So what do ppl think about Lightscribe technology?

[Duvie]

Just wondering cause I need a DVD-+RW drive for my 3rd PC and just though instead of getting another 30 dollar NEC I may want to look at something that prints the labels...

How reliable are they?

How expensive is the media?

Can it erase?

What are the best brands?

 

[dBTelos]

Maybe this will help you become more informed.

 

[stevf]

I have one, the price difference is so small now I said what the heck. Seems to be as reliable as a normal burner.

you can not erase the label, but you can add to it later if you save the file you used for the label. there is a small bar code on the label side so it can re-index and know where the previous content is.

Media is not cheap - about $1 per disk so I only use it on the occasional disk I want to keep around with a good label on it.

Brands are the same as normal burners, get what you like, I have the samsung 16x drive and have been pleased with it.

The only real down side is media cost and it is slow - for best quality it takes up to half an hour. My recommendation is to get one as they only cost an extra $5 or so and just use the lightscribe disks when you want to archive something or you give a disk to friends or family of pictures or home movies

 

[pkme2]

Interesting technology but disks are too expensive for this guy.
I use the Stomper & Click & Print labeling software to make all my disk covers, etc.
Relatively easy to make custom labels and wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Boyo]

I have it and I love it. It makes all the difference in a burned disk. I would get it as it is not that much more expensive on an optical drive. The media is much more expensive than a normal disk, but I think it's worth it.

 

[fatpat268]

Originally posted by: pkme2
Interesting technology but disks are too expensive for this guy.
I use the Stomper & Click & Print labeling software to make all my disk covers, etc.
Relatively easy to make custom labels and wouldn't have it any other way.

I wouldn't touch the stomper method in a million years.

Lightscribe is ok, but, it makes a monochrome image, and often you have to burn the label twice so it's dark enough. Add to that, typically it takes 10-15 minutes to burn the labels. I like the technology, but it has LONG way to go... and the discs are relatively expensive.

If you're looking for an easy way to have printable labels, go get a cd printer (like an epson r220 or r300) and buy printable cd/dvds.

 

[Old Hippie]

Because even my printing borders on illegible, I use it on the disks I'm gonna keep...driver, boot and repair. :thumbsup:

 

[corkyg]

I have two Lightscribe burners - use them regularly, especially when I am providing clients with copies of slide shows, etc. Stick on labels have caused some CDRs to go bad - I guess they were not kept in a cool dark place - so the glue penetrated and trashed the CD. That doesn't happen with Lightscribe.

Current media is primarily Verbatim and Memorex. The price is not much of a factor, but availability is. Only a few stores carry L/S media.

And, no, Lightscribe burns cannot be erased. I would not use them for R/W disks. I'm not sure they make them.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: corkyg
I have two Lightscribe burners - use them regularly, especially when I am providing clients with copies of slide shows, etc. Stick on labels have caused some CDRs to go bad - I guess they were not kept in a cool dark place - so the glue penetrated and trashed the CD. That doesn't happen with Lightscribe.

Current media is primarily Verbatim and Memorex. The price is not much of a factor, but availability is. Only a few stores carry L/S media.

And, no, Lightscribe burns cannot be erased. I would not use them for R/W disks. I'm not sure they make them.

My Son-In-Law just bought a new computer and he loves the lightscribe!!

 

[Seekermeister]

I won't have any experience or opinions on Lightscribe, until the media gets cheaper.

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: Seekermeister
I won't have any experience or opinions on Lightscribe, until the media gets cheaper.

Me neither. I have a Lightscribe capable burner but have never burned a label.

 

[Skott]

I got them for my daughter cause she didnt care it added 15 or 20 minutes to the process. To her its cool. The higher cost of the discs does kinda suck though IMO.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Sharpie > Lightscribe

- M4H

 

[eplebnista]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Sharpie > Lightscribe

- M4H

My thoughts exactly!

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Sharpie > Lightscribe

- M4H

Bah! Let's see your best cheetah artwork using a mere Sharpie!

 

[Fox5]

How do you print lightscribe labels anyhow? I've got a lightscribe burner, but I don't believe windows has built in support for lightscribe burning.

 

[mechBgon]

http://www.lightscribe.com/gettingstarted/index.aspx?id=87

The pic I posted is a DVD that was printed with the Enhanced Contrast utility. It takes about 45 minutes :Q and that's my #1 gripe about LightScribe, it's very time-consuming when using high-quality settings.

 

[0roo0roo]

media costs make it not worth it for me. i just use a cd catalog program called cd bank cataloguer. i scan in the discs contents and it makes it so i can offline search for whatever file i want and all i have to do is look up the numbered disc in the correct spindle less writing and stuff. not like lightscribe would make it any easier to find something in a spindle of discs, still a hassle. i just label my discs by number and spindle number.