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    Is there such a thing as a Dual layer + lightscribe drive for notebook

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by greatg, Aug 30, 2006.

  1. greatg

    greatg Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi,

    I recently purchased an ACER 5612 and I would like to replace the DVD burner with a burner that has dual layer and lightscribe capability. Does such an animal exist?
     
  2. Apathosaurus

    Apathosaurus Notebook Consultant

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    I don't know about finding one out in the wild, but HP certainly has the option on their notebooks. They do exist!
     
  3. rockharder

    rockharder Notebook Evangelist

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    It only happen in HP store. Since the ATA interface is standard, you probably won't have any problem.
     
  4. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    The interface may be standard, but the form factor may not be. It's quite likely that they don't use a standard low-profile optical drive in the HP's. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but big manufacturers like that often like to customize things just enough that you can't use their parts elsewhere, and you can't use other standard parts in their machines. It's called "vendor lock-in"
     
  5. Ella Grande

    Ella Grande Notebook Evangelist

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  6. NetBrakr

    NetBrakr Notebook Deity

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    Or you can make an external one. I did with a BenQ DVD+/- DL Lightscribe drive and a 5.25" enclosure.

    Diablo Ultra Slim 5.25" Aluminum Enclosure - $25
    BenQ 16X DVD±R DVD Burner With LightScribe - $58

    JC
     
  7. strikeback03

    strikeback03 Notebook Deity

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    does anyone actually use lightscribe?
     
  8. NetBrakr

    NetBrakr Notebook Deity

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    I do...alot.

    JC
     
  9. Ella Grande

    Ella Grande Notebook Evangelist

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    I wouldn't base my decision on buying a notebook over lightscribe, but it is an awesome tool to have.
     
  10. burningrave101

    burningrave101 Notebook Deity

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    I considered getting a lightscribe burner with my new HP notebook but decided against it since the last time i checked lightscribe media was a lot more expensive then regular DVD-R media.
     
  11. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    Well, the lightscribe drives will still burn regular media. It'd just give you the option of using lightscribe media if you had gotten the drive... it's not a requirement.
     
  12. burningrave101

    burningrave101 Notebook Deity

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    Yes but there is no point in paying more for a device that supports a feature you may never use and if you did down the road then there would probably be better options at that point.
     
  13. strikeback03

    strikeback03 Notebook Deity

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    that was our opinion - we have a couple computers with lightscribe drives at work, and looked into using it for some CDs with presentations from a conference (~20 CDs a couple times a year) and decided to instead buy a Epson R220 for $80 and just do printable surface discs. In color, so IMO looks a lot better than lightscribe.