Round 3: Price
At around AU$899, Sony's multi-format maestro tops the DVD pricelist. Of course, the ability burn on almost DVD media (DVD-RAM being the only exception) will be a major appeal for hardcore video editing enthusiasts, but for approximately AU$250 less, mainstream buyers are still guaranteed good performance and ample software with both the DVD+R/RW-only Plextor PX-504A and HP DVD300i drives.
Looking from an initial investment viewpoint, the AU$650 Plextor unit does appear the better choice for budget buyers, but if you factor in the blank media and superior ArcSoft DVD authoring software supplied, it's actually the similarly priced Hewlett Packard writer that's all-round the best value for money.
Verdict: Not an easy pick. Mainstream buyers will most likely opt for the sub-AU$650 burners, leaving Sony's high-end AU$899 writer for the niche power crowd. But it's HP's DVD300i that narrowly edges out the competition with its AU$649 price tag and a smart software bundle that will appeal to both newbies and advanced users. As always, it pays to shop around, as vendor prices can vary markedly.
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