# Recommend a DVD Writer **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 2, 2007, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-dvd-writer/410274 "2007-07-02T20:23:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-dvd-writer/410274/1 "2007-07-02T20:23:55Z")
I need an IDE drive that’s under $100 (or so), that’ll work fast and will last. I’d like to consider a fast-working, long-lasting stand-alone unit (even though it might cost more) but I’ve been told: Usually, IDE or installed drives as you call them, are a better choice as they do not use a USB port and the link to the CPU is direct. If you have different opinions and recommendations, I’d appreciate hearing them. ---
**Author:** ![SiouxChief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@SiouxChief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiouxChief)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-dvd-writer/410274/2 "2007-07-02T22:06:00Z")
There’s nothing wrong with an external DVD writer as long as you have a spare USB port. But, here’s a great internal DVD writer: [HP Internal DVD Writer with LightScribe](http://www.amazon.com/HP-18X-DVDrw-Internal-Lightscribe/dp/B000KZHXIW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/102-8694901-5163348?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1183413455&sr=8-3) It supports Dual-layer, it’s fast, it’s reliable, and LightScribe is very cool. If you’re not familiar with it, it gives you the ability to burn a label directly to a disc (using special lightscribe-capable discs). First you burn your data or music to the disc. Then, you turn the disc upside down and burn the label. There’s a demo of lightscribe in action [here.](http://www.lightscribe.com/flash/LightScribe_Demo_Web.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-dvd-writer/410274/3 "2007-07-02T22:13:29Z")
\ Off to IMHO. \ ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-dvd-writer/410274/4 "2007-07-02T22:38:19Z")
I’ve had no problem with LG drives, and they seem to be among the most versatile, handling the most disc types. ---
**Author:** ![Engineer\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9fc29f/32.png) [@Engineer\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engineer_Dude)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-dvd-writer/410274/5 "2007-07-03T01:56:23Z")
I belong to [cdfreaks.com](http://cdfreaks.com), which recently voted on [the top 5 optical drives April-June 2007](http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=214486) I personally prefer the Pioneer DVR-112. The retail version in the United States is also called the DVR-1810. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-dvd-writer/410274/6 "2007-07-03T02:20:06Z")
I put a Samsung SH-S182L in an oldish Dell a while back and have had no complaints whatever. It’s ATAPI (i.e., IDE), DVD±RW, double layer, and Lightscribe capable, though I haven’t had cause to use that feature yet. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-dvd-writer/410274/7 "2007-07-03T21:14:41Z")
Thank you all very much, The recommendations are so good, I’m gonna have a hard time deciding. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-dvd-writer/410274/8 "2007-07-03T21:20:05Z")
slight hijack: what lightscribe software is the best? I tried using the program from lightscribe itself, and it never wanted to work. Is there decent third party freeware available?