Lightscribe - Worth it or Dead in the H2O?

i know - not really AW related, but posted here as I am pndering the AW purchase....

so - while it seems kewls, and i really do not burn cd's a ton, the idea of it is appealing since i can only draw stick figures....
i see most here have opted not to get it, but a cpl recently i have seen have gotten it....

just curious for the uses for those that have it, and the reasons others have not....

peace out.

 

@RYU - I think people just get it because it sounds cool. Honestly, I bet you that no one here has even used their lightscribe on their computes. Basically, lightscribe lets you etch a logo into a DVD from the burner. While this may sound cool, you have to pay more per DVD because lightscribe DVD's cost more.

Honestly I think it is quite silly for most people because I do not think many here use it but buy it anyways.

 

I use mine to mark my slipstreamed Windows installation CDs for 4 different computers with the product key (I know that you can just have it automatically insert the product key using nLite), but then I don't have to worry about losing the sleeve with the product key.

For $35USD, it's always better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

 

Only get one if you know you'll use it.

Jeez Stone, do you really have to call it dumb?

I borrowed a friend's laptop to burn a lot of lightscribe DVDs because I'm very DIY with my gifts and I burned my friends a lot of mix CDs, photo compilations, videos, etc and I wanted to add my own personal touch to them.

 

@Miho - I changed it yea I don't know what I was thinking with that comment. But I agree with Miho with the "Only get one if you know you'll use it". I had lightscribe on my last laptop and never used it once.

 

see that y i am mixed.
i burn cd's for fam and friends, and just make it worse when i write on em..lol
not like i will use it on avg of say 3 times a week, but i can avg a good 1 time a week if i desired to....

 

lol, well get it if you wish but Stone is right about the disks being more expensive. Keep that cost factor in mind too.
That being said, it is only $35.

 

how much xtra are the disks? and are they sold in smaller packs as well i assume?

 

Prices for the regular CD-R/RW and the lightscribes are negligible. Maybe a few dollars more for a pack of the same quantity. But keep in mind, they're a one-shot burn as well on the lightscribe surface.

 

oh - never knew they were a one shot burn....figured the scribe part was but not the data...

thx WAC....

 

Just to clarify, it depends on the type of media you get, as far as the data side. The CD-RW are re-writables (up to an extent technically as long as the dye on the data writing surface is still stable). The CD-Rs are one shot burns.

But it sounds like we both understand that the scribe surface is also a one-way burn.

 

Don't you have to have some additional litescribe software?


And do you HAVE to use special litescribe disks?

 

got it....
i thought the special cd's for the scribe technology only allowed for one write to the disk...but it appears as if i can get rw capable cd's that i can scribe onto....

 

You can get limited function software from lightscribe.com for free (not sure if AW has software for it) - and I *THINK* that Nero, Roxio, and other media creating/editing software support the LightScribe. And as far as I know, LightScribe disks (under other manufacturers such as TDK, Memorex, ...) are the only ones widely available that will work with the drives. I don't think there's an alternative medium.

 

For burning normal CDs and CD/RWs and DVDs for that matter, you can use normal disks...only when you need to laser etch something onto the disk do you use the lightscribe compatible disk.

Prices for lightscribe disks can be found below:

http://www.nierle3.com/s01.php?shop...7791712429&pp=suche&I1_x=16&I1_y=13&I1=search

To see a complete list of disk manufacturers, please visit the link below. Now theyr also offering coloured disks.

http://www.lightscribe.com/products/index.aspx?id=106

A complete list of companies that offer lightscribe software please visit:

http://www.lightscribe.com/products/index.aspx?id=105

For free lightscribe software..I found this link:

http://www.lightscribe.com/files/setup.zip

Just click on it and the download should start...

The link below also has some free lightscribe software listed (freeware)

http://www.burnworld.com/software/lightscribe.htm

Furthermore..the price difference between regular disks and lightscribe disks is negligible. But your going to use lightscribe disks only when you need to right...under regular use we mostly end up using normal disks..

Also, I personally feel that the $35 for the lightscribe is worth it, as it is a small price increase over a regular combo drive...

Yemo

 

Sorry Forced, when you asked if you HAVE to use the lightscribe only, I assumed you were talking about the scribing process in itself, not burning data, of which of course, Yemo clarified that you can use any brand CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, or DVD-RW.

Sorry again for any confusion that I may have caused.

 

wow - great info yemo thx

rep +1

 

thank you ryujin! always happy to help

 

Keep in mind too that lightscribe etched logos on CDs have a limited lifetime, they start to fade and it has been reported that if left in warm places (like a cars cdplayer) for 2 months then the etched logo is gone.

 

I got my m15x with lightscribe and I've used it 3 times because I don't use cds a lot. However, it is cool for when I burn things for friends. Alienwares come with Nero and you use it to put designs on it. The lightscribe site also has premade designs for discs and whatnot to use.

As for discs... I paid like $7 for 10 at walmart in May so they aren't -that- expensive especially if you don't burn that many cds.

 

kewls - thx as well pokefluffy....great name btw....

*wondering if you played D&D at one time*

 

Haha... at one time? I still do

 

hehe - D&D online does not count btw....

well i think i will get LS with whatever NB i decide to go with then....thx to all!!!!

 

I'd just like to state, for the record, I bought the Lightscribe. (it's also listed in my sig. heh.)

I've used it a few times... Lightscribe is an OPTION, remember that. so you can completely ignore it. the version of NERO that AW gives you with the laptop has "Nero Cover Designer" which will do the labels (as long as the service is running in the background... which it is by default)

all I have to say, is that it looks 100x nicer than a scribbled blech on the disk trying to identify it... it IS only greyscale, but still looks nicer than anything anyone could draw on the disk. the only "better" option for labelling, is to use a specific printer that can print directly onto the disks, or use a labelling machine (and those don't turn out very nice, +they unbalance the disks)...

make your own choice!

 

i have Lightscribe on my desktop pc... i use it to make my home photo library with the kids photos on em...

the inkjet printed disks are iffy for me because my laptop is slot load and the paper on top of the printable disks sometimes get in the way...

i like it... but i dont like the colors tho...

 

I've used it since my wife got her new m15x. It can make a very slick looking label if you share photos or files on CD or DVD. I think it was worth the cost, and the price for discs was not unreasonable.