BenQ DVD Writer Are Vanishing

You are right DVD_ADDICT the best way to be sure what you are getting in the box to open the box in store and if is BenQ 1640 then you make purchase.

The CompUSA brand wasn't on sale, only the Norwood had the $50 in rebates. The boxes that are the Benq DW1650 say DW1650 above the barcode and the picture is of a Benq drive on the box. I opened one of the other Norwood boxes with the same SKU # but no number above the barcode and it was not a Benq and the picture on the box although similar was not of a Benq.

Thanks for this information that is very useful, as for the $50 rebate "Compusa is known to have way over priced items and then then even if you are lucky to get your rebate back from them you are still left with regular paice after rebate.

I held a New BenQ 1655 in my hands this evening (Sat Night 12-9-06)

It was at CompUSA, and was in a Norwood Box, but it was 69.99. EDIT, it was a Computer Connect NOT a Norwood. Sorry for any confusion.

As much as I want an extra one, I cannot see spending 70 bucks on something that should sell for 30-40 bucks.

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Last edited by BuddTX; 10-12-2006 at 11:29.

But there were rebates on it???

I agree $70 is steep

I don't think there were any rebates on that one, only the DW1650 one.

On the CompUSA Web site, the Norwood has a rebate, the Computer Connect does not.

Frustrating to hold the BenQ 1655 in your hand, and walk out without buying it.

Hi, guys, just saw a shuttle cr40 on clearance at canadacomputers here in canada for only 25 bucks (retail package). Has a really sexy front plate. I bought one and it turns out it's a benq 1620. Immediately flashed it to b7w9 firmware edited to do max of 12x speed writing with riplock removed with mcse. Here's a memorex disc i burned with it at 12x speed.

Some of you are saying $70.00 is steep to pay for the rebadged Benq 1655 Connect Computer drive. Think of it as this the drive isn't being manufactured anymore so why not buy it while you can. Snooze you lose.

Good Point, for me, it is a matter of money, plain and simple. I own:
1 BenQ 1620
1 BenQ 1655
2 BenQ 1640 (at work)
(I also have a Plextor 760A and several LiteOn Burners at work)

I look at NewEgg, and the top rated Burners (Samsung, NEC, LiteOn, LG) all are about 30 bucks.

So for me, I am set, but I also hate knowing that if I need another one, I wont be able to get a 1655. However, the flip side, is that, I probably will not need another burner for a year or two, and I wonder what new technology will be available when I need to make another purchase.

I agree also there is going to be a day may be that you can't buy these drive for any price.

55 I did not pay that much but all my 40 I pay for that price and never regret it :-)

I paid 70.00 and quite frankly I'll pay that again. The first time, it was more of an emergency situation, needed a superb burner immediately but I won't hesitate getting another 1655 at 70 bucks. I may just do that to have a back-up.

Compusa now has free shipping 12/10-12/16. To my house for 33.59. Not bad. I hope I get the rebate.

I don't have good experience with rebates from compusa in the past, at the moment I have been waiting fior the last two months for 2X$50 rebates from them for buying two 20" monitor.

What Re-Badged BenQ is this?

Office max has the Benq 1655 for $49.99 USD plus tax out the door. I got one of those. Office max offer good for Dec 11,2006 thru Dec 16, 2006.

And compusa had the 1650 for $29.99 USD after rebates. (59.99 - 30 MIR = 29.99). I got one of these as well. Im gonna store the 1655 in storage till the Lightscribe discs get cheapter. This offer will be good for a couple weeks, i think till the end of the month......... but if you want one you better get it NOW cuz there are CD FREAKS all over the place!

Which model is the 1655 at Office Max? Perhaps a link to it on their website?

Thanks!

AS far as I know Office Max never carries BenQ drive unless repackage one.

Officemax has the 1655 on sale for 49.99, and yes it is a rebadged unit, i got one like i said, and even the sticker on the top of the unit says BENQ 1655, only differnce was the faceplate. The IO Magic box is the IDVD16DLS model number on the box. http://www.officemax.com/max/solutio...OID=-536892754

you gotta be careful though, i would buy it in store, because you have a 50/50 chance of getting either the liteon or the benq. It took me 2 tries to get the right drive. I bought the drive and opened it from the BOTTOM of the box by opening up the flaps at the bottom of the IO Magic box, the 1st drive i got was a liteon, so i took it back and told them i wanted an exchange and explained how the box could have either one of the two drive, i got the 2nd box then i took the drive out and looked at the top of the drive, it had a sticker Saying BENQ 1655 and it was the right drive. Funny thing is the 2nd box i grabbed i was at the CSR desk when i opened it right in front of them, i figured i would try this 3 times if i had too thinking to myself that i wasnt going to find this drive anywhere else, they just had a funny look on their face like this guy is crazy as i was opening up the box from the bottom like a kid opening a christmas present. OH by the way when u go to buy it make sure u get the box with a BIG RED DOT that says 8x 16x, that will narrow you down to the 50/50 chance.
LoL...............Good Luck, if you are determined like me you will get what you want, it was worth it to me. I figure im paying 17 bux more than newegg but im getting the drive for SURE!

On the other hand the norwood micro drive from compusa for 29.99 after rebate is a 1650 for sure (none of that 50/50 chance thing like the story above), http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...L_DVD_RW_Drive u can tell by looking on the bottom of the box or on the skew, it should say 1650, if it does you got the right norwood micro box, comp usa had a bunch.

The I/o magic....what color is the face plate?

whatever the box say is what the color is, they have black and beige, so you will get one or the other, from what ive heard you can call up io magic and request a face plate of your color http://www.iomagic.com/faceplates/identify.asp


What i did is i bought one from Officemax and another from compusa. Cool thing was that the Norwood micro from compusa comes with both black and beige face plates (2 in the box). The office max IO MAGIC comes with only 1 face plate, either black or beige (you choose depending on what the box says). Cool part is that i only plan on using 1 drive at a time in my computer, and the 1640 and 1655 faceplates are interchangable so if i ever decide to change colors i can.

I personally would put that 6 bux IO MAGIC wants for an extra faceplate towards the price of the drive at compusa, it would be like paying 23.99 for an extra benq drive, atleast thats the way i look at it.

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Last edited by XeoNoX; 12-12-2006 at 09:11.

But will there be any more firmware updates?
Will Liteon model replacement ? firmware be useable?
No more MID codes = less useful (new 16x won't burn at that speed). My BenQ DW1650 with f/w BCIC won't burn 16x Verbatim media (Sept/06) at 16x....

My rebadged unit crossflashed to benq 1650 BCIC works fine with with Verbatim 16x certified media when burning at 16x. Ive burn both plus and minus discs, both 50pk spindles were made in taiwan. I even got screenshots posted somewhere in the forums. Its prolly the program you are using. I used nero and qsuite settings at default.

Use the fantastic Media Code Speed Edit software that's in a sticky at the top of this (BenQ) forum. Add your own!