Got about $200 to spend, which drive?

[bibbit]

Well, I'd like to spend around $200 for a multi burner, and I'm considering the NEC ND-1300A and the Optorite DD0203. I can get either for this amount, the Optorite is $199 (retail), the NEC is $210 (OEM). Can I get some advice? They both have pluses and minuses. One thing that worries me is NEC firmware updates appear to be hard to come by (will TDK's 440N updates work?), and the reviews say it can be pretty slow with certain media. The Optorite doesn't appear to deliver with HD Burn, but I don't know that I care about that. Advice? Other drives?

[john_hodson]

I own the Optorite and like it. It has been especially good with Khypermedia DVD-Rs burning them at 4x. The HD feature works for me but I don't consider it particularly useful. The buffer size seems to be 4 meg. I have the drive enclosed in an external case with a usb2 connector.

[Raz0rX]

I will have my NEC 1300 tomorrow, will post more results here. And yes, there will be no official firmware released by NEC themselves. But you can look @ The Firmware Page for firmware updates for htis drive.

[bibbit]

What case are you using to make it an external drive? How much did it cost? I've been considering that myself.

[jase]

They both have pluses and minuses.

<groans>

[burninfool]

What case are you using to make it an external drive? How much did it cost? I've been considering that myself.

If you live in the US outpost.com(Frys) has a USB2.0 & Firewire enclosure for $68,CompUSA sells enclosures as well for $70-145.
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/3543164

[john_hodson]

The external case that I am using is some made in China case called ME-320 series that I bought from CompuGeeks for about $60. It is both usb 2.0 and firewire.