Memorex F16 DVD-Writer


 

 

 

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Review: Memorex F16
Reviewer: Wesley Novack
Provided by: Memorex
Firmware: BWSE
Manufactured: September 2004

Memorex was kind enough to send us their latest DVD-Writer; the Memorex F16 Double Layer, Dual Format DVD recorder. This drive supports 16x DVD+R writing, 8x DVD-R and 2.4x DVD+R9 DL writing technologies, which allows you to burn dual layer discs with a capacity of 8.5GB.

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Memorex has the following to description on their website regarding this product; The 16x Dual Format, Double-Layer DVD Recorder ushers DVD Recording into a new era. The dual format capability takes the guesswork out of choosing the right discs, while the double-layer feature allows for the creation of DVD+R9 discs with as much as 8.5 GB of data. A comprehensive and powerful software suite from Nero makes recording CDs and DVDs easy and fun.

Memorex history and information:

We found the following information on the Memorex website:

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Memorex Products, Inc.

Since Memorex burst onto the recording scene more than 30 years ago with "Is it live or is it Memorex?" a lot has changed. But with each generation, Memorex continues to remain one of the most widely recognized and respected names in the consumer electronics industry. By bringing to market the high performance products consumers demand, today Memorex is a dominant brand in CD and DVD media, optical drives, flash drives and computer accessories. Memorex is the number one retail provider of digital media, currently shipping more than 750 million

CD and DVD discs each year to stores nationwide '“ enough to carpet the entire state of New York!! For 2003, Memorex retained its position as the number one provider of digital media, outperforming all other brands of optical media. For the fourth consecutive year in the CD category and second consecutive year in DVDs, Memorex led its competitors in all digital media in both volume and sales. Catering to 21 of the top 25 U.S. retailers, Memorex products are available in more than 23,000 retail locations nationwide. Worldwide, Memorex sells nearly a billion optical discs annually in its major international markets, which include Europe and Canada. From the recordable audio cassette that propelled the Memorex brand into market dominance in the early 1970s, to the industry's first inkjet printable CDs, to the high-speed and double-layer DVD discs of today, no other company has achieved as much success in the digital media marketplace as Memorex, truly symbolizing the meaning of its name '“ 'memory excellence". To complement the enormous demand for media, Memorex has entered into new markets over the years '“ and succeeded. With high-speed performance, stylish looks and competitive prices, Memorex CD and DVD drives have been recognized as the industry's best. Memorex drives have been named Editor's Choice by PC Magazine, Editor's Pick and Best Buy by PC World, and have consistently been ranked among the top brands of DVD burners by countless other consumer and technology publications. For consumers looking to take important files, music, or digital photos on the go, the Memorex family of TravelDrivesTM offers sleek and stylish high performance storage in a device small enough to fit on a keychain. Currently available with 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB and 2GB of capacity and featuring the slimmest profile among portable flash drives, Memorex TravelDrives are ideal for securely transferring digital files between home, school, the office, or even between Mac and PC. Memorex also offers a complete line of media accessories, including CD and DVD labeling tools, storage cases and computer cleaning products. The Memorex brand continues to endure, serving as the ultimate benchmark for separating the 'wanna-be" from the real thing. Is it live or is it Memorex? You decide.


 

Memorex Milestones

How It All Began

1961 Memorex is formed, delivering data backup tapes for the emerging computer industry.

1971 Memorex launches recordable audio cassettes and one of the most memorable campaigns in

television history, the image of Ella Fitzgerald's recorded voice shattering a wine glass and the

phrase, 'Is it live or is it Memorex?"

1979 The video library is born with the introduction of recordable VHS tape.

Recent History

1996 Recordable CD-Rs open up a world of new possibilities where photos, music, data '“ anything

digital '“ can be saved to a portable, reliable low-cost disc for the next 70 years.

1998 Memorex launches its branded optical drives (CD Recorders).

2000 Memorex emerges the market share leader in retail sales of optical media.

2001 Memorex delivers the Recordable Pocket CD-R, a disc only three inches in diameter, but

boasting 185 MB of storage space.

2001 Memorex Recordable DVDs deliver consumers enough storage space to hold an entire set of

encyclopedias in one hand.

2002 Memorex expands its branded optical drive line-up by launching internal and external DVD

Recorders.

2002 Memorex introduces its first USB flash drive, the ThumbDrive. The ultimate in portable

storage, ThumbDrives are able to hold up to 512MB of data, music, or other digital files, with

USB 1.1 compatibility.

2003 Memorex expands its USB flash drive product line-up by introducing an all new, uniquely

designed High Speed USB 2.0 TravelDrive. The USB flash drive market grows by 1,500 percent

from 2002 to 2003.

