Need or want that new function provided by newer burner drives - Dual Layer DVD recording? I still remember paying $200 for a new DVD burner just a few years back for recording to single layer media! The Sony DW-Q120A at $30 is almost unbelievable, but a true price breakthrough.
Why it's for you and me!
With the ability to burn double layer media of 8.5 Gb. (some claiming 9.4 Gb.), where two DVD disks would otherwise be needed, many should be interested in a drive such as this one to allow the use of only one large capacity DVD disk. With the size of Windows OS now, this means you can again copy your entire Windows OS to a single DVD - since many Windows installs now far exceed the 4.7 Gb. offered by single layer media. Just imagine how many MP3's you can add to only one disk - you'll have the opportunity to listen to them in random mode, day in and day out, without playing the same song twice. Categorize your music and play it all day by mood, artist, genre, or year, as you please - all with the knowledge your music is much safer from any loss. Videos can enjoy full rich formats with extreme detail for your viewing pleasure as you store them for future use. These rich formats otherwise don't allow for the time many videos will run in length on older DVD media without multiple disks.
Why I chose this drive
Sony has been my choice for optical drives for some time now. The quality they've offered has been flawless. I switched from IBM long back for a consistency in performance and manufacture, and my first experiences with Sony optical drives showed me they were much quieter in operation. That one immediate noise difference was greatly appreciated. Since then, I've had nothing but reliable service from all my Sony drives. Not only are they quiet in operation, but they never fail to properly read or burn to my media. Also, as this drive comes in black, it matched my computer and existing Sony drives perfectly.
No added software needed for the reader section (unless you have PDF or certain other files to be read), these drives are instantly made ready for use by Windows XP and many other OS from Post. The most of you will never need to do anything more at installation than screw them into position, make the PATA IDE cable and Molex power connections, and configure the drive for Master/Slave/Cable Select - using the small supplied pin connector. To burn data though, you will need a burner program compatible with your OS if none is supplied with your purchase (some etailers will throw in a free program at purchase). This function can also be tailored by the use of most any good choice in a program for this. Sonic, Nero, NTI, and others, make excellent programs for this.
*Of note: You may need to clear your BIOS for the motherboard to recognize your drive, especially if you previously had a hard drive connected to the same IDE.
I actually was interested in another newer Sony model with slightly faster dual layer burn and read speeds, but you have to also realize that the media and programs out there are only capable of certain reliable burn speeds - sometimes much slower than advertised levels on media and software. Only recently, I was also reminded that some media must be burned as slowly as 1X to transfer properly - as I copied my downloaded Betas of VISTA to disk. (I had to manually set my burner program to 1X for this.) At first I had thought something was wrong with my favorite burner program or my downloads - but after checking the downloads and trying several others, I found the only problem was the faster transfer speeds my drives, media, and software, allowed for.
As far as read speeds, I've never experienced any problem with any drives that failed to reach the speeds this drive is capable of, nor have I found any problem using this one.
A few specifications for your perusal:
Standard 5" form factor
Cache:
2 Mb.
Write Speed:
CD-R: 48X
CD-RW: 24X
DVD-R: 16X
DVD+R: 16X
DVD+RW: 8X
DVD-RW: 6X
DVD+R DL: 8X
DVD-R DL: 4X
Read Speeds:
DVD-ROM 16X
CD-ROM 48X
Also on unit:
_Front 1/4 headphone port
_Thumb wheel for tracking adjustment (I never needed to adjust any of mine)
_Rear 4 pin audio connection available (when needed)
Operating Temperature - 5 degrees to 45 degrees C
Final thoughts:
As my recent purchase of the
ASUS M2N32 came with InterVideo media, I used its included CD/DVD burner with my
Windows XP 64 OS. Still, as I prefer my old
IBM burner software (which also recognizes my Sony drives and Dual Layer), I may re-install it due to the improved controls it offers and the more familiar interface. The IBM program is a Sonic Deluxe version 7 that IBM continues to update with new support features as Sonic releases them. Again, as with my older Sony drives, I have burned no "coasters".
For the few features added in the newer model Sony Dual Layer burner drive, I don't see much benefit - benefit over this model due to price and function. All in all, the Sony DW-Q120A is a fine drive that has already proven its worth over many others to many people. This, included with the fact mine operates just as I expected, means I am pleased with this purchase. Maybe this is one you too will be pleased with. At $30, you wouldn't lose much if the drive arrived dead - mine didn't and the price was sure great.
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