How to select a good DVD writer

Hi.

I would like to buy a DVD writer.

1) I have not many ideas how to pick a DVD writer.

When selecting a DVD writer, what aspects/specifications do I need to focus on?

Do you have any criteria when selecting your DVD writer?

By the way, this is my temporary criteria:

- support DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW; DVD+/-R (DL), DVD+/-RW (DL)

- stable (or longer warranty period)

- can read most discs correctly, even the lower-quality discs (eg data burnt on poor-quality discs, or discs burnt by poor CD/DVD writers)

- the noise factor is unimportant (unless it is too loud)

Info about my computer:

- my motherboard is A7N8X-X, only support up to 2*UDMA 133

- I have 2 HDDs and 1 CD-RW currently. I think the DVD-writer will replace the CD-RW.

- I use my DVD writers mainly for reading videos/audios, burning DVDs for videos/audios, and for file storage & data backups.

2)

Which brand or model will you suggest me buying?

And **most importantly**, why?

3) About DVD write types and writing speed:

.. a) For the write types, as far as I know, there are CAV, CLV, ZCLV, PCAV [any more?].

Are these factors important when choosing a DVD writer?

Which one should I prefer?

.. B) For writing speed, I'm not sure if speed is important.

Even if they support very high speed, is it unwise to burn at that high speed since it also increase the chance to spoil the DVD?

If so, what's the point of getting a very-high-speed DVD writer?

I'd just use the lower speed to burn a safe DVD.

What do you think?

4)

Maybe it's a stupid question.

But is it true all DVD-writers can read CD and VCD (Video CD)?

And is it true all DVD-writers support at least:

- CD-R

- CD-RW

- DVD+/-R

- DVD+/-RW

??

5) Better DVD media

Apart from dual-layer DVD, is there any better DVD media in the market now?

If so, what are they?

How good are they?

Should I buy a DVD writer which support these DVD media too?

Why?

Thanks so much for your answer.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...Tab=11&NoMapp=0

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16827152058

I was going to recommend the same NEC drive.

This Poineer one is also good. I have an "older" A08 and looooooooove it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16827129164

As for media, I usually stick with Memorex, but that's just my personal preference.

I second the NEC! I've bought at least 5 in the past year building various PC's for people and they've been rock solid.

I would go with the same as above but DO NOT use TigerDirect... they are really slow it took them a month to send out a motherboard and a powersupply that they had in stock... Newegg always fast....

I never had a proplem at Tiger I get my Stuff very fast usually takes about 3 days.

NEC = for home user

Pioneer = advanced user

LG, MSI, LiteOn = past

I hope so that I help you just little for shoping...

The Pioneer drives are awesome. Their CD burning speeds are typically a little slower than everyone elses though (their latest drives are 40X where everyone else is 48X).

Anything Sony you get is probably just a rebadged drive...usually with less features than the original version of the drive. I'd stay away from Lite-On as well...they tend to go bad quicker than the others.

Im using the Asus 1608p, (rebadged Pioneer 109), and in Australia, they are getting better reviews than the Pioneers. (something to do with the firmware I thnk).

The new model is 1608P2S, rebadged Pioneer 110, (not 110D). Again it is getting better reviews than the Pioneer.

I have not had any problems with it, is quite fast burning DVD's, it also burns standard 2.4 DL DVD's at 6x which is quite fast, but i use a dedicated CD burner for CD's.

i have a few Lite-on cd burners for like 3-4 years and never had a problem with them and i was going to buy a NEC burner but this lite on had better reviews than that other one did.

Pioneer DVR-110D. Burns anything you throw at it. Also, it's not rip-locked.