(Dead) Pacific Digital 8x DVD±R/±RW drive (rebadged LiteOn or BTC) for $99.94 AR & $30 coupon At Staples

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Eric1285

Golden Member
Dec 1, 2002
1,585
0
71
If anyone can pick one up for me, I'd appreciate it. I'd pay for the drive + shipping of course. The OM near me has closed, so I can't get in on this deal.
 

Damn Dirty Ape

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 1999
3,310
0
76
Went to my nearest one, they had the Magicspin, it has a optowhatever based on the serial #.. They don't even carry the pac. digital at that OM store.. ugh..
 

MysticMan1

Platinum Member
Aug 20, 2000
2,711
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Update #2: Warning! some people are reporting that they are finding a BTC MFG driive in the 8x Pacific Digital box instead of the 8x LiteOn MFG drive.
 

superstein61

Member
Nov 23, 2003
47
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Originally posted by: MysticMan1
Update #2: Warning! some people are reporting that they are finding a BTC MFG driive in the 8x Pacific Digital box instead of the 8x LiteOn MFG drive.

Mystic - serial numbers for BTC chould begin with "P". Serial numbers for Lite On should begin with "4"

 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,344
126
Hmmmm...my drive has a "P" serial number. After reading a ton of horror stories about BTC drives, I may take it back and see if they have any lite-on drives.
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
OM in Lexington, KY was subbing the PD drive for the MagicSpin. The serial number started with a "4" and was a LiteOn 851s drive. :)
 

ron2368

Senior member
Sep 13, 2000
410
0
76
Originally posted by: Engineer
OM in Lexington, KY was subbing the PD drive for the MagicSpin. The serial number started with a "4" and was a LiteOn 851s drive. :)


I picked one up at Staples today, the drive had a lite on label but I swear it was a 411. Is that OK since everyone says they have 811???

They ran out of memorex +R but had plenty of -R. I remember seeing somewhere that +R is better. Which should I get? I am really new to DVD and trying to learn. Thank you
 

dirtrat

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,092
0
71
If thats true then yes you got screwed since the 411 is the 4X DVD writer. I'd take it back and make sure the give you the 8X model.


Originally posted by: ron2368
Originally posted by: Engineer
OM in Lexington, KY was subbing the PD drive for the MagicSpin. The serial number started with a "4" and was a LiteOn 851s drive. :)


I picked one up at Staples today, the drive had a lite on label but I swear it was a 411. Is that OK since everyone says they have 811???

They ran out of memorex +R but had plenty of -R. I remember seeing somewhere that +R is better. Which should I get? I am really new to DVD and trying to learn. Thank you

 

Chucko

Senior member
Nov 27, 2002
486
0
0
I got a BTC drive, I may return it for that reason even at this price. Has BTC improved their products any lately?
 

MysticMan1

Platinum Member
Aug 20, 2000
2,711
0
0
Originally posted by: Chucko
I got a BTC drive, I may return it for that reason even at this price. Has BTC improved their products any lately?
I'm hearing less people complaining about the BTC DVD burner, but with the LiteOn Drive you may be able in a few months to firmware upgrade the drive to also burn 8x DVD- media, you may not be able to do that with a BTC drive.
 

Macro2

Diamond Member
May 20, 2000
4,874
0
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RE:"They ran out of memorex +R but had plenty of -R. I remember seeing somewhere that +R is better. Which should I get? I am really new to DVD and trying to learn. Thank you"

+ is supposed to be technologically better than - but I have a $50 Mintek DVD papyer that only likes -. They say more DVD players like - than + . I burn all movies in -.
 

Pinan

Member
Mar 30, 2003
119
0
0
Just go back from Staples. I showed them the receipt from OM from yesterday and they PM'd ($80) the drive + I get the $25 rebate!

Yesterday I got the 851s and today the 811s. Woohoo! As the 851s won't burn much at 8x yet, I'm glad to get the 811........for $55 yet!

Thanks all.
 

brucekatz

Senior member
Nov 27, 2003
464
0
0
I'm hearing less people complaining about the BTC DVD burner, but with the LiteOn Drive you may be able in a few months to firmware upgrade the drive to also burn 8x DVD- media, you may not be able to do that with a BTC drive.
8x BTC I just got, had trouble burning CMC.
But 4x BTC I got last month, update to latest firmware 048 two days, no problme burning anything (CMC, MMC, OPTIDISC, PHILPS, RITEK). It takes 4 more mins to burn 2x (from 23 to 27), but no coaster. I think, they finally get it right. Let me add this, YMMV.
 

Pinan

Member
Mar 30, 2003
119
0
0
Interesting. As I noted too that burning 2x DVD-R is slightly slower on the LiteOn then with my Pioneers. No blem though.
 

S13SilviaK

Senior member
Jan 23, 2002
991
0
71
I got in on the OM deal and ended up with a liteon 851s is this a bad drive? What's the difference between the 851 and the 811?
 

Pinan

Member
Mar 30, 2003
119
0
0
Apparently some innards were changed after a shortage, hence changing the model #. Bad thing is that it won't burn most disks at 8x...yet. I would think that will be rectified soon though. 4x works fine though.
 

Pinan

Member
Mar 30, 2003
119
0
0
I think it's simply that the DVD-R forum has not approved 8X yet. From what I have read, they're close to doing so.