Optical Disc Drive owners club

[Equus_Ferus_Caballus]

all of my desktops have optical drives of various makes, and have others using both IDE and SATA interface in places around the office as spares.

 

[tripleclicker]

Heres mine.

View attachment 271448

Bought about 20 years ago. Used it a fair bit when i bought it but not so much now since windows and game installs are done via USB and steam etc etc. Not the fastest drive in the world but it gets the job done.

I have this exact model, too. For externals, I prefer these over the slide tray models, because you don't need extra space for when you eject the disc. Like you, mine doesn't see much use anymore. Used to have an internal Samsung DVDRW, but I guess the laser diode died and it couldn't write anymore, only reads.

 

[Hugis]

Hola, still using a LG GH22NS40 (NL02).

Actually I used it the other day to install the drivers on my new build (yes asus still gives you a driver disc)

PS.
I hate Armory Crate!

 

[eidairaman1]

I'm not a fan of todays cases, they are BORING

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I have this exact model, too. For externals, I prefer these over the slide tray models, because you don't need extra space for when you eject the disc. Like you, mine doesn't see much use anymore. Used to have an internal Samsung DVDRW, but I guess the laser diode died and it couldn't write anymore, only reads.

well. Originally I wanted the fancy optical drive that didnt have a tray like this one...

I think all the major brands like Samsung, Pioneer, Lite-On etc etc used to make them back in the day but those drives were always significantly more pricey than the Lite-On. The Lite-On must have been near $20-25 where as the no-tray drives were more like closer to $40. It wasnt worth the price premium for something I'll probably use less than once in a blue moon and in a way I was right due to the internet taking off and being able to download whatever you needed digitally to a USB thumb drive to a point where I think thumb drives should have been a lot lot cheaper than they are now since there was so much demand for them back then.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I'm not a fan of todays cases, they are BORING

I'll second this!

 

[AusWolf]

Speaking of optical disks... these have just arrived:

With the average entertainment value of recent movie / TV series releases going down the toilet, I guess it makes increasingly more sense to collect old classics these days.

 

[BSim500]

With the average entertainment value of recent movie / TV series releases going down the toilet, I guess it makes increasingly more sense to collect old classics these days.

^ Awesome collection AusWolf. Ignoring the fact that 90-95% of older movies / TV series available to buy on DVD simply aren't available on streaming (not referring to Star Trek specifically but in general most content is "slightly older than brand new but not too old" thin slice), one of the things that rapidly p*ssed me off with both Netflix and Amazon Prime is how aggressively some stuff gets cycled, ie, taken off to "make room" always just as you're 50-75% through the series. I have a Netflix sub but I'm definitely in no rush to get rid of my Sci-Fi DVD collection either.

 

[AusWolf]

^ Awesome collection AusWolf. Ignoring the fact that 90-95% of older movies / TV series available to buy on DVD simply aren't available on streaming (not referring to Star Trek specifically but in general), one of the things that rapidly p*ssed me off with both Netflix and Amazon Prime is how aggressively some stuff gets cycled, ie, taken off to "make room" always just as you're 50-75% through the series. I'm definitely in no rush to get rid of my Sci-Fi DVD collection either.

Thanks.

Exactly my thoughts. I don't even subscribe to any streaming service, because around 90% of the stuff they have doesn't interest me, and I hardly have enough time to watch the rest. Even when I do, I often find that the quality of the content is nowhere near where I'd expected it to be. This is especially true with Star Trek which I absolutely loved up until 2005, then a certain team of producers, writers and directors decided to turn it into a hollow, bleak shell of itself full of flashing lights, cringy, unintelligent humour and nothing else. This DVD collection will outlive the time when CBS/Paramount decides that Disco and Lower Standards are the only canonical shows, and all that came before, all of Gene Roddenberry's vision never existed.

Edit: typo

 

[qubit]

Speaking of optical disks... these have just arrived:

View attachment 283924

With the average entertainment value of recent movie / TV series releases going down the toilet, I guess it makes increasingly more sense to collect old classics these days.

The qubit so approvez of these. He's seen all of them and Next Gen and Voyagerat least twice over.

