HP External Blu-ray Drive?

HP is offering a USB 2.0 external Blu-ray drive with some of its notebooks (Envy series, Pavilion dm3). I want to buy one of them for my laptop but can't find a link. Does anyone know where to buy them? I am talking about the slim, portable USB-powered ones.

Alternatively, if you own one and want to sell it . . . PM me.

 

Hi Chaz,
is this what you are searching for ?




here is a product photo of the drive from hp´s part store :

http://h20141.www2.hp.com/Hpparts/PicPop.aspx?mscssid=A1DF3A9EE79F407F84E1434F9B840B21&PN=506779-001

if this is what you are searching for, i think you can only get this thing from the Hp parts store. it is listed here : http://h20141.www2.hp.com/Hpparts/S...40B21&SearchIn=PartNumber&SearchPN=506779-001

the part number of this spare is : 506779-001
and the price without shipping seems to be 211.85$

hope this helped...

 

That is the one - thank you for the link.

$211 . . . that is kinda pricey. I was hoping more for a ~$130 tag, so now I need to think twice about this.

 

yeah, it sure is pricey... but i like it , this thing is damn pretty...

i wonder if the surface is scratchresitant, or at least not as "sensitive" as my old 120GB Passport II HD from Western Digital. that hdd had quite a similar nice shiny black surface finish. i really treated that one with care, but it look like sh*t now...

hope hp has a better surface finish than WD for their old hdd´s.

 

Also the Envy Blu-Ray and the one that comes with the DM3 are different. I don't think many people know that, but the Envy one is slot-load (which I prefer) and has extra built in USB ports. The Dm3 is just a standard tray-load. So HP actually makes two versions of a slim blu-ray drive.

 

yes, seems like you are right.

the one i have posted above is comes with the dv2.


i´ve just checked the service manual for the envy, and there are two options for the slim drive external blueray drive for the envy:


1. With bronze finish
Blu-ray ROM with LightScribe DVD±R/RW SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
HP - Part number : 576832-001


2. With black finish
Blu-ray ROM with LightScribe DVD±R/RW SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
HP - Part number : 580131-001


you can find it in the service manual on page 3-11: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01911053.pdf

and this is a picture of that drive:




It is very interesting that HP partsurfer does not show any prices for these drives.
the only option to buy one seems to be contacting the resellers listed here :

 

Thanks for the info! I just ordered an Envy 15 and stupidly didn't add the Blu-Ray drive for $150 I may pick this up, depending on how nice the $100 Sony one I got is.

 

Yes, the dm3's Blu-ray drive is about $340 though, and that's just ridiculous. P/N 580685-001

Hmm . . . there is an ASUS slim Blu-ray drive on Newegg for <$100 shipped:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135198
It must be powered using an external adapter though. The HP drive needs only a USB port.

I think I'm going to bite the bullet and get the $212 HP drive. Nice pics here too:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4963&review=hp+pavilion+dv2

 

It's hard to tell with that Asus... it's got a dual USB cable which indicates that it doesn't need the extra power adapter. No other reason to have that style of USB cable except for extra amps. And on top of that... if the Envy comes with a USB3 port, that should power it fine over a single cable. *shrug*

 

Very true. Well I'm on the fence here, the HP looks great but it is difficult to justify the price tag. For the $100 I'd save, I could get a couple of Blu-ray movies.

 

Yeah. I bought a $100 Sony one off Ebay that just has a standard format SATA Blu-Ray drive in it. I'll see how that works, and if I like it, I might buy the HP to go with the Envy just because it looks nicer, and install the Sony drive in my old laptop.

 

I tried searching HP's store and they don't seem to even list it

 

Nope. You can order it as an OEM part, though. Search through the Envy 15 owner's threads for the part numbers and links

 

No luck, I used both part numbers and they come up but show as unavailable

 

I think HP is currently sold out of the Envy model blu-ray drive. It's not available to be added as an option. Usually when it's not an option, it's sold out.

