Ultrabay Slim combo drives - Hitachi or Panasonic?

[ZPrime]

I've got the ability to choose between an HLDS 4242N drive or the UJDA 755y Panasonic... Which is "better" or has more features? The build quality on the Hitachi seems better... they both seem to support the same options in Nero/Alcohol 120 though. Any ideas which is the better drive? Quiet would be nice too...

[edit]
Looks like the Hitachi supports more forms of RAW burning, as well as the ability to Read C2 error correction *and* it can read DVD+ format (the Panasonic/Matshita only does DVD- and ROM).

From Nero Infotool, here's the Panasonic/Matshita:

Code: Select all

Drive Information
------------------
Drive                      : MATSHITA UJDA755yDVD/CDRW
Type                       : Combo Drive
Firmware Version           : 1.71
Buffer Size                : 2 MB
Date                       : 40-40-90
Serial Number              : 5550992591
Vendor Specific            :  404090KME15550992591
Drive Letter               : D:\
Location                   : 1:0
Mechanism                  : Tray
Read Speed                 : 24 , 20 , 12 , 4  X
Write Speed                : 24 , 16 , 8 , 4  X

Read CD Text               : Yes
Return C2 Pointers         : No
Read CD-R                  : Yes
Read CD-RW                 : Yes
Read DVD-ROM               : Yes
Read DVD-RAM               : Yes
Read DVD-R                 : Yes
Read DVD-RW                : Yes
Read DVD+R                 : No
Read DVD+RW                : No
Read DVD+R DL              : No
Read BD-ROM                : No
Read BD-R                  : No
Read BD-RE                 : No
Read Digital Audio         : Yes
Read CD+G                  : No
Read VideoCD               : Yes

Write CD-R                 : Yes
Write CD-RW                : Yes
Write DVD-R                : No
Write DVD-RW               : No
Write DVD-R DL             : No
Write DVD+R                : No
Write DVD+RW               : No
Write DVD+R DL             : No
Write DVD-RAM              : No
Write BD-R                 : No
Write BD-RE                : No
Buffer Underrun Protection : Yes
Mount Rainier              : No
Modes                      : Packet, TAO, DAO, SAO, RAW SAO, RAW SAO 16, RAW SAO 96, RAW DAO 96

Region Protection Control  : RPC II
Region                     : 1
Changes User               : 4
Changes Vendor             : 4

And here's the Hitachi:

Code: Select all

Drive Information
------------------
Drive                      : HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4242N
Type                       : Combo Drive
Firmware Version           : 0201
Buffer Size                : 2 MB
Date                       : ?
Serial Number
Vendor Specific            :  0BICA   03/12/18    
Drive Letter               : D:\
Location                   : 1:0
Mechanism                  : Tray
Read Speed                 : 24 , 20 , 16 , 10 , 4  X
Write Speed                : 24 , 16 , 10 , 4  X

Read CD Text               : Yes
Return C2 Pointers         : Yes
Read CD-R                  : Yes
Read CD-RW                 : Yes
Read DVD-ROM               : Yes
Read DVD-RAM               : Yes
Read DVD-R                 : Yes
Read DVD-RW                : Yes
Read DVD+R                 : Yes
Read DVD+RW                : Yes
Read DVD+R DL              : No
Read BD-ROM                : No
Read BD-R                  : No
Read BD-RE                 : No
Read Digital Audio         : Yes
Read CD+G                  : No
Read VideoCD               : Yes

Write CD-R                 : Yes
Write CD-RW                : Yes
Write DVD-R                : No
Write DVD-RW               : No
Write DVD-R DL             : No
Write DVD+R                : No
Write DVD+RW               : No
Write DVD+R DL             : No
Write DVD-RAM              : No
Write BD-R                 : No
Write BD-RE                : No
Buffer Underrun Protection : Yes
Mount Rainier              : No
Modes                      : Packet, TAO, DAO, SAO, RAW SAO, RAW DAO, RAW SAO 16, RAW SAO 96, RAW DAO 16, RAW DAO 96

Region Protection Control  : RPC II
Region                     : 1
Changes User               : 4
Changes Vendor             : 4

I think I'm going to go with the Hitachi, anyone have any arguments against?

[JHEM]

Yes, I have an argument against the Hitachi, it won't fit in the Ultrabay slim.

Hitachi doesn't build laptop optical drives, they market those built by LG Electronics. According to LG, the GCC-4242N drive is 12mm thick, not 9.5mm, so it's too thick.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Regards,

James

[ZPrime]

Sorry James, but you're wrong. The HL-DT-ST GCC-4242N definitely comes in a slim factor. The IBM FRU is 13N6769. (IIRC, the FRU for the Panasonic is 13N6771.)

A client (who doesn't even need CD burning abilities) got one in a new 2379-R1U.

I already have the UJDA 755y (purchased off ebay a while ago for my 2379-EZU). Client doesn't need to be able to burn at all, so they don't care if I swap the drives.

[JHEM]

Thanks for the correction Z. I wonder if the Hitachi is what's coming in my new 2378-FVU.

Regards,

James