 

[AusWolf]

The qubit so approvez of these. He's seen all of them and Next Gen and Voyagerat least twice over.

Same here, although I won't mind sitting through them again.

 

[Veseleil]

Star Trek makes a big part of my childhood, and memories of a time when I was still watching TV.

 

[A Computer Guy]

Star Trek makes a big part of my childhood, and memories of a time when I was still watching TV.

Ah the memories of simpler times. Sometimes I find myself longing for days before cell phones and TicTok nurses became a thing...

 

[neatfeatguy]

^ Awesome collection AusWolf. Ignoring the fact that 90-95% of older movies / TV series available to buy on DVD simply aren't available on streaming (not referring to Star Trek specifically but in general most content is "slightly older than brand new but not too old" thin slice), one of the things that rapidly p*ssed me off with both Netflix and Amazon Prime is how aggressively some stuff gets cycled, ie, taken off to "make room" always just as you're 50-75% through the series. I have a Netflix sub but I'm definitely in no rush to get rid of my Sci-Fi DVD collection either.

The one thing that bothers me is that some of these old(er) shows are coming back with a reboot/relaunch/movies and they're not going to disc or may not come out on disc.

Psych - this is one of my favorite TV shows. I've got the entire series on disc, but the 3 movies that have come out (my understanding is the creator wants to do 5 movies in total) are not available on disc, at least not that I can find because I look from time to time. I want a way to be able to add them to my plex server so I can watch them when I want and not have to worry about paying some subscription fee or wondering if the movies will be available to even stream.

Same issue I'll probably see is when the new season of Futurama comes out on Hulu - will that season release on disc? I've got the entire series and movies on disc and on my plex server, but will I be able to add the latest one that's coming out? I'm hoping it will release on disc.

I've got a list of TV shows I'd love to get on disc, but some of these shows are kind of expensive. I really want to get Malcom in the Middle, but it was never released on disc in the US. I'll have to get a UK set and cheapest I can find is nearly $100 last time I looked. With most shows and movies these days releasing on digital streaming, they'll never come to disc and what movies/shows that are coming out are crummy and ones I'm not interested in getting. I really don't like the shift to digital, it has many downsides that most people ignore just because it's simpler to stream.

Speaking of optical disks... these have just arrived:

View attachment 283924

With the average entertainment value of recent movie / TV series releases going down the toilet, I guess it makes increasingly more sense to collect old classics these days.

Nice grab there. I'm not really a fan of Star Trek, it's okay, but I do like having the physical copies of movies/shows/games. I approve of your collection, I hope you enjoy!

 

[AusWolf]

The one thing that bothers me is that some of these old(er) shows are coming back with a reboot/relaunch/movies and they're not going to disc or may not come out on disc.

Psych - this is one of my favorite TV shows. I've got the entire series on disc, but the 3 movies that have come out (my understanding is the creator wants to do 5 movies in total) are not available on disc, at least not that I can find because I look from time to time. I want a way to be able to add them to my plex server so I can watch them when I want and not have to worry about paying some subscription fee or wondering if the movies will be available to even stream.

Same issue I'll probably see is when the new season of Futurama comes out on Hulu - will that season release on disc? I've got the entire series and movies on disc and on my plex server, but will I be able to add the latest one that's coming out? I'm hoping it will release on disc.

I've got a list of TV shows I'd love to get on disc, but some of these shows are kind of expensive. I really want to get Malcom in the Middle, but it was never released on disc in the US. I'll have to get a UK set and cheapest I can find is nearly $100 last time I looked. With most shows and movies these days releasing on digital streaming, they'll never come to disc and what movies/shows that are coming out are crummy and ones I'm not interested in getting. I really don't like the shift to digital, it has many downsides that most people ignore just because it's simpler to stream.


Nice grab there. I'm not really a fan of Star Trek, it's okay, but I do like having the physical copies of movies/shows/games. I approve of your collection, I hope you enjoy!

Thanks!