2003 Memorex introduces an award-winning dual format DVD recorder, expanding the product line

to 10 active models, more than any other tier one retail branded optical drive marketer.

2003 Memorex remains number one in sales of digital CD and DVD media and emerges as a leader

in the DVD drive marketplace, garnering PC Magazine Editor's Choice, PC Magazine Best Of

2003, PC World Editor's Pick and PC World Best Buy honors.

2003 Memorex is the first to bring to market DVD 120 discs '“ the VHS tape replacement '“ expressly

for home video DVD recording.

2004 Memorex leads the charge to deliver standardized dual-layer DVD media and drives to market.

2004 Memorex expands its TravelDrive family to include the industry's largest storage capacities '“

1GB and 2GB '“ making portable storage virtually limitless.

 

Company Info
Company History

Forty years ago, a group of engineers joined together to produce a backup medium for the computer industry. The name of their new venture? You guessed it - Memorex.

1961 was a big year. While NASA launched the first manned space capsule, we launched Memorex. Our earliest products were Data Backup Tapes for the emerging computer industry. But within a few short years, our engineers had developed a line of Recordable Tapes for consumers. Our business and product line continued to grow. And by 1971, Memorex introduced Recordable Audio Cassettes. The rest, as they say, is history.

Our entrance into the Audio Cassette market was kicked off by a landmark advertising campaign. The image of Ella Fitzgerald's recorded voice shattering a wine glass was seen and remembered by millions. And the accompanying theme line, "Is it live or is it Memorex?," was quickly adopted by mainstream America. 30 years later, the phrase continues to pop up in countless interviews, talk shows and conversations '” still serving as the ultimate benchmark for separating the "wanna-be" from the "real thing."

Audio Tape
In 1971, Memorex launched Recordable Audio Cassettes with one of the most memorable campaigns in television history, and led the industry in sales for the next 20 years.

Video Tape
In 1979, we followed our success in Audio Tape with the launch of Recordable VHS tape. Soon, bookshelves across America displayed a new kind of library '” the video library.

Recordable CD-R
In 1996, Recordable CD-Rs opened up a world of new possibilities. Photos, music, data '” anything digital, now had a portable, low-cost home for the next 100 years.

Flash Media
In 2000, as media formats grew smaller, capacities continued to expand. The Memorex CompactFlash and SmartMedia cards are smaller than a matchbook, yet holds hundreds of digital photos.

Pocket CD-R
This year we introduced our Recordable Pocket CD-R. Pocket CD-R goes where no CD-R has ever gone before at 3 inches. It is another "small" breakthrough in media.

DVD
A lot can happen in 40 years. This year's introduction of our Recordable DVD lets you hold an entire set of encyclopedias in one hand. Where will it end? Check back with us in another 40 years.

 
 
Drive specifications:

These are the Specifications of this drive:

Features 

* ATAPI/E-IDE Half-Height internal DVD+R / DVD+RW / DVD-R / DVD-RW / DVD+R9 / DVD-ROM / CD-R / CD-RW / CD-ROM combination drive

* Support Double Layer DVD+R9 Recording Function

* SMART-BURN® avoiding Buffer Under Run error, Automatically adjusting writing strategy & running OPC to provide the best burning quality(*1)

* SMART-X® Smart Monitoring & Adjusting Read-speed Technology for eXtraction(*2)

* VAS® to reduce vibration & noise during recording & reading(*3)

* Support Fixed Packet, Variable Packet, TAO, SAO, DAO, Raw Mode Burning & Over-Burn

* DVD read compliant: DVD single/dual layer (PTP, OTP), DVD-R(3.9G/4.7G), DVD-R multi-borders, DVD+R, DVD+R multi-sessions, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW

* CD read compliant: CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-ROM/XA, Phto-CD, Multi-session, Karaoke-CD, Video-CD, CD-I FMV, CD Extra, CD Plus, CD-R, and CD-RW

* Support both 8cm and 12cm disc of CD and DVD family

* Conform to Orange Book: Part 2 CD-R Volume 1, Part 2 CD-R Volume 2 Multi Speed, Part 3 CD-RW Volume 1 (1X, 2X AND 4X), Part 3 CD-RW Volume 2: High Speed, Part 3 CD-RW Volume 3: Ultra Speed

* Supported transfer mode : PIO mode 4, DMA mode 2 and Ultra DAM mode 2

* 1 SMART-BURN® : Smart Monitoring & Adapting Recording Technology for BURNing.
* 2 SMART-X® : Smart Monitoring & Adjusting Read-speed Technology for eXtraction.
* 3 VAS® : Vibration Absorber System



