PC Peripherals Should I buy a new DVD Writer

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superczar

superczar

Keymaster
Of late, I have been watching a lot of DVD movies on my notebook....nearly every night.....
Suddenly it struck me what if this screws up the highly integrated DVD drive!
Not only would it be a pain to find a replacement, but am sure it will turn out to be a highly expensive proposition

SO I thought waht if I pick up a regular 5.25" DVD combo or a DVD writer and plug it in a 5.25" USB casing so that I can plug it into the USB port on the Notebook when needed...That ways, I can conserver the internal drive (to be used when I do not have access to the external drive )
SO My 1st qstn:
- How much of a life should I expect out of n integrated DVD combo drive,...Given the fact that notebook optical drives are top loading, I suppose the life would be lower than the regular desktop front loading drives....In other words, Is it worthwhile to buy an external drive as I may be unduly worried about the possibility of the internal drive failing

2nd qstn:
If i do go ahead nd pick up a DVD combo or writer and a casing....Which one sould I pick and what are the prevailing prices.....

Any help appreciated :)
 
Yes, it highly advisable to get an external drive.

I'm not too sure about the casing but the drive has to be the BenQ 1640. One of the worlds best DVD-Writers, it will serve you well.
 
Usually, the slot-loading type optical drives have better MTBF ratings than the
tray-loading ones. Which one is yours?

External casing shouldn't cosgt more than 800/- to 1000/-. BenQ 1640 seems
to have a better reputation than many other alternatives. So, it's a good buy!
NEC, LG and Lite-On are not bad, though.

- Yamaraj
 
Usually, the slot-loading type optical drives have better MTBF ratings than the

tray-loading ones.
Click to expand...

not too sure about the terminology...I'd suppoe the tray loading ones are those which we typicall have in desktops....

while the slot loading are the one in which you plug the CD into the drive, and the lens gets exposed when the tray comes out....

like the old fatboy ps2's had a tray loading while the new slim ones have a slot loader...Am I correct when I say that?

Though I'd have guessed that slot loading ones would have a lowwer MTBF because of the fact that the lens gets exposed everytime you eject and the lens is also more prone to getting scratched....while what you are saying is the opposite.....

1 more quick query...how much would be the Benq 1640 be approximately?
 
Slot loading means there is no tray. You push the disk into the slot, and it gets sucked in. ( like your card at the ATM machine). So there is one less component to break. And in case of laptop drives, slot loading would also mean that the lens doesn't get exposed every time you eject the disk.
 
ummm....no...I have a regular top loader where the whole damn thing (lens, motor and all) come out on pressing eject.... :(
 
^^^ That's not a slot-loading drive then. What zhopudey explained is a true
slot-loading optical drive mechanism. Remember the old Pioneer CD/DVD drives?
Such drives have no tray and nothing comes out except the disc when you
press eject. Most of the times, it's the tray and related assembly that causes
the problems. Slot-loading design eliminates such problems and thus increases
the lifespan of the drive.

If you've never seen such a drive, imagine one that resembles your typical
floppy drive.

- Yamaraj
 
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