DVD-RW Drives - prices

[Jim]

I noticed lately while shopping for a replacement optical drive that
there is a significant price difference between the lowest and most
expensive drives with the same general specs (OEM, SATA, 22x etc.).
Can anyone explain why the higher prices? Looking at the
manufacturers specs it difficult to see any great difference.

 

[RobV]

I noticed lately while shopping for a replacement optical drive that
there is a significant price difference between the lowest and most
expensive drives with the same general specs (OEM, SATA, 22x etc.).
Can anyone explain why the higher prices? Looking at the
manufacturers specs it difficult to see any great difference.

How about some specific examples?

 

[SteveH]

I noticed lately while shopping for a replacement optical drive that
there is a significant price difference between the lowest and most
expensive drives with the same general specs (OEM, SATA, 22x etc.).
Can anyone explain why the higher prices? Looking at the
manufacturers specs it difficult to see any great difference.

Never really noticed a big difference in the prices of DVDRW's. Unboxed
OEM ones are usually <=£20 and boxed ones are usually about £25

 

[Paul]

I noticed lately while shopping for a replacement optical drive that
there is a significant price difference between the lowest and most
expensive drives with the same general specs (OEM, SATA, 22x etc.).
Can anyone explain why the higher prices? Looking at the
manufacturers specs it difficult to see any great difference.

Bundled software ? Nero in one of the boxes ?

Paul

 

[Dave]

I noticed lately while shopping for a replacement optical drive that
there is a significant price difference between the lowest and most
expensive drives with the same general specs (OEM, SATA, 22x etc.).
Can anyone explain why the higher prices? Looking at the
manufacturers specs it difficult to see any great difference.

The difference is build quality, although you really can't go wrong with a
DVD-RW drive these days. That is, if you aren't looking at blu-ray drives,
then any optical burner you buy is likely to be OK quality.

But if you want better quality, you should be thinking about pioneer or
plextor. Mid-range quality would be samsung or sony nec optiarc. There are
cheaper drives.

But again, you can't really go wrong. All have risen to a certain level of
features and reasonable quality, probably due to blu-ray. That is, there is
no innovation in DVD burners anymore, so they all are competing on pretty
equal terms. -Dave

 

[Jimbo]

The difference is build quality, although you really can't go wrong with a
DVD-RW drive these days.  That is, if you aren't looking at blu-ray drives,
then any optical burner you buy is likely to be OK quality.

But if you want better quality, you should be thinking about pioneer or
plextor.  Mid-range quality would be samsung or sony nec optiarc.  There are
cheaper drives.

But again, you can't really go wrong.  All have risen to a certain level of
features and reasonable quality, probably due to blu-ray.  That is, there is
no innovation in DVD burners anymore, so they all are competing on pretty
equal terms.  -Dave

Interesting comments. I have seen a lot of recommendations for
Pioneer but odd pricing. For example, today I see my local store (not
the cheapest around but reasonable) carrying the Pioneer DVR216D in
Black for $29.99 and the same unit in beige for $5 more! They have
Soney NEC Optiarc AD7220S for $29.99 as well as LG GH22N for same
price. On the other hand, the cheapest Plextor PX-820SA is $74.99.

So why is the Plextor almost three times more expensive and, is it
worth it?

 

[Jimbo]

Almost nobody wants beige anymore.  Supply and demand would seem to suggest
that the beige should be LESS expensive.  (because nobody wants it)  But
after a certain amount of time, market forces tend to work in reverse, as
far as pricing goes.  The older technology gets really cheap for a while,
and then the price starts ramping up again.  The supply side is drying up.










I'd have to agree.  Plextor is great, but in some cases over-priced compared
to the competition.  Of the four models the earlier poster listed the
Pioneer DVR-216D is the best deal, probably.  But if these are retail
versions, watch the included software.  The Sony NEC, LG or Pioneer would
all be "OK".  So I'd probably go for the one that included the best
software, considering they are all the same price.  -Dave

OK so I'll forget about the Plextor. In the past I've had good
experience with LG, Lite-On and Sony but I like the Pioneer specs and
some of the features like Quiet Drive. These are all OEM so probably
no s/w with any (or if I push, probably copied s/w).

 

[Dave]

| Interesting comments. I have seen a lot of recommendations for

| Pioneer but odd pricing. For example, today I see my local store (not
| the cheapest around but reasonable) carrying the Pioneer DVR216D in
| Black for $29.99 and the same unit in beige for $5 more!