Specifications  

* DVD Family:

Write : DVD+R   16X(21600KB/sec) by Z-CLV
             DVD-R    8X(10800KB/sec) by Z-CLV
             DVD+R9 2.4X(3240KB/sec) by CLV
ReWrite : DVD+RW 4X(5400KB/sec) by CLV
                  DVD-RW 4X(5400KB/sec) by CLV
Read : 16X(16200KB/sec) maxmium by CAV
Access Time : 160ms

* CD Family:

Write : CD-R 48X(6000KB/sec) maxmium by P-CAV
ReWrite : CD-RW 24X(3600KB/sec) maxmium by Z-CLV in UltraSpeed disc
Read : 48X(6000KB/sec) maxmium by CAV
Access Time : 160ms

* Buffer Size :

2MB

* PC Required :

Pentium III 450 MHz or faster CPU, 128MB or higher RAM are Required
650 HDD available capacity; and 5GB free space for creating DVD image file

* Compatibility :

Windows 98/NT4.0/ME/2000/XP

* MTBF (Life) :

70000 Hours

* S/N Ration

>75dB

* Environment :

Operating 5°C to 45°C; Relative Humidity : 10% to 80%, Non-Condensing
Non-Operating -40°C to 60°C; Relative Humidity : 10% to 95%, Non-Condensing

* Dimension :

145.0(W) x 41.3(H) x 170.0(D) mm

* Weight :

<0.9Kg

* Voltage Requirements :

+5V +/-5% and less than 100 mVp-p ripple voltage
+12V +/-5% and less than 200mVp-p ripple voltage


 
What's inside the box?


Now we will take a look at what the drive came shipped with as well as the drive itself and its' technology.

The box advertises and highlights the 16X DVD+R writing speed, the Double Layer writing ability, and the dual ± Format writing abilities. Let us take a closer look at the contents of the box:

 

This bundle is very well stocked compared to some other retail packages and contains:

        
The drive itself
         One 40 wire IDE cable
         Audio Cable
         4 mounting screws
         Nero software installation CD
         One Memorex 16x DVD+R disc
         Quick Install guide & software manual
         Quick Setup Map
         Memorex LabelMaker offer
         Safety Notice

Along with the standard retail package, Memorex also kindly provided an assortment of Memorex brand media to use in this review. This bundle looks very good and we especially like the included 16x DVD+R disc. We also like to see the Nero 6 software suite, which is one of our favorite recording software packages. We would have preferred an 80 wire IDE cable and we also miss a DVD±RW disc to be included in the retail bundle. The Quick Setup Map contains pictures and step-by-step instructions, which should help anyone to easily install the drive and software.

Now it's time to take a look at the drive itself:

 

The bezel has a very unique, interesting design and color scheme. We can see that the bezel has a DVD+R DL logo, a DVD Alliance (DVD+R/RW) logo, a Memorex logo, a DVD Forum (DVD-R/RW) logo and a Compact Disc ReWriteable logo. The bottom half of the bezel contains a headphone jack, a volume control wheel, an emergency eject hole, an LED, a Double Layer graphic, a 16x graphic, and a standard eject button. It is nice to see that this drive still contains a headphone jack and volume control wheel, since many other drives are now excluding these items. The LED is a single blue color, which is lit solid blue during writing and blinks blue during reading. We really like the unique blue-colored LED, but we generally prefer separate colors for reading and writing operations.

 

The drive top contains 2 stickers. We can see that the drive was made in China and manufactured in September 2004. The FCC ID is DVD+/-DLRWL1 F16l and the Memorex part number is 32023282. It is also interesting to take notice of the small form factor of this drive, which is the same for all Lite-On based drives. The drive length measures in at just under 6 ¾ inches, which will make it easier to fit and install in most cases. This is approximately 1 inch shorter than standard length drives.

 

On the back of the drive starting from the left, we can see a set of pins that is used to calibrate the drive at the factory; an analog audio connector; a digital audio connector; pins and a jumper to set the drive to cable select, slave or master; an IDE connector and finally the power connector.

We had no trouble quickly installing the drive in our test system. Here is a screenshot from Nero InfoTools' Drive Info tab:

 

Our drive came shipped with firmware BWSE, which is the latest available firmware at the time of this review. It does not support DVD-RAM reading/writing nor Mt. Rainier, however very few drives support these features. The buffer size is listed as 2MB, however some other drives are built with an 8MB buffer. A larger buffer is preferred, but this is a minor complaint. All in all, the supported features look very good.

Here is another shot from Nero Burning ROM:

 

On the next page we will take a look at the test machine, the software, the drive features and the included software…


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