DVD Drives

DVD and Combo Drives

Maybe you just want to watch a movie on your laptop while you're flying to the coast - or maybe it's a movie on your desktop (in

 private away from everyone else in your office!) or perhaps you've subscribed to a training course that includes DVD-based video or want to develop your own videos for publication/circulation (even if it's just among family members, friends or close business associates!).  In any case, you're on this page because you are thinking about - or know that you want - a DVD or combo CD/DVD drive for your computing system.

But which DVD (DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc) drive is "right" for you, your business and your system?  There is an abundance of type of drives that support a number of disk formats (DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, CD-R 52x, CD-RW 1x-4x, CD-R 52x, CD-R Music, CD-R Printable Discs, CD-RW 10x-24x Ultra Speed, CD-RW 1x-4x, CD-RW 4x-10x High Speed).  And that's just the beginning.  So before you purchase that new DVD drive for your system,  here are some of the factors you should consider in your DVD drive purchase:

• Type - The type of DVD drive you purchase is based on what it will do (read or read and write) and what types of DVD media it will support.  You can purchase a drive that just "reads" or "plays" DVDs, or one that reads/plays and authors as well.  If you decide on a "combo" drive (DVD and CD), you'll also have to consider CD media support as well.  DVD and CD media types include:
  • DVD-R - write once media for recording video, audio, images and data.  Data is written at a minimum of 11.08 megabits per second (or faster depending upon the drive you've purchased).  DVD disks have capacities of up to 4.7 Gigabits, so, if you do the math, you can now figure out how long it will take to write that DVD if you get a 1X DVD writer (around 59 minutes).  General purpose DVD-R drives record media at 650 nm (wavelength of the laser) and use discs with a capacity of 3.95G while DVD-R Authoring drives record at 635 nm and use discs with a capacity of 4.7G.  An authoring disk cannot be written on a drive that requires general purpose media (650 nm) - so you can't write a 4.7G DVD disk on a 3.95G drive and you can't write a 3.95G disk on a 4.7G drive.
  • DVD-RW- rewritable format that is compatible with the majority of DVD players and most DVD ROMs (Read Only Memory or Read Only Drive  - no authoring!).  This format supports single side 4.7G DVDs and double side 9.4G DVDs.
  • DVD+R/W - includes some "extras" like lossless linking.  DVD+R is a non-rewritable format, DVD+R/W is rewritable.  This format is compatible with an even greater number of DVD Players and DVD-ROMs.

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  • DVD-RAM - write only to DVD-R general discs.  This format has the best recording features but has significant compatibility issues with DVD Players and DVD-ROMs.
  • Dual Double Layer - burning on both sides of the DVD for even more capacity.
  • CD-Recordable (CD-R)- write once discs that are connected to a host system and controlled by software.
  • Multisession CD - provides the ability to add additional data to a disc that already has a portion of its capacity written (recorded).
  • CD-DA - audio CDs - like the ones you play every day.
  • PhotoCD - just what it says.  Requires a PhotoCD player, CD-i player or CD-ROM drive.
  • VideoCD - requires a CD-ROM/XA drive.  Video CD's can hold 70 minutes of video.
  • CD-RW - encompass two disc types - WORM (Write Once/Read Many) and CD-RW (CD-Re-Writable).

  

• Form Factor - Internal or external?  Do you have an open drive bay in your desktop or laptop?  Then an internal drive might be the answer.  But if you don't, an external drive is your only option.  And, with an external drive you'll need to make another choice...
• Interface - USB 1.1 (12 Megabits per second), USB 2.0 (480 Megabits per second) or 1394 FireWire (400 Megabits per second) are the easy port standards, however, there are also SCSI connected drives on the market (80 Megabits per second) and PCMCIA for your notebook as well.
• Speed - Multiples of the original playback and writing speeds of the first generation of DVD and CD drives.  For DVD's 1X writing is at 11.08Mbps, for CD's 1x is 153,600 bytes per second.  Additionally, you'll see another acronym related to speed - CAV (Constant Angular Velocity).  This is the speed at which the disc rotates.  Speed is always good, but, if your system is slow, expect that your DVD/CD writing performance will suffer as well.

