DVD Burners. Does Brand really matter?

[SiEcO187]

Im going to get hooked up with a dvd burner for $150 brand new from this guy that has a friend who works at circuit city. Now at circuit city that only have 4 brands of burners:

Philips Internal DVD+R/RW CD-R/RW Drive
Brand/Model: PHL DVDRW228

Sony Internal DVD+RW/CD-RW Drive
Brand/Model: SON DRU500A


I/O Magic Internal DVD+RW Drive
Brand/Model: IMM DRDVDRW248

Hewlett Packard DVD Writer
Brand/Model: HP DVD200I

Im not sure what brand he is going to get me but does it really matter? I know the pionner a04/a05's have certian features that aid in 1:1 copys but isnt there software able to make copies even with crappy burners? I know they might not transfer all the stuff like the copy protection but im getting a messiah2 and i know that it doesnt need any kinda of patches to play so, are all the extra features of the pionner a04/a05 really needed?

[Elucifer]

copy protection? on dvd's? i'm sure they don't have protection.

out of the bunch their, my pick's the sony.

This has no relevance to that list, but in my opinion, brand does make a difference. I mean, they all do dvdr's... but how long they do them for before they break down is what the extra money is paid for. Generally brand names have stricter quality controls, which means they have a lower yield than no namers which in turn drives the price up. no namers have more leniant quality control, higher yield, lower prices, so the chances of getting something abit off are greatly increased.

Most of the drives there's are fairly good.. but the sony would be the best cause it does both -/+. Don't know about the I/O magic though.. never heard of it.

another long and pointless post by,
Issey

[SledDog]

As 3 out of the 4 models you noted are DVD+R drives only, you better damn well hope the laser in your PS2 will play a DVD+R backup before you spend the cash.

Otherwise I highly suggest that you only go with the Sony DRU500A as it's capable of burning both DVD+R and DVD-R discs. Accept no substitutes...

P.S. There is no copy protection on DVD games other than FADE, which has only appeared on 2 or 3 games and not very popular because game developers have to pay a royality to use it.

[SiEcO187]

So then the only thing i need to make sure is that its a dvd-r and not a +r?

[mystical]

Originally posted by SiEcO187
So then the only thing i need to make sure is that its a dvd-r and not a +r?

yes, and the only drive that does dvd-r in the drives you listed is the sony drive. i highly doubt you will be getting the dru500a for $150, as it is the most expensive drive there priced at $350.

I own the sony drive myself and its a nice drive, worth the money. If you have to, pay the extra money to get it.

[SledDog]

Originally posted by SiEcO187
So then the only thing i need to make sure is that its a dvd-r and not a +r?

No, but you DO need to find out if the laser in your PS2 can read DVD+R backups. If it doesn't, you're screwed.

By going with the Sony, you cover your ass on both sides. If a DVD+R backup works in your PS2, cool, but if they don't, you have the DVD-R side of the drive to fall back on. The other 3 drives you mentioned are DVD+R format only.

[SiEcO187]

Thanx guys for the help. This helps me out alot and it also tells me i my need to be specific about which drive i get.

SiEcO187