selecting a DVD-ROM reader

[rdeschene2]

Believe it or not I don't have a DVD-ROM reader in my P.C. yet. I have a bit of cash to spare, and their prices are sooo low now, that I want to go ahead and install one.

What I'm looking for is, and I'd appreciate advise on make, model number and your experience:

(1) reads as many formats as I can get. Why not?

(2) quiet running

(3) the faster the better. Like I said, why not?

(4) EIDE and bootable

(5) mechanically reliable, and reliable at reading media

I have about 30GB of free disk space, and a 4X Ricoh, SCSI, CD-burner (it works and it's paid for).

What's your favourite Linux software for doing this? I don't mind (actually, in some ways prefer) using the command line if there are good 'how-to's" out there on this.

Thanks for your help,
Rick D.

[joesbox]

from what i am understanding from your post is sounds like some of what you plan to do is illegal i am not sure that this is the place to ask that question. most of us are hackers and not crackers as most of us (and i hope that i speak for most of us) try to respect the copyright/IP/whatever legal mumbo jumbo. from my understanding renting a dvd with the idea of copying it to save a few bucks is not legal and my even get this site's owners in trouble. if i have misread your post and am way off base please forgive me. i like this site and don't want anything to close it down. as for the dvd-rom/r/rw i am not an expert and will not comment on this.
ps do you think that posting the fact that you want to copy dvd's in a very popular forum is a good idea?? in this day and age of information it isn't that hard to watch what you do.

i will re-iterate my appology if i am stepping on a toe or two but this is what my post is if i am correctly reading your question.
joe

[DMR]

rdeschene2,

J_B is right- we simply can't have any discussion of illegal activities here due to liability issues. If you want recommendations on a DVD drive that's fine, but if you're planning to use it to make illegal copies you should keep that to youself.

Your post is a bit "fringy" in that area; I won't delete it, but I've edited out the copying references to eliminate any possible question of pirating.

[rdeschene2]

Joe. I am not going to debate this matter with you -- this is not illegal where I'm currently spending much of my time.

Do you have any helpful advice with regards to multi-format capable DVD readers as I described? Also useful for installing purchased copies SuSE Linux, don't you know?

Thanks,
Rick D.

[ChryZKoiD]

Hmm... Exactly what's illegal about a dvdrom-reader exactly ?

Burning dvd's or cd's have legal uses as far as I know. They're great for backup purposes and absolutely lovely for storing homerecordings.

[DMR]

Originally posted by ChryZKoiD
Hmm... Exactly what's illegal about a dvdrom-reader exactly ? In the original post there was mention of copying movies, which certainly brings up the possibility of copyright violation. As I said in my previous post, the wording was "fringy" enough to warrant comment, especially in light of the fact that it caused another memmber to raise an eyebrow. Let's not get into that issue any further; I don't want this thread to turn into a debate or flame.

:)

Sticking to the question asked, if anyone has recommendations concerning DVD drives, please offer them up. I haven't gotten one yet either, so I can't personally give any advice.

[rdeschene2]

I love it when I find the answer to my own question!

Although pricey for what it is, H-P has a model that looks like it might be just the ticket. And they've been proving the business case of using Linux to boot.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/11472_na/11472_na.HTML

Have fun !
Rick D.:)

[rdeschene2]

Here's a more extensive list for those who are interested. ...and I'll be checking the manufacturers' claims for those available locally to confirm prior to purchasing.

http://www.dvdplusrw.org/resources/compatibilitylist_dvdrom.html

[rdeschene2]

The DVD-ROM drive I ended up getting was: LG (Hitachi) Model GDR8161B

So far, it seems to be doing everything I expected: DVD-video (purchased retail disk), CD (R, RW, audio - backup, backup, retail disk, respectively), DVD installation disk (retail boxed-set of SuSE 8.1), DVD-R, DVD+R disks have been entirely usable using this unit (all the aforementioned DVD-/+R media were backups of personal data) all mount and/or playback well.

Installation of packages off the SuSE 8.1 DVD medium is about 4X faster than off the same package's CD-ROMs. Pretty impressive.

Price of this DVD-ROM drive was, CDN$60+taxes by the way (retail purchase). The same place (Deals Direct, Ottawa, ON) also sells the Pioneer DVR-A05 DVD-R/RW burner for about CDN$320 (retail). Even today, it doesn't make much sense to buy a CD-ROM drive (i.e. reader only) when DVD-ROM drives are so cheap and multi-format-capable. 12months from now, I can see DVD burners being about CDN$150 so CD burning (retail media and burner costs for backup of personal data only) should just get cheaper and cheaper.

Still, I do like having a separate CD-ROM drive (retail purchase) so I can listen to audio CD's (also legitimately purchased, to the best of my knowledge) while installing software off of my Linux distro's DVD.

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Please note, I do not know what part of the preceding IF ANY, is in compliance with the now current legislation, bureaucracy, plutocracy or theocracy of whichever country happens to have the servers on which this site is located at the present time. Any reference to something being "retail" or "purchased" means that, to the best of my knowledge, it was supplied through reputable sellers in the country(ies) in which said materials were purchased.

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[Richard Craneum]

I have a DVD|SONY 16X DDU1621 that I paid $40 at NewEgg.com Very happy with it. I do have a CD Burner and a DVD ROM on the same PC. I have not yet riped any DVD and I do not care either. But is nice to have a DVD drive to watch movies and save some $$$$ on a entertaiment system.

[Molecule Man]

I have a pioneer 16x drive. I got several years ago but still works well.

I use ogle and mplayer for dvd playback.