• Writing Mode - There are a number of writing modes that drives use to get the data onto the DVD/CD.
  • For DVDs:
    • Disc at Once (DAO) - requires a lead-in program data and lead out to be written all at once (you'll also hear this called session recording).
    • Incremental Writing - files are recorded one at a time (minimum 32K file size).  However, until the complete "burn" has taken place (lead-in and lead-out as well as all the data/files), the disc cannot be read.
    • Multi-Border
    • Multi-Session
    • Random Recording
    • Restricted Overwrite
    • Sequential Write
  • For CDs:
    • Disc at Once (DAO) - as above.
    • Track at Once (TAO) - the session is written in segments and the disc can be read even though not "completed" as each track is "complete" in itself.
    • Incremental/Packet Writing - allows several writes within a track.  Packets are bounded by 7 blocks for run-in, run out and link.
    • Fixed Packet
    • Multi-Session
    • Over-Burn
    • Packet Writing
    • Raw Mode Burning
    • Session at Once
    • Variable Packet.
• Software - most drives come with "player" and "authoring" software.  Although you can always purchase software that is more in tune with your specific requirements (see our Video Editing and DVD Burning Software page for more information) the software that is included is always a consideration - especially if it is an especially good "bundle" or package.

So, ready to take a look at what is out there?  We've tried to hit on the majority of DVD and combo drives and their manufacturers.  In fact, the number was so large, that we had to build a separate document with all the choices on them (and relevant information).  You can find this document at:  DVD and Combo Drives.

Additionally, we've chosen our favorite drive from every manufacturer.  Just look for the ³ symbols!

Finally, after you've burned that DVD, you might need a large number duplicated for your customers or business partners.  If you're looking for a third party to burn them, check out:  CD DVD Replication.

DVD and Combo Drives Review

DVD and DVD/CD Combo Drives*

(Rankings - best, 5 symbols, worst, 1 symbol)

* A = Amateur, R = Rookie, P = Pro

Addonics

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Addonics makes seven DVD burners and six CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drives, using FireWire, PCMCIA or USB 2.0 to connect to your system and three stand alone DVD writer/duplicators.  Addonics software drivers are easy to install.  Packaged burning and reading software is straight forward in its implementation and installation processes as well.

Cost - $$$$

Addonics external DVD burners are priced from $109.95 to $165.00 and the combo CD-RW/DVD-ROMs from $119.95 to $159.00.  The stand alone duplicators are priced at $269.95 for USB connectivity, $289.95 for FireWire and $255.00 for a stand alone duplicator with no connectivity.  See our product matrix DVD and Combo Drives for all pricing and product information.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

We believe that the "burning" drives especially are big productivity boosts for small business owners.  Burning DVDs for customers with text, audio and/or video files can help enhance your business' corporate image and professionalism as well as make it easy for your business partners to access sales/marketing/training or other high value content.  And, if you can simply do it yourself - you'll (in the end) save tons of time and money you would have spent using a third party and driving back and forth or sending edit after edit to your vendor for "burning".  Addonics adds functionality with a number of external drive options as well as DVD duplicators/burners.

Ease of Use - @@@@

The drives in themselves are easy to use, with extras like auto media detection.  Add on software is from Sonic and Nero - well known names in CD/DVD play back and burning.
Works With - YYYYY

Although most of the add on software is not compatible with any other environment than Windows, the drives themselves (dependent upon their hardware interface) are compatible with a number of OS's including Windows, Macintosh, Linux and Sun Solaris.

Support - ppp1/2

Addonics DVD drives carry a one year warranty.  The tech support area on their web site includes a FAQ, user guides and driver downloads.  If you need more help you can email, fax or telephone them (no "800" number, you must pay long distance charges where they apply.  After two years, Addonics supports owners via email only.