 

Humm, well I called the parts dept yesterday to see about getting the blu-ray drive. Was told it wasn't available/on back order but he offered to take the order anyway and request it be expedited. But he said he thought it might be a couple weeks. Anyway I get a knock on the door this morning and suprise suprise its my BD drive. The part number was different 584384-001 and it does not have any usb ports on it and is a tray but when I looked the part number up at the parts store it does say this is the drive for the Envy. Are people getting drives now also getting a tray version or is this some odd opps?

Part Store 584384-001

I actually own WinDVD 2010 and was about to install it but when I plugged it in HP Support Assistant decided to open up and is supposedly downloading HP Mediasmart DVD Software so maybe its adding bluray support. Will know soon enough.

 

Well I am positive there are two versions of the blu-ray drive. The Envy drive is slot-load, has the extra USB ports, plus the drive color is different than the standard black.

 

Weird. I'd of liked to of had the extra ports but the tray one does show as the one used, according to the parts store, with Envys. MAybe tomorrow I'll give em a call.

 

I wish I could help you more, what I always tell co-workers (who have bought the Envy) is that if you want to get the Blu-Ray to just get it when you order the Envy. It's so much harder to get it after the fact I'm sorry to say. Let me know what happens. I'm curious as well what is going on.

 

I'll give them a call tomorrow. I do see the actual part that matches the OEM black "Beats" branded part number 580131-001 in stock but not the bronze one. Whats also odd is the one they sent me actually looks more like the Envy in a silverish color.

 

Hmm interesting. Well by looking at the HP site, they have the Envy Blu-Ray drive in stock again and it still shows slot loading with USB ports. But the thing that makes me curious is the color you mention, the standard blu-ray drive HP has with like the DM3 is black and not silver.....which makes me wonder how they have a silver version that is also tray-loading and not slot.

 

I'll try and take a pic tomorrow and post it. When you say is in stock are you referring to the 580131-001 I mentioned or a different one. I couldn't find a picture other than the one on page 1 of this thread which is the 580131-001.

The one they sent me looks basically identical to the dvd option other than no extra ports and the button to open the tray is on the front with this drive instead of on the side.

 

Oh I meant I actually went to "order" an Envy. See the past few months, if you tried ordering an Envy or a Dm3, the blu-ray drive options were gone. So I assume HP was sold-out then of the blu-ray drives. Now, when you go to purchase either laptop, you can add the blu-ray drive again. And specifically, when you go for the Envy, it has the slot-load blu-ray drive as the option.

 

To anyone who's gotten a recent Envy with the Bluray is it like the one pictured on page one or does it look more like mine? Here is a pic of the drive I got sent:



Using Nero's infotool this is the info on the drive:



Is that the same speed & capabilities as the one on page one or better/worse? It handles bluray movies just fine. Like I said the main issues are the lack of the extra ports and not being slot load. If the speed and capabilities are the same or better is it worth trying to get HP to swap it?

One last thing, after I connected the drive to my envy the HP updater launched and downloaded more stuff for the HP Mediasmart DVD app but it wouldn't play Blu-rays, gave me a mssg "Format not supported". I have WinDVD Pro 2010 so its not a big issue but do I need to download some patch from HP so its software will recognize blu-ray movie format or is it a case where even if you do buy the envy with bluray you need other software to play movies?

 

From what I have seen of the slot-load, it looks like that on the top, but obviously it's slot-load and not tray-load. As for software, your HP should be able to play Blu-Ray out of the box, there shouldn't be any other software you need to watch blu-ray movies on the Envy.

 

Nope, it refuses giving me that "Format not supported" mssg. I called the HP Envy Support number and he has no idea as to the issue. I can at least use WinDVD so its not going to kill me, just an annoyance

 

Well for me I always used the Cyberlink/HP MediaSmart programs to watch Blu-Rays. About your question earlier, thats really personal preference. For myself, I fly quite a bit, so I prefer slot load, just for that one time I might need my drive. But for most, a tray-load is just fine.

