HP 640VI Lightscribe 16X Dual/Double DVD-RW review:
4 stars (Solid performance but software could be better) - Note: This review is on the external version of this drive, the 640e. The products are the same except that the external drive has both USB 2.0 and 1394 connections. It also ships with six Lightscribe DVD blank discs. Naturally, the power supply and all cables are included, too.



First, as a DVD writer, this works as advertised. The copies are quick (depending upon the speed of the media used, of course)and the number of failed copies has been very low relative to the drive that is in my desktop PC (and which failed just when I needed to create 16 disks in a hurry!).



Hook up was a snap, as it should be. Simply load the drivers from the included CD, reboot and then power up the drive. WinXP installs everything and you are ready to burn away. As noted, I made 16 DVDs (2 copies of 8 different discs - not copyrighted, of course!) and other than the fact that the copy software prefers to be the only thing running, things worked smoothly. (The only failed burns occurred when running other applications at the same time. The copy software politely notified me that the copy had failed and that it is best not to run other apps while copying.)



The weakness, in my opinion, is the software that is included. I am used to using a Roxio package and have also played with Nero software, both of which are fairly intuitive (translation, I didn't have to read the manuals!). The software that comes with this drive works fine, and the Arc software in particular seems to have some nice, if not always intuitive, features. But rather than being one integrated package, there are a couple of different pieces of software supplied with little or no instruction on what might be best to use in a given situation. The lack of integration and the limited info about the software are the reason that I dropped the rating to 4 stars.



One other gripe: When you load the drivers and software . . . surprise! There is a new icon on your desktop for some web-gaming promotion that wasn't there before! I really didn't buy the drive to get a come-on from some company selling game subscriptions. Tisk-tisk, HP! That should cost you a star but I will be nice since it doesn't impact the product's functionality!



Final note: I have not yet used one of the Lightscribe CDs to evaluate the labeling function. One reason I have not tried it is that it takes a LONG time to burn the lable and nothing that I have done yet warrents that time! Lightscibe media, both CD and DVD types, are now readily available so that is not an issue any more, although you will pay more for each blank disc than an equivalent disk without the Lightscribe capability. It appears to be a cool technology and would make for very nice finished products for those who need this and have the time (about 20 minutes) for the lable to be printed.



As a drive, I am very happy with the purchase and the way this drive works. I would happily recommend it. Four stars only because of the slightly weak software that comes with it.
2 stars (Lot's of failed burns) - I am on my second drive now, the first had to be sent back. It barely worked and finally the tray wouldn't even open. The first and current drive had many failures. I mostly burn DVD's of home movies and have had to throw out as many DVD's as have been successfully burned. I now use the lightscribe for labeling only. I have burned one good label out of 1 attempt on the replacement drive, the first drive failed 2 out of 3 attempts. The old Plextor external DVD drive has been much more reliable burning DVD's. I have yet to try a burn of a CD, but would assume it works fine for that, but that's not the real reason to own one of these drives. I have not yet tried a dual layer, but based on current results, I would not expect it to perform well.
5 stars (Very Nice product) - I just bought this today at Wal-Mart and after burning the free sample CD included, I am very impressed. I can't wait to see how far this technology will go!

HP 640VI Lightscribe 16X Dual-Double DVD-RW is the Electronics version. The full version can be purchased by clicking on the "CLICK HERE TO ORDER" button below for around  86.44USD.