LG 32x8x4 CD-RW: REVIEW

 

I have been using the Korean made LG 32x read 8x write and 4x rewrite for some months now and have found it to be a value for money burner. The software is from Asimware, and in the form of HOTBURN v2.0.1. This software is very good at copying unprotected cd's, and in doing so I have never had a bad copy made. When it comes to copying protected cd's like Age of Empires. ( You are legally entitled to one copy ) Hotburn fails miserably. For this task I have turned to Clone CD , which performs the task well enough. Now the only times that I have made drink coasters is when copying a copied cd, or trying to burn my back up drive, or making data cd's.

Buffer over run errors abound when making data cd's, and the only time I make coasters is when I fail to do a test burn first. Doing test burns with Hotburn is a good way of insuring that you don't throw Frisbees out the door. So for you info buffs out there I used cd speed 99 to test the drive.

I have read a few burner tests out there and the above figures are not to bad, especially for a burner that can be had for just over $200Aust Dollars. So for that kind of money Im slightly surprised that the LG burner is not finding its way into more homes. As I said earlier , by doing test burns you avoid the dreaded buffer under run , and you can test and re-test until you have it right. And again , copying CD's has not been a problem, and as long as you copy original cd's and use the correct software for the job, you should not have any problems. In the future I hope that LG will include in the software package something along the lines of Clone CD, to make a better over all impression on the consumer, as Hotburn on its own , is not enough. Its a damned shame that LG has not put together a better software package as I truly believe that this is where the LG burner is let down, and the drive itself is superior to the software . I should point out that I don't use the LG to read CD's , I use my 50x CDrom for this, and this may account for the burn error when burning copied cd's, and I have only at this time tried to copy 1 copied CD. hmmm might have to look into this some more, coping copied CD's. Or as someone told me , the BASF blanks are not the best, as I am yet to have a data error with the Princo blanks . Im not going to go into which blank CD is the best, but so far all data errors have come up on the BASF blanks, and whether this is just luck or that the Princo's are better , at this time I can not say.

IN CONCLUSION :

In all seriousness the software is the weak link in this package , and I highly recommend that you get something along the lines of CLONE CD to do most of your work with. The drive itself is capable of so much more than the software can take advantage off, this is a sleeper , buy it cos its cheap, and use aftermarket burning software to take advantage of the physical drive , your wallet will thank you.

I can only give this package 6 out of 10 , thats 1 point for the software package and 5 for the drive itself, dont be afraid of buying the LG 32x8x4 if you know what you are doing, because with CLONE CD Im yet to do a buffer under run, or turn out a coaster .