looking to buy a dual layer DVD burner, questions

@GrandpaBW

Kind of scary at the price of this drive, you have every right to be angry. I am only hoping I get a longer life with mine, I have had my old NEC for almost 3 years, and don't baby it. Maybe they just don't make them to last anymore so you got to keep buying new ones.

 

As you may know I just bought my NEC 3550A for $37. It is to replace my Pioneer DVR-104 that I bought around 5 years ago for $150. It only burns at 1X and messes up most of the time. It only burns -R and not +R. Don't think it can even burn RW. That's why I got a new one. Can't believe I even held on to it that long. The NEC 3550A does everything short of a Blu-Ray burner. But you guys already knew that. There's an example how time has changed especially when it comes to computers. I can see myself buying a Blu-Ray burning but not right now at $1000. I'll give it a few years.

 

The NEC 3550A...Will this burner do bitsetting..if not which 1 will? I need to buy a new burner.My old NEC went belly up,but three yrs,1000burns.I did'nt just throw it in the trash,I gave it a well deserved Royal Funeral.

 

I believe it will bitset a +R DL out of the box, but NEC does not/will not make a burner that bitsets, for that you need modified fw from someplace like Liggy & Dees. But it should bitset after this. I have an old model NEC 1300a that modified does not work on so I use -R media with it, but it has lasted for 3 years and is still burning.

 

arniebear..Any other suggestion..as I'm not willing to take a chance that even W/New firmware it will work.I would just as soon buy a Burner that will do the job of bitsetting.

 

If you want a burner that bitsets then go with BenQ 1650 or 1655. Also Lite-on or LG burners bitset. I have a Plextor which does it automatically but they are pricey. Some HP drives will also do this, but I am not a fan of this brand.

 

arniebear..Thank U very much,which is the better BenQ 1650 or 1655. Also Lite-on or LG burners bitset

 

I hear good things on the 1650, the 1655 has the lightscribe capability if that flicks your bic. I have a 1625 that does lightscribe and it is nice, but you have to have the lightscribe disks to utilize this feature. All Lite-on will booktype, I never had an LG, but have a Lite-on 1633 and it has worked well for me, my daughter just got a 1635 external and she likes it very much.

 

Pros&Cons on lightscribe,some say to light,some say to long,some say blurry,some say no firmware,etc,etc,etc,..No biggy as I prefer my white printables

 

What are the softwares and tricks to bitset with the NEC 3550A? Someone mentioned that was possible.