DVD Drive compatible with DVD-RAM

[Alanmelon]

Following on from my impulse (and it seems overly expensive) aquisition of a DVD Recorder, I have decided it would be nice to play the DVD-RAMs in my PC. Compatability with DVD-R's would be good too.
So this time, before just buying some heap-o-junk at an inflated price, I want to get your recommendations.

[SMHarman]

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=52074

QuickFind code: 52074

Only double speed, but unless you are a heavy user will be fine, and only £45!

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=58356

LG 8x DVD DUAL R/RW/RAM IDE BURNER - OEM
QuickFind code: 58356

£62 gets you 8x speed though

Just make sure RAM is in the specification it is a triple standard not DUAL you will be looking for. Think the Samsung got good reviews in a PC mag article I read a while back. Certainly got lots of reviews on ebuyer though

[altis]

I'll second the LG GSA-4081B - details here:
http://www.lge.co.uk/mod_perl/go.pl/...tegory_uid=648

I have the 4040B which is its predecessor and it seems fine. Note however that these drives only supports bare disks and not those in caddies.

If you only want to read DVD-RAM disks on the PC then look at the Panasonic drives - some of their DVD readers also support DVD-RAM.

[Alanmelon]

As my recorder is Panasonic, I think this will fit the bill nicely to ensure compatability. I'm probably being really dumb in asking this, but as it doesn't specify, I just want to check that this will playback DVD RAM discs?

[altis]

That looks like a good price!

I suspect it is a discontinued model (but none the worse for that). I can't find the specs for that particular model but there are some others here:
http://www.panasonic.com/industrial/...rods/specs.htm

[SMHarman]

As it's 2 speed I imagine it's discontinued, but a good price - yes it will play back RAM disks (and record to them).

You will need to ensure the appropriate codecs are installed on teh PC. I imagine your TV recorder is using MP2 Codecs though so playback through any DVD application will work.