 

Well spoke with HP for a while. I can get the black version and they would work with me to do a back-end credit to get the price from the web so I don't have to return everything. Unfortunatly the Metalic colored one can't be gotten at all unless I do a return/exchange of everything. Could someone confirm what the speed is on the slot drive? I know this one, if I use nero's infotool, says its 4.8x. Also is the one that comes with the envy able to write BR-RW or can it only play them? I mean if the only difference between the 2 drives is the ports or if the slot drive is actually slower then it might not be worth the hassle.

As for the whole cyberlink/mediasmart problem do you think re-running the install for that app might fix my problem and if so how would I re-run the install? You didn't upgrade your cyberlink correct? The TS person had no idea why it wasn't able to play em and said it was a case that Win7 has issues,LOL

EDIT: Well I went ahead and reran the MediaSmart DVD install and now it will at least play em.

 

Well I was going to answer your question, but guess you got that worked out! Anyways, about your earlier question, it does NOT burn Blu-Rays, only a reader. I don't think HP makes an external blu-ray writer yet. For some of their laptops, they do offer a blu-ray burner, I got that option on my old HDX18. Anyways, I can't believe there are many differences besides the slot-load and the extra USB ports.

For the record, I just ordered an Envy 13 with the slot load blu-ray and will let you know which I receive. If they send me the one you got, it will be returned or replaced ASAP.

 

I'm sure you will get the right one. They told me if I wanted to go thru the headache of another return/exchange I would get the right drive they just, for whatever reason, are not making it available as a separate order. I was "told" the problem is because so many laptops are now going external for drives there is a big shortage so I think they have a stock of them but only for new orders. When yours shows up if you could verify and post what the part number is if it is the right one it would be appreciated. Maybe they have updated/changed the part number.

 

Sure, that's not a problem. They show a ship date of March 2nd...so it'll be a ways away. Do you know if the part number is on the back/bottom of the drive? I had the tray-load before, and don't really remember if I looked at the product number or not.

 

This is really odd. I went ahead and took out the drive that actually came with my Envy just to look at it. It is a tray version but on the back lable it says:
Blu-Ray Rom with SuperMulti DVD R/RW Double Layer
RMN: HSTNN-QD07
HP Spare : 576832-001
However if I put in a blueray DVD it can't read it so no idea whats up

I tho

 

Hmm? What happens if it tries to read the blu-ray disc?

 

It just clicks and can't read them. When I went to device manager it showed the drive as being internally a hp DVDRAM GT20L 8x drive which is not a Bluray drive I was told by support.

 

Okay so I am kind of getting confused. So you have TWO drives? One you bought separately which IS Blu-Ray and then the drive that came with the Envy?

 

Correct. Most of my Movie collection is in blu-ray. I would of gotten the blu-ray from the get go but it wasn't available on Feb 3 when the replacement Envy was ordered so I went ahead and got the DVD option. I just planned on buying or seeing if they would do some sort of a swap with me paying the difference for the Blu-ray version from the parts store once in stock. The CS person said she thought it was doable, silly me trusting CS again.

Anyway once the Envy arrived I called the Parts store about buying the 576832-001 and first he said it was on backorder or something but he said prolly in stock within week or 2 if I wanted to order it now & once they gave me an estimated shipping date he could put in a request it be expedited, so I did. He assured me it was the right drive, even though I noticed the part number was different.

Next morning (Bang bang bang - Its FedEx) with the blu-ray drive. I was surprised and opened it. It works fine but I'm not sure hardware wise how it compares to the other drive that ships with the Envy. Besides the differences I already mentioned I also noticed the USB cord is longer on the drive that came with the envy.

 

Interesting. I will say knowing HP's track record, I'm guessing both drives are similarly spec-ed, besides the usb ports and slot-load. I don't know why one would be faster than the other. Atleast that's my opinion of HP.

 

So the drive my co-worker got is a tray-load blu-ray. Well thinks it's blu-ray because it comes with the blu-ray paperwork. However the bottom makes no mention of blu-ray, only Supermulti DVD. Looks like the one you posted, but it does have 2 USB slots on the back. But again, not slot-load.

