Durable Heavy-Duty External DVD Burner
Written: May 25 '07 (Updated May 25 '07)
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Pros: Burn speed, Lightscribe Technology, uses USB2.0 but compatible to USB1.0, durable burner, includes stand.
Cons: Requires unit's own power adapter cord, minor inconvenience.
The Bottom Line: Durable, easy-to-use burner with stand allows upright sitting without ruining disk. Lightscribe labeling technology stops the need for ugly marker or time-consuming paper-labeling system.
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| paisleyplace's Full Review: Hewlett Packard dvd940e Burner |
Personal Reasons to want HP DVD 940e
I spent months checking prices for the HP DVD940e and other DVD burners but somehow I managed to come back to this specific model every time. It offered everything I wanted in a DVD burner. It was black, which made it color-coordinate well with my notebook computer, a Gateway NX850X. It was an external burner so I could move it from notebook to desktop without any hassles. Additionally, every Hewlett Packard product I purchased in the past seems to last until it literally falls apart from sheer wear, not problems or defects. My most recent replacement of an HP product was moving up from a Hewlett Packard Multifunction T45 printer to the new model Hewlett Packard Multifunction L7680 scanner, printer, fax machine, and copier with built-in memory card readers for photographs. The T45 printer lasted for approximately 10 to 14 years and even then, all that did not work was the fax machine. I presumed the board went out in it and given its age, it was cheaper to replace it.
The DVD 940e turned out to be my Mother’s Day gift from my children. The oldest watched as I scanned through the DVD burners and continued to come back to the HP DVD 940e. It came to the house about four days prior to Mother’s Day; my oldest daughter told me I could open it when the UPS man arrived. The only hint I could get from her was that she could afford one part of the present but not the other part. She promised I would know what she meant when I opened it. The scary part is that I sat on the computer early that morning with my finger on the mouse hovering over the, add to cart button. Thankfully, I did not order the DVD burner or else there would be two in the house now.
It turns out the part she was unable to afford was the disks. I sent her uptown to locate what I hoped would be a 100-cake set of DVD R disks but that did not happen. DVD burners had to be a huge Mother’s Day gift this year because the largest number of disks in one pack she could find was a 30-piece cake at OfficeMax. I ordered a 100-pack cake over the internet later that day with ground shipping since I knew I would run out if I shipped any other way. I put this puppy through the paces.
Out of 30 disks, now 38 disks, I have only had one turn into a coaster otherwise known as a disk that did not burn correctly. It has a better track record than the CD burners I own! It was nice to move many files off my notebook to make room as I was running extremely low. Additionally, I was finally able to burn a copy of our youngest child’s performance on stage with the chorus group months ago so the children’s grandmother can watch it using her DVD player connected to the television. The picture from the disk is crystal clear without any jumping or scrambling. It plays well.
The nicest feature other than the faster burning speed is the fact that the HP DVD 940e includes Lightscribe technology. Lightscribe is a form of technology that allows the laser that burns data and audio onto the disk to burn information input from the user by way of special software onto the opposite side of the disk. Now, I do not have to keep using permanent markers to label disks or drag out the CD stomper, print the labels, and use the CD stomper to put the label onto the disk. This way is much easier and aesthetically pleasing. The company Lightscribe offers free simple labeling software that allows you to put two lines of text on the disk in addition to several variations of decorations around the disk as well. Using Nero, the options are greater but I prefer the simplicity of Lightscribe’s software. The 940e came with a copy of Nero v6 so the user could begin burning disks immediately out of the box. The registration was easy too. Hewlett Packard offers the option to fill out the registration form online or fill out a card to mail through the post office.
The super multi-drive offers high speeds and the ability to burn double-layer DVDs. Double layer DVDR and DVDRW has a burn side on both sides of the disk, which unfortunately does not allow for Lightscribe labeling.
Note that in order to use Lightscribe software, the DVD disks must have Lightscribe coating on them for it to work. The Lightscribe disks are a bit more expensive but considering the use of permanent markers or taking time to design, print, and stomp a label onto a disk, it is well worth the extra expense. Lightscribe options are available on multi-color disks now too. Another option is the ability to burn photos and graphic images onto Lightscribe disks although it is impossible to burn these images in any color except what the disk allows.
In the Box:
The items in the box include the HP DVD940e burner, Nero version 6 software, Surething (LIghtscribe burning software), and Cyberlink Power DVD software. Nero allows one to burn CDR, CDRW, DVDR, and DVDRW disks. The software can also erase and reformat the re-writable CD and DVD disks. Nero offers more functions such as burning DVDs with data, audio, in VCD, SVCD, and other various formats for playing disks in computer drives as well as walkman-style music machines, and DVD players.
