Round 1: Features
HP DVD300i EIDEThe DVD300i comes with comprehensive documentation and software: A software manual, troubleshooting and quick-start guides to help newbies with setup and installation. Other amenities include blank media, mounting screws and a single IDE cable. However, users planning on using the drive as their primary audio CD player will have to scrounge around for a separate audio cable. The Mac platform is also, unfortunately, not supported.
The writer's software bundle range from a DVD video editor (ArcSoft ShowBiz DVD) to backup applications (Simple Backup) for users to archive their data onto CDs or DVDs. The DLA (Drive Letter Access) utility is used to perform packet writing to both DVD+RW and CD-RW for convenient drag-and-drop. This program is similar to Nero's InCD packet writing utility but has its limitations: The file transfer works with only the DVD200i and DVD300i model, so if you're running a different DVD-ROM or writer you can only read from but not move data onto the media.
Unlike the Sony DRU500AX, which has the unique ability to support all popular recordable DVD formats (except DVD-RAM), the DVD300i's DVD recording support is limited to DVD+R and DVD+RW. This means your self-mastered movies may not play back on older DVD players due to incompatibility in standards. Support for CD-R (16x) and CD-RW (10x) mastering comes standard.
For error-protection during writing, HP uses a 2MB memory buffer to prevent underruns that may otherwise damage the media.
Plextor PX-504A DVD+RW EIDE
Like the DVD300i, Plextor's PX-504A writer reads and writes on just about any CD or DVD media--the burner writes DVD+Rs at 4x, CD-Rs at 16x and CD-RWs at 10x. The only notable exception is DVD-RAM and DVD-R/RW support, technologies that compete with DVD+R/RW.
Plextor is a bit parsimonious with the media bundled in the box; you get one CD-R and one DVD+R but no rewritable media. But other necessities like mounting screws, an emergency-eject pin and an IDE ribbon cable are included in the box. The drive also comes equipped with a 2MB buffer to ensure clean and damage-free media mastering.
The PX-504A's package includes a capable and easy-to-use software bundle for all your burning needs. The anchor is Roxio's popular Easy CD Creator 5.0 DVD Edition, which makes it easy to create everything from audio CDs to DVDs.
Also included is Roxio Direct CD, which uses packet writing to make optical discs as easy to use as magnetic storage, Roxio PhotoSuite 5.0 SE, which helps you organise and edit digital images and create slide shows, and Roxio DVD Builder, which lets you burn DVD movies or VideoCDs. The bundle also includes a 30-day trial version of Dantz Retrospect Professional, a capable backup utility.
Sony DRU 500AX EIDE
The DRU-500AX comes with a generous list of software titles that include Veritas RecordNow DX for mastering both writable and rewritable DVDs and CDs; Veritas DLA (Drive Letter Access) for packet writing; Veritas Simple Backup for backing up data; Sonic MyDVD, which turns your home movies into video DVDs; ArcSoft ShowBiz for video editing; MusicMatch Jukebox, which lets you play, record, and organise your music; and CyberLink PowerDVD 4.0 for DVD movie playback.
Other accessories include an IDE cable, mounting screws, illustrated hardware and software quick-start guides, one 2.4x DVD+RW, and a software CD.
For movie mavens, the main highlight is the drive's unique multi-format recording feature: Not only does the DRU-500AX support all four recordable DVD formats, it also does its job with amazing speed. It writes both DVD-R and DVD+R media at 4x, CD-Rs at 24x, and CD-RWs at 10x. To prevent buffer-underrun errors, the DRU500AX features an 8MB buffer memory and Power-Burn technology which matches the burning speed with the amount of data in the buffer.
Verdict: Sony by a mile. You really can't argue with the DRU-500AX's resume. Along with the generous software package, you get also a large 8MB buffer memory (compared to 2MB offered by competitors) for smoother burns and the fastest CD-R mastering speed (24x) from a DVD recordable drive; although the drive's multi-format ability alone is enough to secure it the top spot in this round.
15%
7%
