Philips DVDRW416K 

If you have ever installed a CD-ROM then a DVD needs exactly the same capabilities. The ability to open the PC case find a free 5.25 external bay, locate the ribbon cable and a free power lead. Now perhaps the tricky bit find a small cross bladed screwdriver and if your fingers are not slender then maybe a pointed set of pliers.

That should be all, the Philips unit comes with screws etc so you should be fine unless you are short of that power lead and then a visit to your local Computer Fair or retailer should buy you a power lead splitter for around a couple of pounds.

If you are simply replacing a CD or CD-RW drive with the DVD unit then it’s easier still as everything should be in the right place, just unscrew the old unit and then screw in the new unit after checking the slave/master setting on the rear of the drive. This is where those with larger fingers will appreciate the pointed pliers.

I have used this unit with no difficties for around three weeks it has performed without any problems, reading both CD’s and DVD’s with no grumbles. Not only can it write DVD’s but also CD’s the Philips unit has a maximum writing speed for CD-R of 16x while it can write CD-RW at up to 10x. As a CD reader it has a notional maximum speed of 40x. DVD+R discs can be written at 4x while DVD+RW can be written at 2.4x

There are four software packages supplied the excellent Nero CD and DVD writing software this is version 5.5 (I am told version 6 is now available but I have yet to see a copy) IN CD software that allows a CD to become a large floppy. Sonic My DVD video software and finally a cut down version of the excellent Pinnacle Studio 8SE. The unit I had came with an offer for free Avery CD/DVD labels but I am not sure if that is a permanent offer. The driver disc also has a copy of Power DVD playback software.

The specifications of the PC are at least a Pentium III 500MHz and a Pentium 4 1GHz for the ability to copy on the fly. Minimum hard disc space of 500MB and this can be multiplied by 10 should you wish to video edit. It works with Windows 98SE or later.

I would think these figures are bare minimums and would suggest a 2GHz system as the base also remember that anything before Windows 2000 or Windows XP cannot handle really large files.

Please remember there is currently a war going on and while in my opinion DVD+R will eventually win the Philips drive cannot write DVD-R, DVD-RW or DVD-RAM formats.

The unit is efficient, nice to look at, has a decent getting started guide but it costs as much as some dual standard drives so if you have any doubts that DVD+R will win or need to write DVD-R etc this is not the unit for you. The price around £125 but some special offers do seem to exist so shop around.