What do you guys think of this:

http://www.tdk.com/velocd-new/32index.html

I've heard that some drives have abilities that perhaps TDK doesn't have? Like ripping certain copy protected CDs...? Plextor? I'm not into that, but want to keep my options open... What's the real scoop?

- Thanx
- Jon

In the review I read, the plextor 24x writer with the newest firmware defeated every copy protected disc they threw at it. Ill try to find the link to it.

Sean

I'd like to read that as well because the last review I read the Plextor got owned by Cactus Data Shield, in fact, an Acer won the shootout and even it couldn't extract all of the songs on the test CDs they used. Perhaps they were using the wrong software to attempt it.

FWIW, I use the TDK 24x10x40x and it's been a great unit. I contemplated going to the 32x but I just don't burn enough CDs anymore to justify it. I've owned TDK's 12x and 16x also and they have all been solid units.

http://www.cdfreaks.com/document.php3?Doc=53&Page=1

Sean

Hm. Just read the review and checked out the latest firmware. Looks like they have 1.03 out. So you think I should go Plextor over TDK? Any other gotchas that I should be aware of?

- Jon

Are there any reviews of the TDK drive that you can point me to?

Hmm... they show that it can read and write various protection schemes used for PC games, but not for any of the audio CD schemes. One useful thing I learned is that, if I go to the Belgian Plextor site, I may be able to find newer upgrades than are available on the U.S. site. It's not actually true right now (they appear to be in sync), but it's something to think about.