Grain

Happy Birthday!

Got mine today, came with BCAC, flashing to BCDC shortly.

I believe non-lightscribe drives were becoming "lightscribable" also, which could put NEC in a wierd spot re royalties/license fees. Lightscribe/lableflash/T@T2(sp?) are all a waste IMO, take too long, monocromatic, cost too much, and don't hold a candle appearance wise to a colour printed disc. Have no intention of ever buying any lightscribe media, haven't used the freebie that came with a drive, and probably never will.

Happy B'Day!!

We losing posts again? Replied once to this already. I don't think the 3500 is crossflashable unfortunately.

Ended up ordering a BenQ 1650 & a Pioneer 111D. Should get them next week. I read elsewhere that BenQ isn't going to change the allowed speed on Verb +R DL's to allow 8X burning with the 1650/5. They want you to buy 8X rated discs to burn at that speed. The rub is that the last mini 10 spindle of Verb +R DL's I bot are rated at 8X (the yellow add on that used to say 6X), same media ID MKM 001. Other people are modding the media code speed rating in the firmware, anyone tried this?

I see the 3550 is crossflashable to a 4551! Anyone tried this?

Was that the first burn on it olde? I found with my 1655 the first disc or 2 both from NIB and after a firmware update, were shite. You could tell on the disc itself where it adjusted burn strength?, as it was a noticably 2 different shades on the disc. Worked great after that one disc, perhaps it's the WOPC figuring out the best burn. Also what speed did it burn at?

When ordering from the States I get hit with prohibitive duties, plus they don't ship for free to Canada. I can get it from a local shop for $49CAD, which is about $42US, and no worries about customs etc. Pioneers & LG's are about $5 less, these are all for OEM jobs.

I saw the review on the 760, and it is a little undecided whether it's all that great. They did use the first firmware however, and there is another out already. Good point on the newer NEC's, I wasn't aware they were that close to release. I have the 1655 LFC, and like it a lot, which is why I was considering the 1650. Probably grab it now, and wait for a newer NEC, Pioneer or the 760.

I guess one other option is the Pioneer 110.

I've started sticking to 8X with all my TYG02 burns, no matter which drive, so that's fine as far as the 3550 is concerned. The 1640 is a great option, but getting hard to find here in local shops.

Anybody got some first hand knowledge of either? I'm going to pull my Liteon ROM from service & replace it with a burner to make better use of the great que feature. Another possible option is the LG GSA-4167B, or the Plextor 760 when it comes out. My thoughts right now are to grab both the NEC & BenQ, pulling my NEC 3520 out also to make room, but I'd appreciate some input.

I picked some up for testing a while back, and yes they're shite. But while they don't verify, my stand-alone players read them fine. If they're bot and paid for, burn em as DL's and see how your player likes em. Just don't use them for important archives, you may as well use them up.

<Pouring gas on the fire mode on> I'm having no problems with 1.2.0.0, using the que, loading all 3 burners up with TY's and rock & roll, scan well, and the DL's still look good too. <shit disturbing off>

I hope everyone got in on the site giving away free unregistered untraceable Platinum Visa cards over a 2 hour period, I got six myself. Posted the link here last night.

I too have given up on GT4, and I was looking forward to the bastard for a year before it's release. Apparently Sony is doing something right on a different note, they aren't planning to downconvert the new HD video signal from Blu Ray discs when sent through analog connections ie. component cables. This would make all the first generation HD TV's incompatable with HD-DVD as they don't have HDMI or DVI digital connections, the only way to get HD from that format, another copyright concern as the signal can be sent digitally from player to TV set. As I have such a TV(analog HD connections only), it's yet another reason that if I do end up supporting one of the new formats, it'll likely be BluRay via the PS3.

I haven't noticed this issue, been surfing, burning and printing all weekend with no probs, but I have a fair amount of memory if that helps?

Still smoldering in dial-up hell....

For one thing, the 716 has been around for a while, in fact since 9/1/04, and it still holds it's own against considerably newer drives. Best DL drive in my rig right now.

Christmas in February!!

Do you use a HD paper shredder, or do you have a disc specific job?

Must admit I'm looking forward to it, but if they think I'll pay 900 bones they're stuffed. My guess is they'll sell it at a loss to begin with, averaging down as production brings the costs down later, as all the remaining big 3 platform comps have done in the past.

Johnny Cash also, "The Man Comes Around", as played during the credits of Dawn of the Dead(2004), great flick, and I might say from a great album by Cash, lots of great cover songs, even a NIN one!

Taiyo Yuden are the one's making the discs that will burn at 18X(+R's) for Plex(initially, more may follow). That was one reason why it's been delayed. Taiyo doesn't make RW's or DL's, so I that's why their not on those lists. I like the idea of PlexEraser, will save my microwave a little work , those bastards stink to high heaven if you leave them in too long.