The single layer DVDR/DVDRW burns 4.7gb worth of data. The double-layer can burn approximately 8.5gb of data. Each disk can hold video, photos, and multimedia presentations. The DVD-R and DVD-RW disks are ideal for storing files, making backups, and transporting files on DVDs and CDs. The HP DVD 940e has a DVD R recording rate of 18x, a DVD RW recording rate of up to 8x, and a double-layer recording rate of 8x.
This particular DVD burner uses DVD R and DVD RW. It can burn CDR/RW disks too. Playback quality is excellent and compatible with DVD drives and players as I mentioned above.
Imagine converting all your home movies onto one DVD R or double-layer DVD R and then sitting in your living room or sitting room watching the videos on the DVD player and television instead of on the computer. The HP DVD940e makes this a reality.
As hard drives increase in size, it becomes almost cumbersome to backup files using CDRs. Double-layer DVD R disks can backup a 60gb drive completely on approximately 8 DVD R disks! Now that is a time-saver. The Lightscribe labeling software Surething can label the disk in 3 minutes or less depending on whether you want to add a pattern in addition to the title and other information to the disk. The new labeling technology allows you to know exactly what is on the disk without wondering when finding a burned disk without a label. At 3 minutes or less, it is far too easy to label the disk than let it go into a pile without marking the contents.
How to Use Lightscribe Labeling:
The use of Lightscribe labeling is so simple. Once you burn the contents to the correct side of the disk, all one has to do is flip the disk over, start SureThing labeling software (or Nero depending on your choice), type in the contents, and click next for viewing, then burn. In three minutes or less, you have a disk with label that does not smudge, peel off, or damage as paper labels do frequently. The label does not pop up in the manner of paper labels if the label does not stick properly either. The Lightscribe label on the disk is a part of the disk so it is error free.
Where to find Lightscribe DVDR/RWs:
In my area, Lightscribe disks are available at Walmart, OfficeMax, Staples, and other computer, office, and department stores. However, if you find you are having a tough time locating disks, check on Lightscribe’s website for more information regarding location of disks for purchase.
I ordered the 100 disks from the Super Media Store online. It cost approximately $47 US dollars. When the disks arrived, I was a bit upset as they came in 10 individually wrapped cakes of 10 disks each. I called the company to find out why I received so many individual disks in individual cakes. According to the representative at Super Media Store, the large cake size DVDR/RWs tend to have defects in the disks when purchased in large quantities of 100 pieces in one cake so therefore, they send them in cakes of 10 to a pack with 10 packs each. The shipping is the same, according to the company. As long as they work, it does not bother me. I want the Lightscribe technology in the disks so I will never forget to label a disk only to find it months down the road and wonder what is on it.
System Requirements for the HP DVD940e:
800mhz Intel Pentium III processor or equivalent, 1.6ghz Intel Pentium IV processor or equivalent recommended 128mb ram (256mb ram recommendation for video editing)
1024 x 768 video resolution with a minimum of 16-bit color required for DVD authoring and editing
USB 2.0 interface and available port on PC
1gb free for included software installation
10gb free for DVD video disk creation (18gb free for double-layer)
Internet connectivity recommended for software and firmware updates
Microsoft Windows XP/2000/2003/Pro/SP4/x64
Overall Opinion:
When purchasing drives and printers, I have a bias toward Hewlett Packard products. The reason is the durability. Hewlett Packard drives and printers are as the old Timex commercials used to say. They take a licking and keep on a ticking!
As I mentioned above, I put this burner through the paces as soon as I opened it from the box. In some 38 disks, I only made one coaster! The reason the one disk did not burn correct had more to do with my learning curve than the drive itself. This is my first DVD burner. So far, with all I put it through it has run circles around all the CD burners I had through the years so I have to give it major thumbs up in quality, durability, and use.
The warranty is the standard 12 months labor with 12 months parts.
This DVD burner has a nice little stand that allows it to sit on its side. The inside tray design prevents damage to the disk and the burning process. At first I felt a bit skeptical about how well it would burn up on the side as it was but now, I burn disks that way all the time without worries.
The only recommendation I can make is if you happen to have a USB 1.0, upgrade with a PCI or other type of card to the 2.0 version. The USB 2.0 allows the computer and the burner to talk to each other faster, which makes the burn faster as well.
In addition, I highly recommend using quality DVD R/RW disks. I read about this particular DVD burner before deciding on it and the common link with everyone who owns it says it is durable but they also recommend using disks by companies such as Verbatim, Memorex, and other high-quality brands. Since I tend to use high-quality CDRs/RWs, it was second nature for me to purchase Verbatim and Memorex brands for my DVD R/RW disks.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 69
Operating System: Windows
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Epinions.com ID:
paisleyplace
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Member: Samantha Thomas
Location: NC, US
Reviews written: 46
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
Mother of two, freelance writer who enjoys movies, computing, and spending time with good friends.
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