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Thread ID: 51752 2004-11-29 02:37:00 Which external dvd-burner should i buy? robert_m_r_w (3943) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
297679 2004-11-29 02:37:00 Which external dvd-burner should i buy?
LiteOn SOHW-812SX (shopper.cnet.com)
or Plextor px-708UF (www.plextor.com)
Basically, the Liteon model is USBv2 with 12x8x8 while the Plextor is a Firewire and USB v8 interface with 12x8x4 (hence the expensive one)
without regarding price (that comes later), any of you guys used the above drives?
robert_m_r_w (3943)
297680 2004-11-29 02:44:00 I would say firewire would be better / faster and maybe more reliable than USB2.

What are you running XP? and USB 2 onboard I take it and what speed is it?

Altho, there's nothing wrong with internal dvd burners. Most of them are cheaper than USB2 or firewire burners.
Spacemannz (808)
297681 2004-11-29 02:47:00 Havent used either of the drives, but have you considered buying an internal DVD-RW and mounting it in an USB2.0 external 5.25' bay? It'll probably work out cheaper and give you greater flexibility, plus you'll have a greater choice of drives?

Both LiteOn and Plextor are highly regarded as optical drive manufactuers, Plextor are the best money can buy and their prices reflect that, where as LiteOn are still a top quality drive but also alot cheaper.

Based on the infomation youve provided i'd go with the liteOn drive as its most likely cheaper and the ability to burn faster would be good.
Pete O'Neil (250)
297682 2004-11-29 02:48:00 (i should put more info first)
the reason i've choose an external is because i currently owned an IBM T40 laptop running WinXP SP2 with a firewire PC card attached
been looking at the Liteon site and they only offered USBv2 based models
what about other brands thay have USBv2 and firewire interface?
(looking at sony website now, assuming they are expensive)
robert_m_r_w (3943)
297683 2004-11-29 02:50:00 Both good brands,USB2 does the job fine so i wouldn't be paying extra for gimmick...

Back in the day Plextor made drives that were better then all others at doing 1-to-1 copies and getting around copy protection,This reputation still stands today but its perty much unwarrented.....
metla (154)
297684 2004-11-29 02:52:00 what the speed differences between usbv2 and firewire again? again, since i have the pc card for the firewire, i want to use it. robert_m_r_w (3943)
297685 2004-11-29 02:53:00 > I would say firewire would be better / faster and
> maybe more reliable than USB2.
Care to provide some links or refrences to back up that statement Spacemanz? Seeing as USB 2.0 is 480mbps and IEEE 1394a is only 400mbps, it would be safe to assume that USB 2.0 is faster than Firewire. Cant say ive ever had problems with reliability either, care to elaborate?

Robert does your laptop not have USB 2.0? If you were to use an external 5.25' enclosure, you could easily get one of those with both firewire and USB 2.0.
Pete O'Neil (250)
297686 2004-11-29 03:29:00 Hi Pete,

My understanding is that Firewire puts no overhead on the CPU, while USB2 does, hence Firewire is deemed "more reliable" or more stable....

:-)
Marlboro (4607)
297687 2004-11-29 03:59:00 The different architecture (www.cwol.com) makes a difference. Graham L (2)
297688 2004-11-29 05:29:00 For me I would choose one with USB2 interface rather than Firewire.
Not that I have anything against Firewire but most machines don't have a Firewire interface anyway but rather a lot have USB 1.1 or 2.

Being as you are going External you may find it useful to transfer data to and from other machines than your own. Loads of Pics or music for example.

I know YOU have firewire but the DVD burner may be useful for other functions as it were.

Plextor and LiteOn are both good brands.
Elephant (599)
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