The Imation DVD±RW's dearth of sophisticated mastering applications is a major letdown for advanced users but its strong DVD+R performance and low price more than make up for the lightweight package.A superfast DVD writer for just AU$395. While the notion might have sounded absurd a couple of years ago, the dwindling prices of hardware these days mean it's truly possible to get a high-performance burner even for an entry-level machine. Witness the Imation DVD±RW which, along with its top-notch 8x DVD+R rating, offers faster mastering performance at a far cheaper RRP than most of its multiformat competitors. It's relatively inexpensive for a leading-edge device and ranks among the fastest DVD burners we've tested. Granted Sony and Plextor offerings look sleeker and come with a bit more software, but given Imation's strong DVD+R operation, low price and Mount Rainier compatibility, this drive still qualifies as an outright bargain. As always, it's a good idea to shop around for bargains, as many vendors cut significantly under the RRP these days.
Installing this Imation burner into your computer is no different to adding a simple CD drive--slide it into a free 5.25-inch bay, add it as a master or slave to either of your IDE cables, and plug in a power cable. If you're unsure how to install a DVD writer, our online tutorial explains the procedure in 12 simple steps.
The unit ships with four screws plus a cable for both digital and CD audio ports. Other supplied niceties include a blank CD-R, an IDE cable, an illustrated multi-lingual Quick Start Guide, and a software CD containing drivers, PowerDVD XP and Sonic's MyDVD video mastering software.
The main highlight of the new writer is its DVD+R speed, which now peaks at an industry high of 8x. On paper, this means a doubled transfer rate of 11MBps, overtaking the previous high of 5MBps offered by 4x writers. The drive is equally proficient at writing on other DVD types: DVD+RW and DVD-R media are copied at satisfactory 4x speeds while DVD-RW mastering still lingers at the 2x range. For legacy users, the Imation offers top-notch CD authoring, efficiently processing CD-RWs and CD-Rs at 24x and 40x, respectively.
Like most standard DVD writers today, the Imation DVD±RW is equipped with a 2MB buffer memory and deploys the widely used SmartBurn technology to prevent buffer underrun errors that might otherwise damage discs during the high-speed writing process. Support for Mount Rainier--the versatile packet writing technology that allows for seamless file drag-and-drop functionality over a variety of operating systems--is also standard.
The Imation DVD±RW's no-frills software bundle is generous albeit targeted at the newbie segment of the digital video editing market. CyberLink's PowerDVD XP is the supplied DVD player software while the base version Sonic MyDVD is available for menial video editing and CD/DVD authoring. The drive runs on several versions of Windows, including 98 SE, Me, NT 4.0, 2000, and XP but--unfortunately--not on Macs.
The Imation DVD±RW dominated most of the benchmarks when it came to straight burns with DVD+R and DVD+RW media. We copied an entire 4.7GB DVD+R in less than 10 minutes, an impressive feat considering the media we used was a mere 4x-rated disc. With packet writes and large file reads, however, the Imation delivered middling performance, upstaged by the multiformat--and more expensive--Plextor and Sony drives.
A sidenote: Not all 4x DVD+R media can be burned at 8x. Imation, Pioneer and Taiyo Yuden blanks are three tested-and-proven brands but, as general rule of thumb, check with your hardware vendor for compatibility when purchasing a DVD+R for high-speed 8x mastering.
Imation typically offers solid online support for all its products and the Imation DVD±RW is no different. The company backs the drive with a standard, one-year limited warranty, supplemented by good phone and online support. Tech hotline is available Monday through Friday while hardware-related resources, such as FAQs, manuals, drivers and software patches, are easily obtainable from the company's regional Web site.
Imation 8x DVD±RW
Company: Imation
Price: AU$395
Distributor: Selected resellers
Phone: 1 800 225 013
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Are these discs double layered?