pros/cons DVD Dual burner vs Combo Drive?

[Alltweed]

Anyone have the low down?

The main benefit I see with the DVD dual layer for my needs would be backing up data. The specs don;t say anything about the speed of the CDRW - read. write transfer/ etc.

Is the DVD dual a slower drive than combo, but allows for dvd writing or is it as fast with the cdrw, same speed as combo dvd and adds write?

Thinkpads seem to lag in this one area perhaps due to smaller size - the speed of the drives in general. Dell used to be first on the block to get latest high options die to their once superior supply chain efficiencies.

[Wayne]

are really slow compared to a CD-R. Specifics aren't possible because each drive is different and all media is different. Dual layer media holds a lot of data, you pay the price in speed. I have two dual layer drives but do not use dual layer media. Mainly because of the price.

[dr_st]

As far as I know, the Thinkpad DVD burners aren't any slower in burning CDs than the Thinkpad CD (non-DVD) burners. Of course they are slower than the fastest desktop CD/DVD burners, but that's the price you pay for portability.