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Blu-ray DVD Burner: Does this computer have one?

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Robsphoto

Robsphoto

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Hi, I am thinking of buying a Windows 8 laptop which has an optical drive described as:

Blu-ray +-R/RW DVD+-R/RW SuperMulti DL Drive

http://www.hpshopping.co.nz/acquire/default.asp?pageid=custom&custom=detail&pf_id=2743931&tab=0

Can anyone advise me please whether this blu-ray drive not only plays blu-ray DVDs, but also writes to blu-ray DVDs.

One retailer of the computer suggested that this drive will only read Blu-ray DVDs and not actually write to them.

How can you be sure that a blu-ray drive is a DVD burner (other than actually trying it out)?

Thanks very much for your help.

Rob

www.robsphotography.co.nz
 
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Robsphoto said:
Robsphoto wrote:

Can anyone advise me please whether this blu-ray drive not only plays blu-ray DVDs, but also writes to blu-ray DVDs.
Click to expand...
There is no such thing as a "blu-ray DVD". Blu-Ray and DVD are different formats. (It is typical for a Blu-Ray drive to handle DVDs and CDs, but that doesn't make them the same format.)
 
Tom_N said:
Tom_N wrote:
Tom_N said:
Robsphoto wrote:

Can anyone advise me please whether this blu-ray drive not only plays blu-ray DVDs, but also writes to blu-ray DVDs.
Click to expand...
There is no such thing as a "blu-ray DVD". Blu-Ray and DVD are different formats. (It is typical for a Blu-Ray drive to handle DVDs and CDs, but that doesn't make them the same format.)
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I can see that you need to be careful the way you describe the discs. I bought a Sony BD-RE blu-ray disc rewritable, and that's what I am referring to, the ability for an optical drive to record to a blu-ray disc rewritable, as referred to here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc_recordable

So, when buying a computer, if it describes the optical drive as "Blu-ray +- R/RW DVD +- R/RW SuperMulti DL drive, do you think such a drive can write to a blu-ray disc rewritable?

Regards

Rob

www.robsphotography.co.nz
 
Robsphoto wrote:
Hi, I am thinking of buying a Windows 8 laptop which has an optical drive described as:
Blu-ray +-R/RW DVD+-R/RW SuperMulti DL Drive
http://www.hpshopping.co.nz/acquire/default.asp?pageid=custom&custom=detail&pf_id=2743931&tab=0
Can anyone advise me please whether this blu-ray drive not only plays blu-ray DVDs, but also writes to blu-ray DVDs.
One retailer of the computer suggested that this drive will only read Blu-ray DVDs and not actually write to them.
How can you be sure that a blu-ray drive is a DVD burner (other than actually trying it out)?
Thanks very much for your help.
Rob
www.robsphotography.co.nz


Blu-ray+- R/RW means = reader writer/ re-writer .in the plus and minus format

DVD +- R/RW means = DVD Reader writer re-writer in the plus and minus format

The way the sellers page reads, it is a Blu-Ray/DVD/ "Burner".


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I don't think that laptop will write blu-ray. I think it's a typo where you've seen it, they mean it will write to DVD-RW etc but it's only Blu-Ray ROM.
 
herebefore said:
herebefore wrote:
herebefore said:
Robsphoto wrote:

Hi, I am thinking of buying a Windows 8 laptop which has an optical drive described as:

Blu-ray +-R/RW DVD+-R/RW SuperMulti DL Drive

http://www.hpshopping.co.nz/acquire/default.asp?pageid=custom&custom=detail&pf_id=2743931&tab=0

Can anyone advise me please whether this blu-ray drive not only plays blu-ray DVDs, but also writes to blu-ray DVDs.

One retailer of the computer suggested that this drive will only read Blu-ray DVDs and not actually write to them.

How can you be sure that a blu-ray drive is a DVD burner (other than actually trying it out)?

Thanks very much for your help.

Rob

www.robsphotography.co.nz
Click to expand...
Blu-ray+- R/RW means = reader writer/ re-writer .in the plus and minus format

DVD +- R/RW means = DVD Reader writer re-writer in the plus and minus format

The way the sellers page reads, it is a Blu-Ray/DVD/ "Burner".
Click to expand...
Thanks, that's the way I understand it also. But the retailer said it probably meant that the drive could read blu-ray + and - R / RW discs, but not write to them. Well, I guess the only way is to contact the manufacturer direct or to request that a test be made on a demo model!

