petard by having read TOO much else without full understanding.
After learning that twice the information can be saved onto a Dual Layer DVD I became interested in that option, but user comments about the Easy Dub conflicted as to whether it wrote to Dual Layer DVDs or not. (I can cite them on another entry if you’d like.)
If Easy Dub doesn’t write Dual Layer, is this lack something I should be concerned about and might miss having available, or is Dual Layer writing an “iffy” process for amateurs (as well as more expensive to buy those disks)??
To make matters more confusing, I also read two comments about DL disks themselves:
>>>“As has been posted many times at this forum and others, regardless of brand, D/L DVD-R should be "avoided like the plague" - highly unreliable... “
>>>>“It has nothing to do with their reliability, but more to do with their design. For burning regular data to, they are probably just fine. But for DVD Video, DVD9-R has technical deficiencies in that they must be burned to the edge."
(I don't even want to go there!)
Essentially my questions are; would it be reasonable and/or more economical to have the option to write to Dual Layer DVDs at times, or a pain in the neck for a technically deficient user??
Thank you very much again for your time. Zippy
dual layer is not new technology
by squirtlewa - 6/20/08 8:39 AM In reply to: Now a question about writing to Dual Layer DVDs by zippykpI'm not remember exactly when it came out, it's at least 3 yrs old. So any drive that doesn't have that built in is kinda old technology.
It'd still get the job done.
I use regular DVD-R or DVD+R (single layer) most often because my datasets fit on one, and the disks are cheaper. Burning dual layer is the same as single-layer. When you get down to it, it's all transparent to the user.
In my way of thinking, dual-layer capability isn't really an issue. But to me it's a red-flag that you're dealing with *really old stock* if a drive isn't DL-capable. If it's been on the shelf for 3+ years, how many times has it been moved, dusted, dropped, clearanced to a junk-out wholesaler, redistributed...
Dual Layer DVD issue
by zippykp - 6/23/08 11:21 AM In reply to: dual layer is not new technology by squirtlewa06-23-08
Thanks again squirtlewa for more basic information (dual layer) I wasn't aware of and the evaluation factor (time) I can apply to tech purchases in the future. I emailed the company in question Friday to clarify the yes or no DL issue, but haven't heard back. Maybe the weekend is a factor to a timely reply, but customer service now seems wanting.
I think I'd better start shopping again with a different manufacturer. Thanks again for another plank placed across gaping holes in my knowledge. Zippy
Re: double layer
by Kees Bakker - 6/23/08 12:15 PM
In reply to: Dual Layer DVD issue by zippykp
No need to mail them about the dvr-x152 having DL or not, because it's on their website:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/BusinessProducts/Blu-rayDisc+DVDWriters/DVDComputerWriters/DVR-X152 clearly states "The DVR-X152 will write up to 20x on DVD-R (single layer) and up to 8x on DVD-R/+R (DL)." So that's a clear Yes.
Did you already try to lookup the specs of the $35 model? You didn't yet tell us the model, so I couldn't.
Kees
DL DVD burning
by zippykp - 6/24/08 6:45 PM In reply to: Re: double layer by Kees Bakker
Hi Kees,
I'm sorry I didn't answer about the $35 special. I double checked that item, realized it was a "refurbish", and didn't pursue it further.
I think I confused things. I knew the Pioneer DVR-X152 wrote to Dual Layer DVDs.
My DL burn question was for the Lite-On EZ Dub. After waiting for their reply, I finally found the Lite-On live chat system yesterday (new to me) and asked for a definite answer.
Tech response:
"Online Support: the DX will not write to Dual Layer discs."
BUT, this morning I found an email reply to the same question from Lite-On which said:
"The drive is able to burn dual layer discs, but it will be less of a problem if you use burning software (like the Nero software included) instead of using the Dub button."
I always try to make sense of products before haunting you guys (and I can't believe the consideration of your latest follow-up to my ongoing confusion) but am so woefully unfamiliar with technology that answers most often lead to more questions. Conflicting specs from EZ Dub added to the confusion. But since…..
1. There was a $45 difference in price between the cited EZ Dub and Pioneer item (my budget just took a hit from an external hard drive)
2. My needs are simple at this point (I'm not copying long movies)
3. I don't care if I can write labels
4. EZ Dub was the only specific recommendation and
5. The Lite-On email gave me hope I might be able to write to DL DVD after all (but I still don’t know how important that option is)
I chose the EZ Dub. (If the Pioneer was a better option, please let me know.)
Even though it’s taken some time to select a back-up system (something which hadn't even crossed my mind before reading your dire warnings), it would have taken much longer had it not been for the generous, thorough advice on this and other threads from you at cnet, not to mention added solutions to related considerations before they were questions (Singapore Verbatim, CDBURNERXP).
Thank you so much again. I’ll let you know how it goes. Zippy
windows media player
by eddieeconnor - 6/28/08 8:18 AM In reply to: External DVD burner capabilities??? by zippykpI have a lenovo j200 model 9690.every time I try to burn a cd or dvd I get a message get a cd burner. can anyone help Eddie Connor
What I know about WMP is...
by R. Proffitt - 6/28/08 8:22 AM
In reply to: windows media player by eddieeconnor
All at this link -> http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html
If you truly have JUST a WMP issue then this is the link to check. If your drive fails in other applications (you didn't tell) then you need to update your post or better yet make a new one.
Recorded for TV
by filly52 - 11/23/08 7:02 AM In reply to: What I know about WMP is... by R. Proffitt
Looking to purchase a DVD recorder for my PC. Is it possible to use this drive on a TV? Sorry for asking if it's already been addressed, but haven't seen this answered yet.
Thanks, Phil
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