I agree, by the way. Another one of my gripes is when a movie/series gets a reboot that totally subverts everything the original stood for, bins the whole idea, and replaces it with a new message for "modern audiences", then at the same time, the original gets removed from streaming services or even store shelves as physical copies. Essentially, it gets "cancelled". Just like Disney's classic cartoons vs the new animated films.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Star Trek makes a big part of my childhood, and memories of a time when I was still watching TV.

Right there with you!

 

[arni-gx]

Speaking of optical disks... these have just arrived:

View attachment 283924

With the average entertainment value of recent movie / TV series releases going down the toilet, I guess it makes increasingly more sense to collect old classics these days.

star trek voyager, best of the best tv series of star trek....


IMO....

 

[lightning70]

i am still using it.I have quite a few collections. Indispensable from my childhood.

 

[lexluthermiester]

star trek voyager, best of the best tv series of star trek....


IMO....

You are far from alone. ST Voyager is still my favorite Trek series.

 

[chrcoluk]

^ Awesome collection AusWolf. Ignoring the fact that 90-95% of older movies / TV series available to buy on DVD simply aren't available on streaming (not referring to Star Trek specifically but in general most content is "slightly older than brand new but not too old" thin slice), one of the things that rapidly p*ssed me off with both Netflix and Amazon Prime is how aggressively some stuff gets cycled, ie, taken off to "make room" always just as you're 50-75% through the series. I have a Netflix sub but I'm definitely in no rush to get rid of my Sci-Fi DVD collection either.

Very fair point.

This is the weakness of digital content, its often got an expiry. I watched first 5 seasons of Buffy on prime, then when I went to watch S6 it got switched to PPV.

The only assurance now is when its their own made content.

It wouldnt be so bad if the expiry was listed, so as you browse you see when its going to get pulled, but its more a "one minute its there, the next its gone".

 

[neatfeatguy]

Very fair point.

This is the weakness of digital content, its often got an expiry. I watched first 5 seasons of Buffy on prime, then when I went to watch S6 it got switched to PPV.

The only assurance now is when its their own made content.

It wouldnt be so bad if the expiry was listed, so as you browse you see when its going to get pulled, but its more a "one minute its there, the next its gone".

I know on Netflix if you go to watch a show/movie that Netflix itself doesn't hold rights to and if the contract is going to expire soon; when you pick the show and go into the next menu to watch/like/add to watch list there will be a note up near the image of the show stating that you have X number of days left to watch it before it goes away.

You don't get any kind of other notifications that I know of, but at least Netflix does do that. I remember seeing that message on the Futurama episodes shortly before they lost the rights to stream it. That's what prompted me to finally pick up the last 3 seasons and 2 movies I didn't have for them on disc so I could finish the series on my plex server. Otherwise I just had that mindset that I could just watch the episodes/movies I didn't have right on Netflix when I wanted to, but then they were gone.

 

[kiriakost]

I do highly appreciate quality-made optical disc drive's, I have many and quality DVD/RW in stock.
End of 2021 after a motherboard upgrade, I can not use any more IDE optical drive, and ended up using SATA one, the last one widely available model in Greece.
(I do own by choice, several packs of genuine retail software, with off-line activation.)

 

[80-watt Hamster]

I do highly appreciate quality-made optical disc drive's, I have many and quality DVD/RW in stock.
End of 2021 after a motherboard upgrade, I can not use any more IDE optical drive, and ended up using SATA one, the last one widely available model in Greece.
(I do own by choice, several packs of genuine retail software, with off-line activation.)


View attachment 284141

I'd simply assumed that quality-made drives don't exist anymore, so settled for buying ex-OEM system drives in eBay lots for cheap. Most have little to no use, and for USD5/ea., it hardly matters if they don't hold up.

 

[kiriakost]

I'd simply assumed that quality-made drives don't exist anymore, so settled for buying ex-OEM system drives in eBay lots for cheap. Most have little to no use, and for USD5/ea., it hardly matters if they don't hold up.

The specific Its cheap, down to 16 EUR as NEW.

The 80 EUR priced Plextor (Made in Japan), this is a story of the past.
Back then, LITE-ON this was a brand to avoid.

 

[bobbybluz]

As far as I remember the last optical drive actually manufactured by Plextor was the PX-708 or PX-716. I have both in my "museum" of vintage hardware.