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Rating: 
Summary: Not yet ready for the market
Review: I bought this drive on 6.12.2003 and encountered many problems.The first problem is that it cannot burn the DVD+RW it bundles! I used Hotburn to format the disk. After 'formatting', the drive kept on 'verifying' the disk for over 7 hours. I thought it was a media problem, and so I bought another 'expensive' disk for testing. Same problem! I then took the disks to my friend for testing. He can easily write / read on those disks with his Sony RW drive. He then gave me another Sony +RW disk for testing. But the same problem occurs. It seems that the drive simply cannot work properly on +RW disks. The second problem was using Hotburn. I burnt 2 DVD-R data disks 'successfully' using the Hotburn. But when I reviewed what I had done, only part of the files (1%) could be retrieved. Other files just disappeared! When I contact Iomega support, they told me that Hotburn is recommended to work with DVD+R! If that is the case, why didn't the software stop me from creating the coasters! Since I do not want any more coasters, I search the Internet for suggestions and found that there are indeed more victims like me (under the Iomega forum). I still cannot figure out any solution, and Iomega support team keeps on telling you to try 'better' media (but I can find no better ones). Currently, I can only burn 2 DVD-R successfully with myDVD and perform data backup using DVD-RAM (at only 1x speed). If I can return the drive in Hong Kong, I will certainly do so. Currently, my only hope is that a further firmware update may make things better.
Rating:
Summary: Not yet ready for the market
Review: I bought this drive on 6.12.2003 and encountered many problems. The first problem is that it cannot burn the DVD+RW it bundles! I used Hotburn to format the disk. After 'formatting', the drive kept on 'verifying' the disk for over 7 hours. I thought it was a media problem, and so I bought another 'expensive' disk for testing. Same problem! I then took the disks to my friend for testing. He can easily write / read on those disks with his Sony RW drive. He then gave me another Sony +RW disk for testing. But the same problem occurs. It seems that the drive simply cannot work properly on +RW disks. The second problem was using Hotburn. I burnt 2 DVD-R data disks 'successfully' using the Hotburn. But when I reviewed what I had done, only part of the files (1%) could be retrieved. Other files just disappeared! When I contact Iomega support, they told me that Hotburn is recommended to work with DVD+R! If that is the case, why didn't the software stop me from creating the coasters! Since I do not want any more coasters, I search the Internet for suggestions and found that there are indeed more victims like me (under the Iomega forum). I still cannot figure out any solution, and Iomega support team keeps on telling you to try 'better' media (but I can find no better ones). Currently, I can only burn 2 DVD-R successfully with myDVD and perform data backup using DVD-RAM (at only 1x speed). If I can return the drive in Hong Kong, I will certainly do so. Currently, my only hope is that a further firmware update may make things better.
Rating: 
Summary: Avoid This Drive
Review: Nothing but errors and coasters. Does not seem to properly write to DVD-R discs. Works fine for DVD+R, but will not work at all for DVD-R. Tech support at Iomega blamed the software company, the blank media and so on, but had no clue what was really happening. If you need DVD-RAM, stick to Panasonic, since they created it. For all others, just avoid this drive.
Rating:
Summary: Avoid This Drive
Review: Nothing but errors and coasters. Does not seem to properly write to DVD-R discs. Works fine for DVD+R, but will not work at all for DVD-R. Tech support at Iomega blamed the software company, the blank media and so on, but had no clue what was really happening. If you need DVD-RAM, stick to Panasonic, since they created it. For all others, just avoid this drive.
Rating: 
Summary: Problems with Firmware Upgrade, But Then It Worked
Review: Unfortunately, this drive (at the time of this review - 10/03) requires a firmware update to be compatible with all types of media. Amazon was nothing less than spectacular in shipping the drive out via its Free Shipping method - it arrived 4 days later! Much to my dismay, Iomega's firmware update froze my computer, and as a result, the drive's chip was corrupted. Amazon immediately took the unit back and replaced it within 48 hours!! However, after speaking with Iomega and getting another firmware upgrade personally from one of the techs (who also talked me through the update, making sure the computer was supposed to be the way it was for the update), the same thing happened all over! Amazon graciously stated they would take it back again for a full refund, but I wanted one last crack at installing the firmware (I'm stubborn). This time, however, I installed the drive into my daughter's Windows ME computer (I have Win 98). I ran the update, and voila - it worked! I took the drive out of her computer, re-installed it in mine, and it works great. I'm not sure if this was an operating system problem, but it was a major hassle to get the firmware to A06. I suggest you wait a few months so that the units shipped have the update already installed. As for performance, it's a great drive and works very well, especially the DVD-RAM function, which is the only reason I got it. The Hot Burn software that comes with it is kind of schlocky and cannot do a standard DVD-Video burn, only a DVD-ROM burn which will not work on some DVD players. There are better programs on the market that can do the job better than Hot Burn, but the drive works very well.
Rating:
Summary: update on last review
Review: Well after reading the reviews I knew I would be in for some work with this drive. Its 8 hours later and still trying to get mydvd installed (problem with version 4.x that is in the package). You will get runtime error when using on windows XP. Went to website to upgrade, and they want $98 to get version 5.0 that has no runtime error. So the "included software" is a joke. So if your getting it for the "great software", dont buy it. I wanted it to make movies from my new dvd video camera, but guess that is not going to happen. Computer reconized drive right away, so no problem there. Seems to read all disks so far. Have not tried writing yet, sure I will be in for a treat. The 1-1 support chat at the Iomega website is a joke, just tell you to update driver (which you cant do unless you have $98 bucks, then say update windows which does not help at all, then they disconnect and your on your own). Will update after I figure out the Mydvd problem. If you dont know alot about computers: DONT BUY THIS PRODUCT, takes too much knowledge for the average user!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: software is horrible, drive good
Review: Well after reading the reviews I knew I would be in for some work with this drive. Its 8 hours later and still trying to get mydvd installed (problem with version 4.x that is in the package). You will get runtime error when using on windows XP. Went to website to upgrade, and they want $98 to get version 5.0 that has no runtime error. So the "included software" is a joke. So if your getting it for the "great software", dont buy it. I wanted it to make movies from my new dvd video camera, but guess that is not going to happen. Computer reconized drive right away, so no problem there. Seems to read all disks so far. Have not tried writing yet, sure I will be in for a treat. The 1-1 support chat at the Iomega website is a joke, just tell you to update driver (which you cant do unless you have $98 bucks, then say update windows which does not help at all, then they disconnect and your on your own). Will update after I figure out the Mydvd problem. If you dont know alot about computers: DONT BUY THIS PRODUCT, takes too much knowledge for the average user!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: update on last review
Review: Well, after couple days of messing around with this drive I have given up. Software does not work, wont read dvd-rom (movies), wont read dvd-ram discs, only thing it does do is create music cd's (could buy a cd burner for 20 bucks). Will be returning this item on Monday. Techinal support does not help, not worth wasting your time with them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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