Hi,

I'm looking to replace my CD drive on my Dell Dim2400 (ide). I also have an external dvd/usb, but it has gotten intermittent.

I checked newegg, and they have a lot of Liteons, some LGs, and a few other brands. I'm thinking that I'd get a sata and an adapter for the ide.

Any suggestions?

Also, my laptop dvd does work, but it plays dvd movies with something called Media Direct, which is pretty clumsy. Any thoughts on some good dvd movie software?

Thanks and have a good weekend

 

For single-layer burners - It's pretty much a matter of preference. HP-branded drives are, typically, made by either LG or LiteOn. I have a LiteOn single-layer burner on one of my laptops that has been pretty good to me. I've also had good luck with Samsung and Sony drives.

For double-layer burners - avoid LG and LiteOn like the plague (IMO) - I have had nothing but problems right out of the box with those 2 brands and it doesn't appear they've done anything to correct the problems. For double-layer, I've found Pioneer drives to be the best - I run a Pioneer on my gamer box and have absolutely no problems with it whatsoever... Sony makes a good double-layer slimtype drive for laptops (Optiarc) - I've run a couple of those and haven't had any problems with them - Sony also makes an Optiarc 5.25" drive and, if it's anything like the slimtype, it should be a good drive - I've not run any of those to know for sure.

I tend to flash and cross-flash the firmware on problem drives and was able to get an HP double-layer burner that would not read double layer discs at all to, at least, read them part of the time by cross-flashing it to an LG firmware - still a junk drive, though...

For the player software, try the VLC media player - it's free and does a good job.

VideoLAN - VLC media player - Open Source Multimedia Framework and Player

 

Thanks! Sounds like you have a bit of experience with them.