Features - iiii1/2

Addonics' DVD product portfolio includes some interesting permutations of external DVD drives.  Burners come in 8x and 16x speeds with FireWire, USB 2.0 support on almost every iteration.  Dual layer burners are available.   Additionally, they make 3 1-to-1 DVD duplicators at 8x and 16x speeds for those of you requiring the ability to copy your DVD's for distribution to customers or business partners.  Drives also come standard (depending upon configuration) with Sonic MyDVD, Nero Express and/or Power DVD.

Overall Rating - %%%%+

If you've decided on an external DVD drive, there's a very good chance that Addonics has one that will meet your needs - in price, performance, form/factor (small form factors in the Pocket line) and features/functions.  A diverse product set, competitively priced.

Alera

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Alera makes twenty-three stand alone, USB 2.0 or Serial ATA-enabled DVD/CD duplicators, Blu-Ray duplicators, auto loaders and publishing systems.  Alera's DVD duplicators have easy to install software drivers.  Add-on software is also straight forward to implement. 

Cost - $$$1/2

Alera's four 1:1 DVD duplicators are priced at $299.00, $319.00 (2), and $349.00, the three 1:2 duplicators are $329.00, $429.00 and $479.00, the four 1:3 duplicators range in price from $479.00 to $959.00, the two 1:4 duplicators are $639.00 and $739.00, the three 1:7 duplicators are $1,269.00, $1,379.00 and $1,489.00, the 1:8 duplicator is $1,269.00 and the two 1:11 duplicators are $1,999.00 and $2,149.00.  The three auto-loaders are $3,199.00 (1:3, two models) and $3,699.00 (1:5).  The Blu-Ray duplicator is $3,199.00.  See our product matrix DVD and Combo Drives for all pricing and product information.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

We believe that the "burning" drives especially are big productivity boosts for small business owners.  Burning DVDs for customers with text, audio and/or video files can help enhance your business' corporate image and professionalism as well as make it easy for your business partners to access sales/marketing/training or other high value content.  And, if you can simply do it yourself - you'll (in the end) save tons of time and money you would have spent using a third party and driving back and forth or sending edit after edit to your vendor for "burning".  Alera adds functionality with DVD duplicators that are "stand alone" and do not require a computing system to operate. 

Ease of Use - @@@@

The duplicators include a variety of software suites for burning and label making to enhance the capabilities of the devices.  All the duplicators include LCD-based menus for easy operation as well.
Works With - YYYYY

Duplicators are OS independent in "stand alone mode".  Software is designed for use with Windows-based systems.

Support - ppp1/2

Alera's duplicators carry a one year warranty.  The tech support area on their web site includes a FAQ and driver downloads.  If you need more help, you can contact technical support via email or telephone (no "800" number, you must pay long distance charges where they apply). 

Features - iiii1/2

Alera offers a comprehensive suite of duplicator products.  If you need to duplicate DVD's these devices can be real time savers!  Duplicators come in 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:7, 1:8 and 1:11 iterations and Alera also offers three automated  duplicators that can duplicate up to 180 or 200 DVDs unattended.  Alera also includes Nero DVD or their Aleratec authoring software with most models and a number of the duplicators support LightScribe labeling.  Finally, Aleratec also offers a 1:3 duplicator for Blu-Ray discs.

Overall Rating - %%%%+

If you are looking for a way to duplicate DVD's, we recommend you take a close look at the products from Alera.  They are competitively priced, reasonably fast and don't require that you hook them up to your computing system (you save the cycles on it for editing your video!). 

AOpen

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

AOpen makes five internal DVD writers, two internal DVD-ROM's, one external DVD burner and three internal CD-RW/DVD combo drives.  The internal drives require you to open up your desktop to install them into an open drive bay.  After that,  driver software installs easily where necessary.  The external drive uses USB 2.0 to connect to your system.

Cost - $$$$1/2

AOpen's DVD-ROM's are priced at $23.99 and $27.99, the internal CD-RW/DVD combo drives are priced at $28.99, $32.48 and $39.00, the external DVD burner is $66.99 and the internal burners range in price from $35.00 to $52.99.   See our product matrix