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    Which Drive? DVD±RW, Blu-ray Reader, Blu-ray Burner ?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by SoundsGood, Jul 19, 2008.

  1. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    I'm considering the new Sony FW as my next laptop (although I still need to see it first :)) but I'm not sure which drive to get.

    I like to make backups of the DVDs we buy. On my current laptop I can only copy -- err, backup -- regular DVDs, but since we recently got a PS3 (w/ Blu-ray) I'd like to start buying and backing up Blu-ray discs as well, using the new laptop.

    I'm just not sure if it's the right time yet. Should I get a BD reader and/or burner with the new laptop? Or hold off, then get an external reader/burner later, when things progress a bit (and get cheaper).

    Here's the pricing:

    A) DVD±R DL / DVD±RW / DVD-RAM Drive [included in price]
    B) Blu-ray Disc™ Read Only Drive [add $150.00]
    C) Blu-ray Disc™ Read and Write Drive [add $300.00]

    Any thoughts or advice?

    Thanks!

    Note: due to the current high price of blank BD discs it might be best to just keep a backup on a hard drive, rather than burn it, but I'm not sure.

    :confused:
     
    SoundsGood, Jul 19, 2008
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  2. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Anyone ??
     
    SoundsGood, Jul 19, 2008
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  3. Gregory

    Gregory disassemble?

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    Save some money and skip getting Blu-Ray.

    If the technology sticks around (as it seems clear it will) the price will come down in time. When that happens get the Blu-Ray. For now you'd be better off using that $300 toward RAM upgrades, an external hard drive, a flash drive, a notebook cooler and other fun accessories. Or save it for a rainy day.

    That's my take.
     
    Gregory, Jul 19, 2008
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  4. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    It is probably much cheaper to buy an external blu-ray burner.

    If you look at the options you have, you can only use the Blu-ray drive which can read and write. (Write means burn)

    If you want to burn blu-rays you will need the drive which costs $300 more.
    The $150 more one will only let you play blu-rays, which kinda sucks, since you cant burn them.


    I agree with your last statement, it is far cheaper to get a 500Gb external harddrive than to use blu-ray discs. The only difference is that once the files are burned, the files are safe as long as the disc isnt severly scratched. The external can fail since it is a mechanical drive.

    It is safer to backup on discs because harddrives can fail
    It is one of the risks of buying harddrives,

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Jul 19, 2008
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  5. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Okay, thanks guys.
     
    SoundsGood, Jul 20, 2008
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  6. Kenji

    Kenji Guest

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    Also, Blank blu-ray discs are so expensive that you would be better off buying 2 copies of the film.
     
    Kenji, Jul 20, 2008
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  7. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yeah, I thought about that too, but I wonder if the prices will drop soon.
     
    SoundsGood, Jul 20, 2008
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