Sony CDRW rant

[Herb]

I've this old Sony 4x2x20 now about 3 years, used it always only as a writer, rarely on RW's as reader. I'd made only about 250 complete writes to CDR and CDRW( those mostly in UDF).

Now this darn thing is giving up, just half a year before I would sell the whole box anyway;)

I can read CDRW's only from itself anymore. Audio tracks on CDR fail now always on track one. I'm not shure if I should do any data backups anyway now.

Time to look for any outdated cheepo in the next supermarket or ebay:D


As space is an issue for my next box under planning, what do you guys think of these Ricoh CDRW-DVD combos?:lol:

[Mntsnow]

I personally have not used any of the DVD/CDRW combo's yet as I'm still able to buy faster DVD and CDRW units seperately at a lower overall cost. but true they would save you on space if that is really at a premuim. I just worry about one part going bad and then it effecting the whole thing where as I would still be able to burn a cd or read a cd if the DVD drive died ect.

[Herb]

You got a point, alternatively I'll look into a firewire external burner and keep the slot for a normal DVD/CD.

I don't burn that much anyway, but mobility with an independent burner might become handy for me as well:)

[NDC]

Yep! That's the very reason I never buy combo hardware... Even if the part that fails to work is something I don't necessarily need, I just don't feel to good... I don't even like to buy mainboards with onboard anything...

[jadison]

NDC/Mntsnow - My sentiments exactly, I usually prefer not to use combo hardware in my computer for that very reason. If something goes wrong, and cannot be fixed, then you are out 2 or more products instead of just one.
If space is an absolute concern, then by all means purchase a combo drive, but do some research on it 1st and make sure that there aren't any compatibility issues w/your existing hardware/software.

As for laptops, I would say a combo drive would be fine as we all know space is a premium in most laptops. :)

I use an AOpen CD-RW CRW1232A and an AOpen DVD-1640 Pro, and so far they've worked fine for me. The CD-RW is a 12x10x32, and the DVD is a 40x16 (Reads DVD's @ 16x, CD's @ 40x). I was never into spending top dollar for the premium brand product. If it offers the features I need, and has an attractive price tag...that's what I go for (not always the brand name).

[Herb]

Update:
After a lot of research, I've decided to go with an external Philips Jack Rabbit burner. It has 4x4x8 on USB which I currently use and will do 12x8x36 on firewire. All cables with it and it can play off-line MP3's:D

It installed flawless within minutes and burned nicely an Audio-CDRW ready for the the hifi devices:)

[jadison]

Herb: Glad to hear of the good news and that you were able to find/install/setup/use a CDRW that worked great and hopefully didn't cost a whole lot. :)

[Herb]

....and hopefully didn't cost a whole lot.
Well, those externals aren't that cheapos anyway LOL , but I'm in reminisce about something MrC mentioned a while back: Quote "Money isn't the issue" A: "I like that":bunny:

As said, space is an issue (the PC-stuff is located in the living room, and spouse is really concerned about all this techy stuff), I'd like to set up a minimum noise/space/interference but maximal power/flexability/advanced new system to go with for the next 3-4 years:busted:

Current specs for about July, subject to change on any occasion;)
Mobo: Soyo Dragon plus with 2000XP or better
Case: PC-silent ATXmini (composite plastics, HP-patent)
Fans: Inlet/CPU/PSU low noise from Verax.de
Grafics: ATI Radeon 8500DV
HDDs: Current 80 gigs Maxtor 5400/min and a few more for audio/video stuff.

All others may be just periphical stuff attached when ever required.

[surrealchereal]

Well, let us know after you've used the USB CDrw for a while.
I have been thinking one would be good for my setup. I have 3 computers with out CDrw's and if I were to build a new "cow" I could leave off the cd and just use that to install the OS etc.

[Herb]

It's just fine, simple to hook up or put aside when not in use. No coasters yet;). It's not the fastest on USB1, but I yet have to hook it to a firewire box:)

The only trouble with lots of periphical devices, you need a bunch of separate AC/DC converters, they are almost proprieatary design.
I'd thaught already about to build a separate PSU with lots of different DC connectors and outlets:(