 

On the back what does it say the part number is?

 

hp 538332-001 I did google that and I'm pretty positive he got sent the incorrect drive.

 

Well I went to the parts store at HP and they actually list it as being the one used with the Envy 13's. Who knows whats going on with HP. The drive they sent with my 15 actually says blu-ray and has the blu-ray part number but it won't handle blu-ray disks and is also a tray version. Putting in a blu disk results in constant clicking as it tries to read. When I called and talked with CS/TS about it they told me oh even tho it says blu-ray and shows that part number that since at the time I ordered it wasn't available they didn't add the blue laser needed to do blu-ray. Totally wack as far as I'm concerned. If the part doesn't have the laser then it shouldn't have that part number in case you have to order a replacement. They did convince me to order/take a blu-ray drive they "said" was for the Envy but when it arrived it doesn't have the 2 USB ports and it too is slot loading, go figure.

 

Well we'll see, my co-worker told me they will have a case manager call him. I told him don't expect one to call and that it will end up being returned. That's what I see happening, but who knows.

 

Bah, and update. The Parts store put me in contact with a supplier so I could order the silver version. I placed the order and now, when I go to the store and pull up the order, they show that even though I asked for the 576832-001 version and they list it in the item section their listing the 580131-001 which is the black beats branded one, as the one actually ordered grrr.

This is how the invoice they emailed me in pdf reads:
576832-001 1 Blu-Ray Rom with SuperMulti DVD R/RW Double Layer

but at the web site if I pull up my order it says:
Part Ordered:
580131-001

Description:
Blu-Ray Rom with SuperMulti DVD R/RW Double Layer, 576832-001 OEM Part Number: 580131-001

Needless to say will be ticked if their trying to sub the black one as I could of gotten that one directly from HP for $100 less

 

That's crazy to hear, stuff like that should never happen. I personally ordered myself a DM3 recently, but two problems. They didn't offer the blu-ray trayload, I assume since it's sold out. I personally would prefer the slot-load with the aluminum top that the Envy blu-ray drives come in. I'm going to try and order that for myself, coming up and I'll let you know what happens there.

 

Yeah its frustrating. I was willing to pay extra to get one that matched color wise. If I wanted it in the Beat Edition someone from HP said they would arrange it and I'd have to pay the $270 price and they would arrange a back-end credit to bring the price down to match what it would have cost if available when I re-ordered my 2nd Envy. Only reason I went with this other place and agreed to the higher cost is because HP parts sent me to them and I was "told" it would be the right matching one. To change the item without telling me first is bad business on the resellers part.

 

I absolutely agree. If don't get what you pay for, then you shouldn't have problems disputing it.

 

Oh well, just got off the phone with the vendor and thats what they did. Since both part numbers are compatible they had substituted the one I asked for with the 580131-001. Told them to cancel the order since it isn't the "matching" drive & HP said they would sell me the drive that didn't match for $100 less, what a pisser to be waiting for nothing
(rolls up newspaper and smacks Vendor)

 

So my co-worker did get a call from a case manager today, supposedly the guy has ordered for next day delivery the correct drive. Then obviously he has to ship the incorrect standard DVD drive back on HP's dime. We'll see if it's correct, if it is I'll let you know. Since right now, who knows what HP is doing.

 

I'm still fighting with em. Lady I spoke to today agreed that since the drives label says it should do Blu-ray then it should do it. She was going to order out a replacement but couldn't find it via parts store so she's got ppl trying to research and fix it. At least she is trying to find a solution and supposed to call me back in the AM. If they do get it straightened out for your friend I would greatly appreciate a PM with a name and number to call since that person apparently knows what their doing and most of the TS and CS ppl don't it seems.

 

Just asked my co-worker, and they did indeed ship out the drive via FedEx Priority overnight. I also asked about a name and number, he doesn't have either. They just said they'd call him back to confirm everything is correct tomorrow. I wish I had something more to help you with. He just said they called him today, and they went through everything no problems.