how bad is optorite cw4802?

[arfmonger]

I grabbed the last $20 drive on sale at my local officemax, and alas, it was not a liteon, but an optorite. Some searching of this forum has revealed that some folk think this is a crappy drive. What are the issues with it? I do a lot of audio disc burning (from shn files), so I am concerned about writing quality. Should I return this thing and shell out the extra $30-40 for a liteon (considering the fact I'm dirt poor)?

Ethan

[TheWizard]

Some people think the drive is crappy, others think it is good. Average those together and you have a fair drive. It should do everything you need for basic audio writing, the only advantage that the Lite-On has is its audio extraction. Lite-On drives are well-known for fast audio extraction.

[UALOneKPlus]

I would keep the Optorite. I bought one last week for a friend, and tested it out on my machine. It burned perfectly at 48x.

No need to dish out more $$$ unless you do have the extra cash laying around.

[luzkannon]

stupid question

bought (here in Europe) 2 CD-R/RW units that say "Model No: CW 4802"
(no other identifiers)
but front looks just like a MSI model: MS-8348A

Is there anybody who has ever heard of a early model CW 4802 with square flip-door (not rounded at bottom) & otherwise looks just like
MS-8348A...

only difference: MSI model has a big 'MSI'logo, mine instead has the
(Compact CD...) little square logo just like other OptoRite - in the middle.

Thanks

[jase]

I don't know. I've used all manner of "crap" drives, BTC, Aopen, Artec, MSI (which is one based on Optorite), Cyberdrive etc. And I've never had any real trouble out of any of them. Sure, some are picky and some give less-than-perfect burns with some media (the Artec 52x for example works just fine with phthalocyanine media but won't entertain the idea of a cyanine disc). But if you get a few types of disc and see what the drive likes, I haven't had any real trouble with any of em. And the MSI/Optorite, BTC and Cyberdrive have been absolutely fine for me -- and believe me, I'm particular about media compatibility.

[UALOneKPlus]

I have seen both Optorite models. One has the rounded door, and the other one is the flat square door.

In my experience Optorite drives are good. They just won't do CD SPeed ScanDisc.

My preference for drives,:

Lite-On
Aopen
Optorite

:roll: stupid question

bought (here in Europe) 2 CD-R/RW units that say "Model No: CW 4802"
(no other identifiers)
but front looks just like a MSI model: MS-8348A

Is there anybody who has ever heard of a early model CW 4802 with square flip-door (not rounded at bottom) & otherwise looks just like
MS-8348A...

only difference: MSI model has a big 'MSI'logo, mine instead has the
(Compact CD...) little square logo just like other OptoRite - in the middle.

Thanks