Richard Karhuse wrote:
Last time I added a DVD burner to my Build system, it cost $29 (USD) and this was for a very good, reliable unit. Not worth my time and immense hassle to do otherwise ....
indeed. Samsung 22X DVD-R burner, SATA for $25 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173
IDE for $23 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151175
those are very reliable, fast, and good drives. My previous DVD burners, including a Lite-On, a TDK, and a Pioneer, took much longer to 'recognize' a new disk, whether it was blank, factory recorded, or dvd-r, the samsung picks it up in a second. The burns I've made from this drive read reliably on a wide range of equipment, even if I burn at CAV (16X) instead of CLV (<= 8x).
Note my experience has been that the average life expectancy of a dvd burner is about 400-500 full disk burns, after that they seem to get increasingly flakey. my current Samsung is on its third tub of 100 blanks.