Installation was very easy, took less than 5 minutes to install in the computer. The software, Nero8, also installed quickly. I have not had a single failed DVD or CD burn yet with this drive; this is very impressive to me (I am using Verbatim media). The drive is quieter than most I have used.
If you want to use the LightScribe feature (and it does work very well), it will be necessary to download drivers from the LightScribe web site [...] in order for Nero 8 to recognize this feature. Lite-On LightScribe 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive IHAS424-98 - Retail (Black)
This is a great burner. Easy to install, easy to use, good included software (including Nero Express 9), all for a good price.
The only caveat is you can't put two in the same Windows computer. Windows can't recognize more than one of these. LiteOn is aware of the problem but does not have a fix as of this writing. Tech Support says they are working on a firmware upgrade but they don't know when it will be available.
This is the first LightScribe burner that I've owned (I've used about a dozen other non LightScribe burners in the past). I've used this new Lite-On LightScribe unit for reading CDs and DVDs (both +R and -R) without any issues. I've also burned both CDs (-R) and DVDs (-R and +R) with it without any issues. My system is a top end DELL XPS 9000, Win7 64bit Pro, and I didn't have any issues getting the burner to work in it. I bought HP branded "LightScribe" DVD media, and I was looking forward to burning some nice labels onto the top of my DVDs. My first attempts didn't turn out too well, the image and writing that I'd selected was too light, too hard to see once it was completed. I don't think this is an issue with the burner, or with the media, but with me and my lack of practice with selecting a good image that will burn dark enough to be easily seen. I know now (trial and error has taught me) to make sure the labels that I make need to have strong contrasting text and/or pictures, so that when burned onto the tops, they will be easily seen.
I'm giving this burner a 4 out of 5, because I wanted the LightScribe option to be more user friendly (maybe it's a software issue, maybe the laser is not strong enough, or maybe it's just me, but better software and/or a better laser would have protected me from myself, and then I would have given it a 5.
I replaced an existing IDE LITE-ON DVD drive with this one. It worked very well. It has more features and functions better than a 2-yr-old SATA SAMSUNG DVD drive in my computer. It came well packed and fully equiped with manual, mounting screws, a SATA signal cable, and NERO software; whereas the SAMSUNG purchased from CDW was an OEM item, did not come with even mounting screws, no cable, no manual, no software! The LITE-ON customer support was great. Initially my computer could not recognize it, when I kept the old IDE drive as a slave drive. I sent email to LITEON support, and they answered my email next day, and gave some suggestions. But I found out just removing the old IDE drive and IDE cable from the mother board solved the problem. Now this LITE-ON drive is SATA master, the SAMSUNG drive is SATA slave; they worked well. This is the latest model, manufactured in March 2010.
I have been using this drive for about six months now and I have to say that I am extremely pleased so far. I have used it to burn CD's and DVD's and even though I sometimes use what some may call "cheap media" I have had no problems at all. I have used the Lightscribe function on 6 or 7 discs for my nephew and niece and they really enjoy that, "these look way cooler then just a plain DVD" according to them. I wish that the 20 minute process there was a little faster, but hey, for $25 it still works great! I have actually recommended this item to friends and family members and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a reasonably priced DVD drive and burner :^)
This replaced a trusty Plextor PX-708A which survived at least three computer builds and burned and ripped hundreds of discs over the years. I wanted another Plextor but didn't realize how low prices have dropped for good quality optical drives. For 25 bucks, consistently good reviews inside and outside of Amazon, I gave this one a try. It's far too early to pass judgment about reliability but it is fast, quiet and seems to be very capable. I didn't load the supplied software as I have what I need and prefer. This one's a no-brainer - just buy it.
I'm very happy with this drive purchase. It installed without a hitch. Performance is flawless. It's been reading DVDs that none of the other drives in the household could handle (including laptops, desktops, standard DVD players... we simply have too much computing machinery in the house). Disk burn speed is perfectly acceptable for both CD and DVD.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another should the need arise.
The DVD burner seems to be fine. The hardware installation was straightforward. It turns out that Nero 9 essentials has caused me the troubles.
Included in the Essentials package are a number of applications. It turns out that Nero 9 Showtime (the DVD player) is incompatible with iTunes 9+ (Quicktime, to be specific), and so it crashes when I open it. What's worse, it overwrote some codecs, and this caused my Windows Media Player and CyberLink DVD player to break, as well. This same action also screwed up my sound drivers, causing my computer to lose sound capabilities. It has been a slow process to recover the files that Nero 9 overwrote.
I am using Windows XP, so maybe it is better on later versions of Windows. But, my recommendation would be to not install the software included. Apparently Nero 9 is a of lesser quality than Nero 8 (which this used to come with).
What can you say about a combo CD-DVD burner? The Lite-On LightScribe 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive IHAS424-98 - Retail (Black) cost a couple dollars less than the Plextor, HP and LG, it's whisper quiet and it works beautifully. The standard internal 5-and-a-half-inch internal mounting is pretty simple, Windows installed it Plug-n-Play, and away we go. Comes with Nero v.8 software ... I recommend against installing the Nero media player, at the very least MAKE SURE you do not "associate" any files with Nero media player. Again, very quiet, very fast, tray smooth as silk, could not ask for anything more. - Sata - Dvd-rw - Dvd Burner - Dvd Recordable Drives'
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