Review: BenQ DW1640 16x dual format writer |
This time BenQ sent us their latest and greatest DVD-Writer; the BenQ DW1640. Upon receiving the drive, BenQ promised us a newer firmware with extra functionality, but it was delayed so much that we decided to start the review with BSJB. By the time we were finalizing this review; firmware BSKB and later BSLB were released, and we have now included test results with BSKB, BSKC and BSLB on page 9 and 10 of this review.
Some BenQ history:
We took a quick look at the company information found at BenQ Europe's web pages:
The BenQ Group, formerly known as Acer Communications & Multimedia Group, is a global operation, employing over 14,760 people worldwide and with an annual turnover (2003) of US$ 3.6 billion. Its expertise encompasses: Communications, Imaging, Display technology, Digital media and Electro-optics products. As home, office, and entertainment merge with each other, BenQ will use these competencies to create networked digital lifestyle devices that will increasingly become part of our world.
BenQ is in a unique position to serve this newly emerging world. It owns more than 1,382 global patents. In addition to this, R&D is carried out in the Hsinchu Lab in Taiwan, the Suzhou Software Development Center in China, and the Wireless Technology Center in San Diego, USA. BenQ currently employs some 2,000 R&D specialists worldwide. It spends about 4% of its income on R&D.
For production, BenQ has facilities in Malaysia, Mexico, China, and Taiwan. BenQ Suzhou is the flagship facility covering 600,000 sq. meters and employing over 6,000 people. Today that centre boasts an annual output capacity of 4 million colour monitors, 8 million keyboards, and 4 million scanners.
As you could see it's a large company with long history. But it's time to look at the specifications of the drive.
Drive specifications:
These are the specifications of this drive, found at the BenQ Global webpage:
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The specifications seem very good, and we don't have anything to put our finger at. Oh well, if we should be REALLY picky; there are drives that support 6x DVD-R DL writing, while the BenQ DW1640 only supports 4x.
What's inside the box?
The drive we received was a pre-release drive that came in a white box. The bundle is not complete either. But this is what we got:
Yes, we only got the installation CD and the drive. Plus one 6x DVD-RW and one 8x DVD+RW for use in the review.
Now it's time to take a look at the drive itself:
Nothing new under the sun here, it uses almost the same front as the DW1620.
Our sample was produced in Malaysia and has a production date of April 2005.
Still no changes on the back either; from the left: digital audio connector; analogue audio connector; pins and jumper to set the drive to cable select, slave or master; IDE connector and finally the power connector.
Now, let us connect the drive and check out the features and program bundle of this drive on the next page…