Regards

Rob
 
Jen Yates said:
Jen Yates wrote:

I don't think that laptop will write blu-ray. I think it's a typo where you've seen it, they mean it will write to DVD-RW etc but it's only Blu-Ray ROM.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'm not sure why you think there may be a typo, but I will make further enquiries before accepting that it will write to blu-ray rewritable discs.

Regards

Rob
 
that link gives you the actual SKU of HP Envy DV6-7215TX

searching on that, the most common description is:


Optical Drive: Blu-Ray ROM DVDR/RW SuperMulti DL Drive

Which does translate to read only for blu-ray. Very common LG drive.
 
kelpdiver said:
kelpdiver wrote:

that link gives you the actual SKU of HP Envy DV6-7215TX

searching on that, the most common description is:

Optical Drive: Blu-Ray ROM DVDR/RW SuperMulti DL Drive

Which does translate to read only for blu-ray. Very common LG drive.
Click to expand...
Thanks very much for this information.

The link quoted earlier is this:

http://www.hpshopping.co.nz/acquire/default.asp?pageid=custom&custom=detail&pf_id=2743931&tab=0

Blu-ray +-R/RW DVD+-R/RW SuperMulti DL Drive

I have just done another internet search and found this link:

http://www.wiseguys.co.nz/hp-envy-d...7-i7-3630qm-2-4ghz-black-brushed-metal-195612

Under the heading "optical drive type" it says: Blu-ray writer.

Under the heading "optical media supported" it says BD-R/RE.

A Blu-Ray BD-RE disc is a rewritable disc, so I am not sure where you found your information about an LG drive etc in your search in which you concluded that it is a read-only blu-ray drive - do you have a link?

Cheers

Rob

www.robsphotography.co.nz
 
Robsphoto said:
Robsphoto wrote:
Robsphoto said:
kelpdiver wrote:

that link gives you the actual SKU of HP Envy DV6-7215TX

searching on that, the most common description is:

Optical Drive: Blu-Ray ROM DVDR/RW SuperMulti DL Drive
Click to expand...
A Blu-Ray BD-RE disc is a rewritable disc, so I am not sure where you found your information about an LG drive etc in your search in which you concluded that it is a read-only blu-ray drive - do you have a link?
Click to expand...
SuperMulti is a branding name for LG's multi format drives. I have one that does bluray, hddvd and dvd. The ROM suggests read only. But your best bet is to simply contact HP with that DV6-7215TX and get an actual answer, since the vendors seem to vary in how they describe the optical drive.
 
kelpdiver said:
kelpdiver wrote:
kelpdiver said:
Robsphoto wrote:
kelpdiver said:
kelpdiver wrote:

that link gives you the actual SKU of HP Envy DV6-7215TX

searching on that, the most common description is:

Optical Drive: Blu-Ray ROM DVDR/RW SuperMulti DL Drive
Click to expand...
A Blu-Ray BD-RE disc is a rewritable disc, so I am not sure where you found your information about an LG drive etc in your search in which you concluded that it is a read-only blu-ray drive - do you have a link?
Click to expand...
SuperMulti is a branding name for LG's multi format drives. I have one that does bluray, hddvd and dvd. The ROM suggests read only. But your best bet is to simply contact HP with that DV6-7215TX and get an actual answer, since the vendors seem to vary in how they describe the optical drive.
Click to expand...
Yes, vendors do seem to vary in how they interpret the optical drive specifications that read:

Blu-ray +-R/RW DVD+-R/RW SuperMulti DL Drive

But isn't it logical to interpret this as meaning that the optical drive can read AND write to rewritable discs for BOTH blu-ray discs and DVD discs? Why would you interpret this as meaning that a drive with these specifications can only read blu-ray discs, but can read and write to DVD discs?

I will contact HP direct as you suggest.

Thanks for your help.

Rob

www.robsphotography.co.nz
 
Hi,

According to the service manual for that laptop it supports 3 different types of optical drive:

"Supports the following optical drives:
  • ● Blu-ray Disc ROM with SuperMulti DVD ±R/RW Double-Layer Drive
  • ● Blu-ray Disc R/RW with SuperMulti Drive
  • ● DVD±RW Double-Layer with

    SuperMulti Drive"
So the options available are:

DVD writer (bottom in list above)

DVD writer with Blu-ray player (top in list above above)

DVD writer with Blu-ray writer (middle in list above)

So your vendors could be correct, as 2 of those drives do not write Blu-ray discs.

