help pick a burner

Hello

I have an option of getting either a GSA-E40L or GSA-H55L for the same price ($45USD). I currently have a GSA-4167B in an enclosure that I use alongside my laptop, so it makes no great difference to me whether or not I get another external unit or an internal unit to replace the 4167...

But - which of the two would be considered a better drive? I mostly backup info (main priority), make CD's for general use (car, home stereo, etc), rip CD's (not very often), and very seldom make copy of a movie (not Hollywood stuff, but international films).

Thing is I really like the lightscribe feature of either drive (I realize it could take a while to etch the label - but I'm in no hurry).

Also, any word on which would be better lightscribe media? I have a choice of Memorex, Verbatim and TDK.

Thanks for the responses!

Not a peep, huh?

Hi
Welcome onboard togo.
I guess most members feel the answer to your question is already 'out there'.
Personally although the 55 is the quicker, if used externally. Then this will be lost anyway.
The 40 probably has an edge on the quality of burns.
But @ speeds derived at when using external options this will be very marginal.
Show go with the best priced option.

Yes Welcome togo, I would try the GSAH55L, although I have to admit I have never used this drive in an encloser.

Great, thanks for the replies and the welcome fellas.

I suppose I should have mentioned this, but I am seeking better burn quality. I've lurked in these forums for a long time and tried to find any first-hand experience with either drive - found some info but seems many people keep the info to themselves mostly. I realize that both drives come with different chipsets (Renesas ? and Panasonic). My 4167 and the E40L has the former while the H55L has a Pana - honestly don't know the difference between the two...

Otherwise, there are these funky graphs posted and, quite frankly, those really don't mean much to me as I'm not a hardcore burning dude but I do want and seek quality above else .... that's why I ended up with the 4167B in the first place (which I put in an external enclosure with 2 firewire and 1 true USB2.0 plug).

So here we have it. Seems opinion is split 50/50. LOL!

At the moment I can get either drive for the same price but not for long (the external E40L is offered at discounted price for a short time).

... just wondering if LG has any plans of issuing firmwares in the future for the H55L that would make it a fantastic burner instead of just a great burner - or would they just start introducing newer drives with "better" features, forcing people to buy new instead of upgrading firmware.

Hi
Go with the E40L, has the Renesas chip. Hence the better quality.
Personally I would not have a LG based on the Panasonic chip.
If quality is your prime concern it is a done deal. E40L.

K, well I got the E40L and cracked open the case to pull out the drive (I have a different enclosure to stick it in).

Turns out the drive itself is a H44L (is that good)? Only thing is that when it's hooked up to the computer, it's still only recognized as a E40L (and weird part is I get no sound out of it when I put in an audio CD).

Is it possible to flash it with H44L firmware or am I done for if I do that?