Customer Reviews

LG Electronics GGW-H20L LightScribe 6X Blu-Ray and 3X HD DVD-ROM SATA Drive - Bulk (Black)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the few and soon to be discontinued examples of a computer optical drive that can read the now obsolete format HD DVD. However this is not possible without the supplied Cyberlink Software that is provided. An earlier drive that I purchased had an older version of the Cyberlink 7.0 software that produced an audio delay when watching HD DVD's, but this drive and software had no such problem.

Indeed these are the last of the HD DVD drives. The lesser sibling the GGC-H20L(cannot burn Blu-ray but does read them) is already disappearing from inventories. I don't expect to see this drive much longer and have snapped up a few in order to be able to build some HTPC rigs that are flexible in accommodating any format. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Driver/software disk/downloads were simple and problem free under Vista. It comes with a disk that includes the PowerDVD Suite that I immediately upgraded online. I primarily use Media Center but I like the frame capture capability in Power DVD. Everything I've tried works without a hitch but I haven't tried Lightscribe or the BD burn yet (DL disks are too pricey but my SL disks are on order) . It even came with sata power and data cables. Unusual for a bulk (not retail) item.

FIrst shipped drive was DOA. Door worked, the indicator light came on and it made spinning noises but it wouldn't even read it's own start up disk. RMAd to Electronica Direct. Replacement was shipped out fast and worked fine. EDs service was good. Would use them again despite the required RMA.

The CyberLink software (HD-DVD / Blu-Ray player) leaves a lot to be desired. The video and audio can get out of sysnc in seconds, then a few seconds later, back in-sync, only to lose audio and get back out of sync within seconds again. The video is rock solid, but the audio is on a roller coaster. So now I'll hunt for decent software and hope...

Works fine. Haven't burned any BluRay yet, but it's fast, and Windows 7 recognized it.

This Blu-ray players works well with Linux. That was the main reason I was looking at it. Works well with Ubuntu.

Put it into the second optical drive slot on my Mac Pro. Fired up MakeMKV. Inserted a BD (I own the darned disc so I don't want the movie police coming down on me!) and ripped it to my hard drive. Fired up Plex and watched beautiful PQ on my screen.
This drive is very fast with CD's, too. I'm re-ripping our CD collection in AIFF and/or WAV because it's mostly classical (Baroque and Renaissance, actually) and Apple Lossless doesn't cut it. A 70-minute CD rips in a couple minutes on this drive (at >30x) but much longer on the Mac Pro's stock drive (at 12x or so).
and Amazon's price was right, too.

BTW: it's a discontinued item, so strike while the iron is hot!