I always buy the OEM to save a few bucks, they can keep the cable I already have and the weak software that I would never use.
Agree. Once you have good software you don't need the "lite" version of whatever they package with the burner. Fancy box and installation instructions are not needed either. As for the cable, can reuse the old one if 80 wire/40 pin, but no garauntee a new cable would have come in the retail box, anyway. Go OEM and save the money.
@bigt the OEM Benq 1640 is what i purchased awhile ago too, no need for the retail packaging...it's a great bare drive on it's own...i would say, "go for it~ " docTY~
The BenQ is an excellent drive. If you're replacing a drive, it really doesn't make sense to wast money on a retail packaged drive ... http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Specific.aspx?ArticleId=14268 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=Go&DEPA=0&type=&description=DW1640&Category=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=14&Go.y=41
'Retail' gives you all these things taht you don't really need. They give you about $50 worth of useless software. But that isn't completly true, b/c I got my Nero from a retail drive, of course I also got power DVD and a bunch of other crap.
I ordered the BenQ 1640 OEM. I've heard alot of good things about it. The last poll on "THE OTHER FORUM" I look in on listed it as the favorite. Thanks for helping on the choise of which way to order it!
They do include Nero on occasion, but it is not the full version.. Sometines just the "express" portions will will work. Other times I have seen only the Nero Burning program but no Recode2 or Nerovision and other features found in the full version.
I received the OEM version of Nero but I updated it to 6.6.0.16 (with Recode2, NeroVisionExpress3, NeroShowrime, NeroPhotoShop, NeroDigital etc..) and it didn't cost anything to update it! ..