Almost nobody wants beige anymore. Supply and demand would seem to suggest
that the beige should be LESS expensive. (because nobody wants it) But
after a certain amount of time, market forces tend to work in reverse, as
far as pricing goes. The older technology gets really cheap for a while,
and then the price starts ramping up again. The supply side is drying up.

They have
| Soney NEC Optiarc AD7220S for $29.99 as well as LG GH22N for same
| price. On the other hand, the cheapest Plextor PX-820SA is $74.99.
|
| So why is the Plextor almost three times more expensive and, is it
| worth it?

Plextor charges more because they want more money. Some of their models are
rebadged models made by other companies.

I've owned three Plextor drives and haven't found any of them to be worth even a
penny more than competing drives that sell for much less.

Larc

I'd have to agree. Plextor is great, but in some cases over-priced compared
to the competition. Of the four models the earlier poster listed the
Pioneer DVR-216D is the best deal, probably. But if these are retail
versions, watch the included software. The Sony NEC, LG or Pioneer would
all be "OK". So I'd probably go for the one that included the best
software, considering they are all the same price. -Dave

 

[Guest]

Almost nobody wants beige anymore.

You're joking right? I have about 3600 workstations at my company
that beg to differ with you.

This black nonsense started with gamers, and it wish it would have
ended there. Beige has been the corporate standard ever since the
first IBM-PC.

For what it's worth the DVR-216D (in beige) is $25 at Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129031

 

[Dave]

You're joking right? I have about 3600 workstations at my company
that beg to differ with you.

And all those PIII stickers are really cool, too!

This black nonsense started with gamers, and it wish it would have
ended there. Beige has been the corporate standard ever since the
first IBM-PC.

When I was still working as an IT manager, most workstations were already
switched to black or dark gray. (looks black in a darker room) -Dave

 

[John Doe]

Jim wrote:

Bundled software ? Nero in one of the boxes ?

Some of the newer drives can write labels?
I recently bought some DVDs that have printable surfaces.
I would never stick a paper label on one, but writing on it with a
laser printer (especially if it is a function of the DVD drive) would
be okay IMO.

 

[Guest]

And all those PIII stickers are really cool, too!



When I was still working as an IT manager, most workstations were already
switched to black or dark gray. (looks black in a darker room) -Dave

Maybe at your company, but most of corporate America were (in fact
still are) running on beige workstations.

 

[Guest]

|
|
| >
| > You're joking right? I have about 3600 workstations at my company
| > that beg to differ with you.
|
| And all those PIII stickers are really cool, too!
|
|
| >
| > This black nonsense started with gamers, and it wish it would have
| > ended there. Beige has been the corporate standard ever since the
| > first IBM-PC.
|
| When I was still working as an IT manager, most workstations were already
| switched to black or dark gray. (looks black in a darker room) -Dave

As soon as they decide enough people have black, they will switch back to beige
or to another color. Anything to sell a few extra units.

I never switched to black except for the monitor on my main system. The only
reason I did even that was because I basically had no choice with the type and
size monitor I wanted. As a color for computers and peripherals, black is butt
ugly to me.

So far I've been able to avoid the black plague almost entirely. Only
my mouse (a Logitech G5 which I love dearly) has gone over to the
dark side.

 

[Mike Painter]

Jimbo wrote:

OK so I'll forget about the Plextor. In the past I've had good
experience with LG, Lite-On and Sony but I like the Pioneer specs and
some of the features like Quiet Drive. These are all OEM so probably
no s/w with any (or if I push, probably copied s/w).

I can't find any plextor reviews that are current but older ones talk about
them being rebadged units and I think Pioneer was one of the chip sets used
but without all the features.

 

[Mike Painter]

You're joking right? I have about 3600 workstations at my company
that beg to differ with you.

This black nonsense started with gamers, and it wish it would have
ended there. Beige has been the corporate standard ever since the
first IBM-PC.

The black started with Sanyo CP/M machines that looked like and were
designed to go with the stereo of the day.
They never sold well and the "beep" that came out of those suckers was
enough for a neighbor's alarm clocks.

 

[JR Weiss]

I can't find any plextor reviews that are current but older ones talk about
them being rebadged units and I think Pioneer was one of the chip sets used
but without all the features.

Maximum PC liked the Samsung 223. It's only $25 at Newegg!