hp dvd640 LightScribe DVD Burner Video Review

[Jason Dunn]

Product Category: Optical drive
Manufacturer: HP
Where to Buy: Pricegrabber Low Price Search [Affiliate]
Price: $89 to $129 USD
System Requirements: 5.25" drive bay or external enclosure. Microsoft Windows XP or 2000 Professional SP3; 800MHz Intel® Pentium® III (1.6GHz recommended); 128MB RAM (256MB recommended for video editing); 660MB hard disk space for software and DVD video disc creation.
Specifications: 16x DVD+R; 8x DVD-R; 2.4x DL DVD; 24x CD-R write speeds. 24x CD-R, DVD±RW up to 4X re-write speeds. 16x DVD+R; 8x DVD-R, 2.4x DL DVD; 24x CD-R read speeds.

Pros:

• LightScribe burning is amazing;
  
• Fast burning to a variety of DVD formats.

Cons:

• Required a software patch to get working;
• Weak software bundle;
• Expensive compared to other drives.

Right-click one of these links to download the video, or left click on it to stream:

• Desktop (640x480, 15MB)
• Pocket PC (320x240, 12 MB - requires WMP 10 Mobile)
• Smartphone (160x120, 2.7 MB - requires WMP 10 Mobile)
• Portable Media Center (320 x 240, 12 MB)

Summary:
LightScribe technology was first announced in 2004, and roughly one year later we have the first shipping product from HP. The dvd640 is the first shipping DVD drive with LightScribe technology, and while it has a few rough edges, LightScribe lives up to the hype - it's an incredibly cool way to personalize your CDs and DVDs.

Jason Dunn owns and operates Thoughts Media Inc., a company dedicated to creating the best in online communities. He enjoys mobile devices, digital media content creation/editing, and pretty much all technology. He lives in Alberta, Canada.

[Jason Dunn]

Product Category: Optical drive
Manufacturer: HP
Where to Buy: Pricegrabber Low Price Search [Affiliate]
Price: $89 to $129 USD
System Requirements: 5.25" drive bay or external enclosure. Microsoft Windows XP or 2000 Professional SP3; 800MHz Intel® Pentium® III (1.6GHz recommended); 128MB RAM (256MB recommended for video editing); 660MB hard disk space for software and DVD video disc creation.
Specifications: 16x DVD+R; 8x DVD-R; 2.4x DL DVD; 24x CD-R write speeds. 24x CD-R, DVD±RW up to 4X re-write speeds. 16x DVD+R; 8x DVD-R, 2.4x DL DVD; 24x CD-R read speeds.

Pros:

• LightScribe burning is amazing;
  
• Fast burning to a variety of DVD formats.

Cons:

• Required a software patch to get working;
• Weak software bundle;
• Expensive compared to other drives.

Right-click one of these links to download the video, or left click on it to stream:

• Desktop (640x480, 15MB)
• Pocket PC (320x240, 12 MB - requires WMP 10 Mobile)
• Smartphone (160x120, 2.7 MB - requires WMP 10 Mobile)
• Portable Media Center (320 x 240, 12 MB)

Summary:
LightScribe technology was first announced in 2004, and roughly one year later we have the first shipping product from HP. The dvd640 is the first shipping DVD drive with LightScribe technology, and while it has a few rough edges, LightScribe lives up to the hype - it's an incredibly cool way to personalize your CDs and DVDs.

Jason Dunn owns and operates Thoughts Media Inc., a company dedicated to creating the best in online communities. He enjoys mobile devices, digital media content creation/editing, and pretty much all technology. He lives in Alberta, Canada.

[Suhit Gupta]

Jason,
This is a fantastic review. In fact I totally want to get my own LightScribe drive now. BTW, how much do the discs cost?

On the time taken to burn, it makes sense right now given how slow bruning a CD used to take when CD burners were frst announced.

Also, I agree with you on that weirdness with the patch needed. Perhaps we should link to it from this review.

Suhit

[James Fee]

I think I saw BenQ also has one either on the way or just released.

The only question I have is how long is this supposed to last? Is it permanent or will it fade after a year or two?

[Philip Colmer]

Nice review!

You mention that the fitting instructions come in the form of a Flash-based tutorial. Did they also come in printed form, as I think it could be a problem trying to install a drive into a live system. Likewise, if you turn the system off to install the drive, you've lost your instructions.

With regards to the Verbatim DVD, the results look similar to some inkjet printable discs I've got where the printed surface is transparent, relying on the inner layer of the DVD itself to reflect light back through the printing. I actually like the look - it gives it a holographic appearance but, as you say, it isn't as crisp so you have to be careful particularly with text.

--Philip

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by Suhit Gupta

BTW, how much do the discs cost?...Also, I agree with you on that weirdness with the patch needed. Perhaps we should link to it from this review.

Discs vary in price - I paid $15 CND for 5 of the HP brand, but I've seen Verbatim for $10 CND for 5, so about $1.60 USD per disc. I think we'll see $1 price levels before the end of this year as production ramps up.

The patch is here:

http://forums.mvd2.com/tm.asp?m=2299...mode=1&smode=1

I guess I had the "unique" circumstances...? :?

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by James Fee

I think I saw BenQ also has one either on the way or just released...The only question I have is how long is this supposed to last? Is it permanent or will it fade after a year or two?

Yeah, BenQ, Lacie, and many other vendors are signed up to released drives. I think by the summer we'll see more selection - right now HP is the only one that had a drive in the channel. Lacie was supposed to have one out by now, but it was delayed I believe.

In terms of how long the Lightscribe image will last, I see no answer to that in the FAQ:

http://h10058.www1.hp.com/digital/en...cribe/faq.html

I learned a few new things from that FAQ. :-) The LightScribe image is permanent, so it should last as long as the disc lasts...

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by Philip Colmer

You mention that the fitting instructions come in the form of a Flash-based tutorial. Did they also come in printed form, as I think it could be a problem trying to install a drive into a live system.

Yes, it comes with a paper installation guide. The Flash tutorial is designed in such a way though that it describes what you're going to see inside the computer.

Originally Posted by Philip Colmer

With regards to the Verbatim DVD, the results look similar to some inkjet printable discs I've got where the printed surface is transparent, relying on the inner layer of the DVD itself to reflect light back through the printing. I actually like the look - it gives it a holographic appearance but, as you say, it isn't as crisp so you have to be careful particularly with text.

Interesting! I've never had a printer that can print to CDs/DVDs, so this was new to me. Compared to the HP CD, the Verbatim DVD looked pretty bad. Not HORRIBLE mind you, but side by side the HP image is certainly crisper and much nicer.

[Jason Dunn]

I found it on Pricegrabber and several vendors are offering it, so I've updated the Where to Buy link and deleted the addendum.

[James Fee]

Originally Posted by Jason Dunn

The LightScribe image is permanent, so it should last as long as the disc lasts...

According to Verbatim, it may fade over time. I guess we won't know how much until people start using them.

http://www.verbatim.com/lightscribe/...-answers-2.asp

A PC Mag article says...

Worse, HP acknowledges that, like nonarchival ink jet prints, LightScribe labels will fade in time.

Kind of freaky if you ask me. :splat:

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by James Fee

According to Verbatim, it may fade over time. I guess we won't know how much until people start using them.

Wow, I stand corrected. 8O That's quite surprising because the image is chemically etched...so that makes me think that perhaps the unused dye on the disc fades away over time. Kind of a bummer, but I guess nothing lasts forever.