Which DVD writer?

[Biggles]

I have one of the old Sony 500 DVD burners and am thinking it is about time to go out and get one. Ideally do not wish to spend too much especially with Blu Ray around the corner, but feels it will be a good few year yet before blu ray and its discs become mainstream; So any suggestions for a decent burner?

[zettai]

The BenQ DW1620A - folks on the cdfreaks forum are raving about it:

http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/159

Now is an ok time to buy a burner because manufacturers claim that 16x may be the limit for single layer burn speed which has been hit. Dual layer speed will likely go up to 8x maybe 12x by the end of 2005 but that's about the only feature really worth waiting for this year.

[JoeShrubbery]

I recently picked up an LG GSA-4160b burner and out of the dozens of discs I've burned in the past few weeks I have yet to have a problem. 16x, supports DL media, all the good stuff. The only really big negative against this drive I'd say is its lack of bitsetting support, but if that's not a showstopping feature for you then IMHO you really can't go wrong with an LG unit. It favours burn quality over speed, so occationally if the drive detects you're using crappy media it forces you to burn at a slower speed to ensure a decent burn, but that's just how LG DVD burners have always been. I really don't mind waiting an extra few minutes burning at 4x instead of getting a coaster by burning at 8. :')

There's a thorough review up at CDRinfo:

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Specific.aspx?ArticleId=11079

[zilog jones]

You can't go wrong with the NEC ND-3520A - I read good reviews about its predecessor (the 3500), and this is pretty much the same thing, just with faster RW speeds. Surprisingly cheap, too.