The description you posted does seem to match the middle drive in the list above which appears to be a Blu-ray writer but I cannot find a link between specific model number and which drive is fitted on HP NZ Website.

I found the service manual (from where I copied the above supported optical drives statement):

Loading…

h10032.www1.hp.com

Which also has the part numbers for each type of optical drive:
"(3) Optical drive:

Blu-ray Disc ROM with SuperMulti DVD±R/RW Double-Layer - 682084-001

Drive Blu-ray Disc R/RW with SuperMulti Drive - 682085-001

DVD±RW Double-Layer with SuperMulti Drive - 682083-001"

and the downloads section for that model includes Cyberlink Power2Go software which supports writing of Blu-ray discs.
So I'd guess it's either check the device part number on the actual PC itself (or maybe there are more specific details on the product box), or find out from HP which model variant has which optical drive.

Good luck

Kev
 
Thanks a lot for your very informative post, the points you make are very useful for anyone purchasing a new computer! The service manual certainly gives a lot of detail which I have found to be very helpful.

Regards

Rob


KeBul said:
KeBul wrote:

Hi,

According to the service manual for that laptop it supports 3 different types of optical drive:

"Supports the following optical drives:
  • ● Blu-ray Disc ROM with SuperMulti DVD ±R/RW Double-Layer Drive
  • ● Blu-ray Disc R/RW with SuperMulti Drive
  • ● DVD±RW Double-Layer with

    SuperMulti Drive"
So the options available are:

DVD writer (bottom in list above)

DVD writer with Blu-ray player (top in list above above)

DVD writer with Blu-ray writer (middle in list above)

So your vendors could be correct, as 2 of those drives do not write Blu-ray discs.

The description you posted does seem to match the middle drive in the list above which appears to be a Blu-ray writer but I cannot find a link between specific model number and which drive is fitted on HP NZ Website.

I found the service manual (from where I copied the above supported optical drives statement):

Loading…

h10032.www1.hp.com

Which also has the part numbers for each type of optical drive:
"(3) Optical drive:

Blu-ray Disc ROM with SuperMulti DVD±R/RW Double-Layer - 682084-001

Drive Blu-ray Disc R/RW with SuperMulti Drive - 682085-001

DVD±RW Double-Layer with SuperMulti Drive - 682083-001"

and the downloads section for that model includes Cyberlink Power2Go software which supports writing of Blu-ray discs.
Click to expand...
So I'd guess it's either check the device part number on the actual PC itself (or maybe there are more specific details on the product box), or find out from HP which model variant has which optical drive.

Good luck

Kev
 
Robsphoto said:
Robsphoto wrote:
Robsphoto said:
kelpdiver wrote:

that link gives you the actual SKU of HP Envy DV6-7215TX

searching on that, the most common description is:

Optical Drive: Blu-Ray ROM DVDR/RW SuperMulti DL Drive

Which does translate to read only for blu-ray. Very common LG drive.
Click to expand...
Thanks very much for this information.

The link quoted earlier is this:

http://www.hpshopping.co.nz/acquire/default.asp?pageid=custom&custom=detail&pf_id=2743931&tab=0

Blu-ray +-R/RW DVD+-R/RW SuperMulti DL Drive
Click to expand...
I see now that the above description in the specifications for the dv6-7215TX has been altered by HP to read:

Blu-ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+-R/RW double layer

Thanks again to those who posted their views on this topic. Unfortunately, to get a computer with a blu-ray writer, I will have to spend quite a lot more than the dv6-7215TX was advertised for!

Regards

Rob

www.robsphotography.co.nz
 
When people want things I don't have I always wonder if I need it too. What do you plan to use these written blurays for? Movies? Photo storage? Other? How expensive is a re-writable bluray disk. Why not use mulitple dvd's if it's for photo storage. What about an external usb3 hard drive? Just trying to learn.
 
lmpmd said:
lmpmd wrote:

When people want things I don't have I always wonder if I need it too. What do you plan to use these written blurays for? Movies? Photo storage? Other? How expensive is a re-writable bluray disk. Why not use mulitple dvd's if it's for photo storage. What about an external usb3 hard drive? Just trying to learn.
Click to expand...
 
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