Good quality writer recommendation

[Stone-ok]

I have read Chewy's thread on his overwhelming drive tests, and I have to admit that I'm now more confused than I was before I read it. I currently have (okay I had, until it died) a Khypermedia (repackaged CyberDrive) DX082D - with Firmware ver: 150B. My media preference is Taiyo Yuden DVD+R 8x (YUDEN000 T02).

This DX082D drive successfully created many copies (with some minor complications) until now. It will no longer recognize the above media, nor any other disc (CD, DVD, blank, recorded, etc...). I'm thinking that the drive has seen its last disc, and I am obviously looking for a replacement.

According to Chewy, the Benq 1650 is a good reader and the NEC 3550 is apparently a good burner. I felt that I was pretty comfortable making a decision there. But, an LG was thrown in, and then a Plextor, Liteon, etc... started popping into the mix. Ahhhh decisions decisions.

I am not a massive burner. I probably make 5-10 ± burns a week. I rarely do "copy on the fly" burns, but probably would if given the chance. I also would like to stay in the 50ish dollar range. Is there any suggestions that could be made that may help affirm my decision process?

I know there are many threads discussing this topic, and apologize for the repitition, but since there are so many it's hard to cypher through all the responses and get to the answers. So, I thought I'd just ask directly.

Thank you in advance for your help.
Stone-ok

[NightTran]

Benq 1650/55 Pioneer 111D is better if you burn Dl, both can find at Newegg for less then 40

[Stone-ok]

Thank you for your rather quick response NightTran! But I must show my novice experience, and ask what Dl means?

[NightTran]

Duel layers I may spell wrong

[Stone-ok]

Of course....that was one of those things where I knew it, but couldn't remember until you said it. Thank you again for your response!!!!

[NightTran]

there are more people here that know more then me, you may want to wait for all the responses

[daman]

I love my NEC makes awsome burns, i got a lite-on for reading sopose to
be good,,dunno

[Chewy]

there are more people here that know more then me, you may want to wait for all the responses

there is noone here who tests more than night does

[jm1647]

DVD drive owners are like car enthusiasts....Some like Fords, Chevys, Mopars, The cars all run and will get you where you want to go, some do some things better than others.
Same with DVD Burners, Benq, NEC, LiteOn, Samsung, LG to name a few. Some of the same make\model burners work better for some people than others, quality control\tolerances who knows. All of the 16X burners should give ya a good bang for your buck. Cost around $30 to $40. Almost like a coin toss