LG 4040B Great Quality Burner
Written: Oct 23 '04 (Updated Oct 24 '04)
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Pros: Fast burner reliable speed, price, software bundle
Cons: Not dual layer capable, smallish buffer, low max write speed
The Bottom Line: Great burner at any price with full featured software suite, just realize cannot write over 4X
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| jamiegor's Full Review: LG GSA4040BI DVD±RW Burner |
Backround/Intro
After not even having a plain DVD player but having a few CD Burners so far, I made the leap into the area by picking up this unit. It costed double what a simple DVD player would, so I said here goes.
Machine Type
Pentium celeron 1.8
512 Ram DDR 333
60 GB HDD
5600 FX GEFORCE 4
SB LIVE! Video card
QDI Motherboard
story
I had bought the unit in Feb 2004 and have probably burnt 200 DVDs successfully (5 unsuccessfully). I currently have not really interested myself with 'DVD ripping' (renting/otherwise borrowing an authentic DVD) decoding it, compressing it to fit on burnable DVD, then burning it); rather I burn mp3 DVDs, data files, ghost images: boring stuff
However boring is where this device excels at. It installs in a snap, gets seen immediately with WIN XP, software installs pretty easily then BINGO: youre off Spielberg: Here I come. Software comes complete with full bundle
NEO DVD
Mediastream
B's Recorder, and some other utilities
INCLUDED SOFTWARE
I have not had such good luck with NEO nor really used mediastream. I am not sure as to whether my files were corrupt or what when I ried(some played ok with other players, others were glitchy), but I did not get NEO to work really much.
Bs Software is a brand I never really saw before, but the console is so intitive it is seamless. It is not that different from Roxio 7 or Nero, you simply drag files then click burn when done. Be sure to do updates and check, thats what I do.
One of the more exciting moments with this burner was installing the BIOS update. I am not entirely sure why this is needed, although it is said to add better compatibility with some types of blank media. You are required to make sure burner is Master and on IDE alone.
Burner has 2 mb buffer, standard for this category machine. 8mb undoubtedly is available for extra $$$ on higher end units
LG 4040B if still available is recommended at this time because although it is a slower rated burner for DVDs it is nearly the fastest. Why, do you ask?
Simple. DVD media over 4X is not yet widely available, so no burner will be able to write faster. 8X disks are now available. I had yet to test them, however this machine only goes to 4X anyhow.
Unlike what I thought would be the case like cd burners, you seem to be required to have the speed rating on the blank media. It seems for CD blanks, you can burn any cd at any speed. Not the case with DVD burners. I had bought cheap disks that were 2X rated, and the burner would not go past 2X. 4X disks would indeed burn at 4X.
Final note: A newly popular mode of entertainment is obtaining Mpeg encoded video clips. Although computers can watch any format (avi, wmf, mpeg, etc), home component DVD players will do the same. It is imperative to note that the cheaper the brand (malata, Emerson vs Sony, JVC), the more compatible the disk is. Namely, if you, say had 30 video clips that play for 6 hours, they will probably fit on a DVD when written as DATA. Converting to DVD format for ALL players will take hours and more than 1 disk. Leaving it as native file allows it all to be left on 1 DVD and saves the decoding/encoding time. NOTE: Only files that are Originally mpeg files (.mpg/ .mpeg) will work. AVIs or Wmf will not work. Renaming .avi to .mpeg will not work, although on the pc the computer seems not to mind. My advice: make a dvd with some .mpegs on it, go to big retailer with assortment of machines in store, and TRY THE DISK OUT THERE. My guess is that any machine over 70.00 USD WILL NOT WORK. My cheap-o Malata home theater with 5 speakers and subwoofer for under $120 works fine. The Bose Lifestyle at 2200$ does not play these disks. (I guess it would sound better, though)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 100
Operating System: Windows
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Epinions.com ID:
jamiegor
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Reviews written: 9
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