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HP HP SureStore DVD Writer dvd200i (retail version) (HP-Q2101A)

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Bottom Line

A terrific software bundle and documentation, as well as fast performance, make this drive a good choice for both video and data applications.

HP DVD Writer Dvd200i

HP SureStore DVD Writer dvd200i (retail version) (HP-Q2101A) Review, by Melissa J. Pereson July 31, 2002

Hewlett-Packard's second-generation DVD+RW drive writes to both rewritable +RW and write-once +R 4.7GB DVD media; the latter type typically is more compatible than other rewritable DVD media with the installed base of older DVD-ROM drives and DVD players.

The Dvd200i is rated to burn to DVD+RW and DVD+R at 2.4X (3.31MBps)--compared to the 1X rewritable speed rating of the rival Pioneer DVR-A04, a DVD-RW drive. A speed advantage is borne out by the PC World Test Center's tests: It took 5 minutes, 20 seconds to back up 500MB of data--3 minutes, 13 seconds less than the Pioneer drive took (not including format times). However, the two have much closer times burning to write-once media.

Currently, DVD+RW and DVD+R media list prices are on a par with DVD-RW and DVD-R media; however, +RW and +R media is not typically sold in bulk, so your costs may be substantially more if you use lots of discs with this drive.

Unlike DVD-RW drives, DVD+RW units manage formatting of rewritable media themselves, rather than relying on software on your computer. That saves CPU cycles and makes writing to a DVD+RW disc a breeze.

The easy-to-install HP model uses similar hardware to the Sony DRU-120A; the biggest differences lie in the software bundle. Here, HP excels with a neatly organized, unified installation routine, and a powerful software package that includes HP RecordNow and DLA; HP Simple Backup; Sonic MyDVD 3.0 for DVD-video authoring; ArcSoft ShowBiz for basic video editing; and the CyberLink PowerDVD DVD player. In addition, the drive comes with excellent documentation for both the hardware and software. For those who prefer an external model, HP offers the sleek DVD Writer Dvd200e, which features a dual USB 2.0 and FireWire (IEEE 1394) interface; it costs about $100 more.

UPSHOT: A terrific software bundle and documentation, as well as fast performance, make this drive a good choice for both video and data applications.

SUMMARY

HP DVD Writer Dvd200i

2.4X DVD+R, 2.4X DVD+RW, 12X CD-R, and 10X CD-RW record speeds; HP RecordNow and DLA, Sonic MyDVD 3.0; one-year parts and labor warranty, tech support for 16 hours on weekdays (calls are not toll-free).

$450
208/323-2551
www.hp.com

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User Reviews From Around the Web

Reviewed by: b020151

Strengths: It is a work horse, very durable, very reliable, no problems after nearly 500 burns. Seems to have the same quality has the HP printers.

Weaknesses: It is now becoming outdated. The price seems high considering the new technology.

Overall: This burner has performed well for two years and continues to working like new. It only likes quality name brand media, the cheap media is very unreliable in this burner. I estimate the fail rate with quality media at only 1%, but that may be due to the media. It takes about 40 minutes to burn a full movie. It only burns on the +R format, but that is not a problem for me, you have to pick one or the other format for a given disk, I have no need for both. As for the included software, well it is about as good as anything I have found. I just havent found good easy to use DVD authoring tools yet.
Reviewed by: lehnerd77

Strengths: It burns DVDs(vary rarely)

Weaknesses: Over priceed, software is horrible, dosent work half of the time, DVD +R only, wont erase DVD-RW, gruesomely slow, manual confusing

Overall: I bought this thing and it worked okay for a bit but then the trouble started. It would start burning a disc in probaly 7 out of 10 attempts. Now it doesnt even burn a CD and can almost never read the CDs. I probably sucessfully burned 8 DVDs with it. I would NOT recommend this product. You can get 8x now for alot cheaper. BUYER BEWARE! This whole purchase sickens me.
Reviewed by: xeneixe88

Strengths: Quick and swift

Weaknesses: Pricier +R media, expensive writter too.

Overall: Overall very happy for this second generation HP DVD writter. Reading and writting is quicker overall than the competition and more important I did not find any incompatibility with other machies reading the +R media. For the price HP charges, I wish the software could be a tad better, that it's not to say is lousy, ie MYDVD is quite useful for home video and editing.

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