help me buy a cd-rw drive

[pentachris]

I got a $150 Circuit City gift card from my future in-laws to put towards a cd burner. I can throw in an additional $75 and wait on rebates to come back, but I want to keep my net cost at $150 (maybe $170) or below.

I've got a Shuttle 591P super 7 mobo - 100 mhz fsb; AMD K6-2/550; 128 PC-100 SDRAM. Looking at their website, I see that Circuit City has Yamaha, Sony, Pacific Digital, I/O Magic, TDK, HP & Phillips drives in my price range.

Most important to me is reliability. Tied for second are quality (of audio discs - I'm a bit of an audiophile) and value. Least important factor is speed - it is important, but not as much as the others. But usually when you go for a slower speed drive, you get a smaller buffer, right? How concerned should I be about that?

Any suggestions?

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If my computer were the eighth dwarf, it would be Dumpy.
-Chris

[mjc]

I don't know...but I would be inclined towards the TDK.....it comes with TDK's CD Blender Software Suite (TDK Digital MixMaster, Nero 5.5 Multimedia Recording Software, InCD Packet-Writing Software) plus MusicMatch Jukebox and Adobe ActiveShare...Nero and MM Jukebox seem to be about the best for making music disks and Nero is just pretty good all around (at least the latest versions). The drive always seems to get favorable reviews and burn-proof does work...

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[diurnal]

The TDK , HP, and Yahama would be on my list. But dont get the sony , its software is horrible. As for the others, dont know.

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Sledgehammer will save the day!

[DDNC]

I have a Phillips,and a TDK on another computer.The Phillips,never had a bit of trouble with.The TDK,had a problem with buffer over and under runs,,right out of the box.I will,say this for TDK,their Tech help,they did help http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif to get it right,and runs fine now. Just my 2 cents.

DDNC

[jeffhhh]

I bought a philips from circut city. It works fine, but I never got the rebate, after sending the form off in July. Still working on it.
Damn rebates! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/mad.gif

[ranchdog]

I recently purchased a Pacific Digital 16x10x40 with Buffer UnderRun

protection and it works fine. (Re-badged LiteOn unit) No problem with

using the 700MB disk.

Found it on sale for 70 bucks retail box.


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....How long is a minute... depends on which side of the Bathroom door you're on. ......Indecision may or may not be my problem......
..........

[BigBlue66]

Hey,

I hear Plextor is just about the best, but they are rather pricey.

I use three different units:

Lite-On 16x10x40 with Nero Burning Rom and InCD 5.0

NEC 7700A with Adaptec Easy CD Creator and Direct CD 4.0

HP 12x8x32 with HP's own burning software

Gotta say that I like them all, and they were all around $100 or less. I will go as far as saying that for ease of use, I like the HP and its associated software. However, the only one I know for sure that's no buffer underrun guaranteed is the Lite-On.

Cheers,

Big Blue 66


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Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.
- Pamela Vault Starr

[pentachris]

I appreciate all the advice - I think I'm going to get either the TDK or the Yamaha. The Yamaha's benchmarks look a little better, but it's also a little more expensive (after the rebate). With the TDK, I don't have to wait on a rebate. Jefhhh, is the rebate you're waiting on a store rebate or a mfgr's rebate?

One of the buyer's reviews on the Circuit City website said that Plextor makes TDK's drives. Anyone know if this is true?

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...
If my computer were the eighth dwarf, it would be Dumpy.
-Chris

[jeffhhh]

The rebate was advertised as a circuit city rebate but I just found out that some rebate company was handling it. A guy I talked to from a number I got from circuitcityrebates.com said the rebate should have been taken care of where I sent it to, because they should have sent it before philips took over the rebates. I called philips and, surprise, surprise, "we have never received anything from you."

When I called the company, who I sent the rebate form to, the recording said I could check the status of it at rebateshq.com. Went there, a few minutes ago, put in my information and this is what it said:

Promotion: PCRW 1208 CD REWRITABLE DRIVE $30.00 Mail in Rebate
Submission Type: MAIL
Date Received: 08/10/2001
Status: Processing Rebate
Status Detail: We have received all of your required information and documents. After your information is processed, we will process and mail your rebate reward. Thank you.

I should have got the rebate in 8 weeks.

[This message has been edited by jeffhhh (edited 12-28-2001).]

[This message has been edited by jeffhhh (edited 12-28-2001).]