Using DVD burner as main player

[PaulJBis]

Hi all:

I've noticed that most new computers sold have two different optical drives, one of them for "playing" (DVD-ROM) and another one for burning (CD writer, DVD writer, etc.). I've never paid too much attention to this before, but now I'm curious about it. Is there any reason for this? Is there anything wrong with using your DVD burner as your main DVD player/CD drive too? The reason I'm asking this is because my main DVD-ROM is having problems (see my other post), and I'm wondering whether to buy another one or just use my DVD burner as the main drive.

(Many years ago, when CD writers first appeared, I read an article in a computer magazine where they recommended against it, because "the head in CD writers is heavier, so the mechanical wear is bigger", but that doesn't make any sense: the reading head in optical drives doesn't move, does it?)

[theReal]

the reading head in optical drives doesn't move, does it?How could it read from the inside to the outside if it didn't move?

I heard about that, too, but I don't care because I'm doing simple maths here:

First scenario:
I only have one DVD burner and use it to read CDs and DVDs as well. Let's assume this makes its lifespan shorter, so it will be dead in 4-5 years instead of 10 years. Well, 4 years after I bought a burner I probably want a new model anyways, so nothing is lost.

Second scenario:
I have a burner and a DVD-ROM, the DVD-ROM costs 30 Euro.
Four years later the burner is still good, but it's old and slow and I want a new model (blue ray or something). I can maybe sell the burner on eBay for 10-20 Euro, but putting the DVD-ROM on eBay is futile.

--> in the second scenario I lost at least 10 Euro compared to the first, see what I mean? :D :p