Which CD-RW / DVD-ROM unit should I get.

[Ulysses]

Which drive should I get:

Ricoh MediaMaster MP9120A 12x/10x/32x CD-RW & 8x DVD-ROM combo unit
or
Plextor PlexWriter 12x/10x/32A CD-RW & separate DVD-ROM unit.

And, if the latter, which DVD-ROM unit?

I've read this PC World review of CD-RW drives and am leaning toward the Plextor with its superior Burn-Proof buffer.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[Charles]

I'm not sure which CD-RW you should get, but I heard and I believe that Plextor is very good.

For DVD-ROM I recommend you to get Pioneer 104S (Slot-loading). It's quite, fast, region free after you update the firmware.

Don't get Pioneer 105S because it's loud and there's no region free firmware available yet.

 

[RossMAN]

My latest issue of PCWorld magazine (no laughing please it's a free subscription) but it had good things to say about the Ricoh combo.

I would get the TDK VeloCD 12x/10x/32x with 50 CD-Rs for $180 after rebate, this drive includes Sanyo's "Burn Proof Technology".

Sorry I wouldn't know which DVD to recommend

 

[Noriaki]

I'd get a TDK VelcoCD 12/10/32A, it's manufactured by Plextor, it won't work with plextor customized software but it's a very high quality drive.

And either a Pioneer or Toshiba DVD ROM.

Don't bother with the combo drives...this way you have a 32X and a 40X CDrom at your disposal to, keep two CDs in your drive, it's high in lazily goodness. It's easier to copy CD to CD to (my pioneer 104S will rip audio at 13-15X so you could do on the fly audio copy if you wanted to)

 

[RossMAN]

Also if it matters the TDK comes with Nero, where as the Plextor comes with EZCreator or whatever it's called.

 

[AndyHui]

A review for the Ricoh unit is available over at Storage Review. They were very impressed with its performance.

 

[SUOrangeman]

At $270 (as listed a week or two ago), I think the Ricoh combo unit is the way to go ... UNLESS you absolutely need two drives. I just read the problems PCWorld expereinces with JustLink, but I would rather try it out with Nero before knocking the BurnProof competitor.

If you can get two drives for less, weigh the $$ savings as well.

-SUO

 

[Ulysses]

Thanks for the replies. I will just have to make choice. To be conservative, I will probably go with the Plextor.