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DVD-ROM Drives

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Anybody know of any manufacturers of cheap DVD-ROM drives that are at least quasi-reliable? Mine's finally giving up the ghost (skips on the outer tracks of CDs, and vibrates like a motherfucker, the two of which are probably related), and I don't need a DVD burner so I'm not laying down the dosh for that.

This Artec bastard didn't even last a year, and fails in a boring way. My old Shuttle 50x CD-ROM drive went several years before catastrophically shattering a disc with an ear-piercing bang and filling my entire place with silvery shards and glitter (and sending the faceplate launching clear into the bathroom). So yeah, anybody got any recommendations besides Artec? Either it's gotta last more than a year or do something that makes a good story.

By Spaze at Apr 3, 2005, 5:54 PM | 0
My god what a coincidence. My DVD-Rom is just getting messed up right now. It refuses to play certain DVDs and just makes strange noises, like going back and forth. I was just in the process of searching the web for information to see if the drive is reliable or not. It's seen like two years of use, a combo CD-RW/dvd-rom Toshiba.
By BuddhaBrand at Apr 3, 2005, 5:57 PM | 0
Ironically I can generally read DVDs fine, but it wont read CDs on very specific parts of the outer tracks.
By Spaze at Apr 3, 2005, 5:59 PM | 0
Damn thing is spinning even though it's not closed. I hate when technology doesn't do what its supposed to. It' enrages me.
By BuddhaBrand at Apr 3, 2005, 6:06 PM | 0
I find copious amounts of alcohol and threats of violence towards the hardware in question solves 82% of problems. The 18% of the time it doesn't, you couldn't care less anyways.
By Spaze at Apr 3, 2005, 6:08 PM | 0
I generally end up doing violence to hardware. Throwing things out the window or pounding it with my fists in the end. And after making the problem worse feeling like a complete idiot. That's where alcohol usually comes in.
By BuddhaBrand at Apr 3, 2005, 6:10 PM | 0
I've had a Pioneer internal DVD-rom since 2000 and it's still going strong…my graphics card is another story. I'd just froogle or Cnet that madness because of my fierce hatred of best buy.

Regardless, you cats gotta take it easy on your hardware. You see, a computer is like a women. Input. Output. Its just not as cute. The second you lay a stray finger on it, it'll start to disrespect you and sooner or later she reaps her vengeance.

Snoogins.

By ReeferMadness at Apr 3, 2005, 11:50 PM | 0
Quote: from Spaze on 5:54 pm on April 3, 2005[br]Anybody know of any manufacturers of cheap DVD-ROM drives that are at least quasi-reliable?

If you want 'reliable' and 'quality' don't look cheap. Save up a few weeks and get something decent. There is no real point in shelling out money for something that will be dead in 12-18 months of use when you could get something that will last 36-60 months, and by that time it won't be broken,  just obsolete.

By Iga at Apr 4, 2005, 4:22 PM | 0
Laserdisks are the antique of the future!
By ReeferMadness at Apr 4, 2005, 4:23 PM | 0
If you want 'reliable' and 'quality' don't look cheap. Save up a few weeks and get something decent.

At which point I'd be in the median price range for DVD burners, and the point of saving money by just getting the ROM would be moot. It's not a matter of what I can afford to pay, it's a matter of what I'm willing to pay. There seems to be a decrease of quality in low end PC parts, because I've had no-name CD-ROM drives that see tons of abuse (and at work, a lot of cigarette smoke), and often end up with chewed gears or slipping belts, but the electronics still work.

Remember when CD drives plugged into the sound card? I've got a stack of those that've been phased out during upgrades, but they went strong for several years (admittedly these were more than your el cheapo of today).

I've been primarily using my CD-RW drive since the DVD-ROM fouled up, and this is something I got some time ago on a sale, and despite spending an equal amount of time in use and loose with spare parts that accidentally get kicked across the room on a regular basis, it works fine.

So yeah, the only time I've had bad encounters with cheap hardware is this DVD-ROM drive and some memory from Fry's that wouldn't work in half the PCs it was put in. So until I'm convinced that DVD-ROM manufacturers all suck as bad as Artec, I'm not spending more money. :smile:

- -

ReeferMadness, I'm thoroughly convinced that Best Buy is secretly run by former WW2 Nazi's. You have to try to make a store so unpleasant to shop at.

By Spaze at Apr 4, 2005, 5:17 PM | 0
Our best buy has this really agressive door greeter. He's bald too.
By Biohazard at Apr 4, 2005, 8:32 PM | 0
Optorite

I've been researching an upgrade to my burner, and this appears to be getting some positive hits.

Otherwise, I would suggest you check out Price Watch.  Best online hardware pricing that I've found.  Links to multiple vendors.

-Grim

By Grim at Apr 6, 2005, 9:56 PM | 0
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