Lite-On SOHW-1633S

• Reviewed by: atreo

  Strengths: Almost plug and play, Fast and reliable, DL support, low price, high quality, speed boost with firmware update (at RW at least, and i need to prove DL)

  Weaknesses: Buggy software

  Overall: Very fast at a low cost, support DL but i not been tried, 12 DVD+R burned and none bad, boost the RW speed to 12x with firmware upgrade, I heard the DL speed goes to 4x but i havent tried yet

• Reviewed by: alvamark

  Strengths: simple installation, easy to use; actually, its use is "transparent," in that you just put in a blank disc, tell the software what you want, and the burner just works

  Weaknesses: none, really; the pop-out tray that holds the disc seems a tad bit flimsy, but that's really not a problem as long you don't do something stupid like use it for a cupholder

  Overall: Like I said before, you really don't even know that the drive is anything different, since it has done everything I've told it to do. I've used DVD-R, DVD+RW, CD-R and CD-RW, and it has done everything flawlessly. The speed for burning audio CD's is good, making data DVD's is pretty quick, also. Making video DVD's takes quite a while, but I suspect that's due to the DVD software, and maybe my computer, more so than the drive. I have absolutely no complaints. I will admit, I'm not a "master geek," but I easily recommend this drive!

• Reviewed by: PEFred

  Strengths: A very reasonable price and very easy to install

  Weaknesses: Only 2X for dual layer writing

  Overall: I was very impressed with how simple the unit was to install. After turning my PC back on, the drive was running, as if it had already been installed. Did not have to do anything--no new hardware--nothing. I have not burned at dual-layer, but if you do, it will take about an hour to burn a 2-hour movie as the drive burns dual-layer at 2X. It burns DVD-R and +R the same efficient way as my other DVD writer (8X and 16X), and flys at 48X on CDs. Also does OK, 4X, for RW DVDs. I got this unit as a second DVD writer, NOT specifically for the dual layer capability. The April edition of PCWorld reviews the SOHW-1633S and rates it fairly well. The one negative the magazine has is the drive's dual-layer speed is "poky". So if you need to buy a DVD writer but don't "need" dual-layer capability, this drive is a good deal--and you get dual-layer as an unexpected gift!!! But if you are looking specifally for a dual-layer drive, I would wait some more or buy another faster drive. With dual-layer DVDs running about $10 a piece, I will be waiting for some big price decreases before I attempt a dual-layer burn. I cannot afford to make drink coasters like I did with my first CD burner.

• Reviewed by: h_xd

  Strengths: Inexpensive, burn fast and reliable

  Weaknesses: Have not experience any problem yet

  Overall: This is the 2nd Lite-on drive I bought, cheap and works great. Come with Nero, PowerDVD and two blank disks (+-R). Used it to backup data, burn movie. It does the job well. I used Maxwell disks, have not had any waste disk yet. I give it 4 star because I can buy liteon SOHW1673 for the same price if I waited a little longer. Oh well...

• Reviewed by: slipkornotpsu

  Strengths: Great Price.Comes with good software.Easy to upgrade Firmware.

  Weaknesses: Dual layer media is to expensive right now.Bezel color is not that great looking.

  Overall: I installed this burner with ease and the firmware upgrade was easy to find and install as well. I have used it 8 times since I installed it and no coasters yet. I have not tried the dual layer yet though because of the price point on the media right now. It came with great software as well. It came with Nero and Power DVD which are great programs. Don't hesitate to buy this at its low price.