Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I ran one experiment to confirm that USB 3.0 really is about 2.5x faster (as some web sites claim) to burn Blu-ray Discs (BD-R) than USB 2.0 (ie. the USB channel is the bottleneck, not the disk or cpu speed). Using an ASUS laptop with an i7 cpu, a USB 3.0 port and 4GB memory, I backed up 22.3 GB of data (5,339 files) to a BD-R at 12x maximum write speed using the included ASUS/Cyberlink Media Suite program Power2Go 7. It took 01:00 minute for Power2Go to "prepare" the data for writing (these times are not rounded off, though they coincidentally look like they are). Actual write time to write 22.3GB to BD-R(SL) at 12x: -- USB 3.0 : 11:00 minutes -- 2.0 GB/min or 120 GB/hr -- USB 2.0 : 30:30 minutes -- 0.73 GB/min or 44 GB/hr For this experiment, USB 3.0 wrote data 2.7x faster than USB 2.0. For another experiment, the measured write speed for a BD-R(DL) disc was 90 GB/hr (38.0GB at 8x). Using this BD writer, so far I have written 7 BD-R(DL) disks at the max 8x and 4 BD-R disks at the max 12x speed without any problems, even though BD-R(SL/DL) Verbatim media is only rated for 6x speed. I also confirmed the 16x write speed to DVD+R media. Currently Verbatim 25GB BD-R discs cost about $2/disc (getting close to the price per GB of DVD discs!) and 50GB discs are about $7/disc. Prices will continue to fall. =============== Summary of hardware: -- this Blu-Ray Writer (Burner) is among the fastest available at this time -- USB 3.0 currently distinguishes this product from its competition -- writes DVDs and CDs like other BD writers -- ASUS is an excellent leading-edge brand -- Software [Windows-only]: ----- free Cyberlink Media Suite, which contains minimal-feature versions of these programs (until you upgrade to paid versions): Cyberlink Power2Go 7 Cyberlink PowerDVD 10 with Magic Cinema Cyberlink PowerBackup 2.5 Cyberlink InstantBurn 5 -- I discovered a hard-to-see On/Off switch (doesn't exist for DVD writers) on the back when it didn't appear to work :-) -- Color: Black -- Length: 9.5" -- Width: 6.5" -- Height: 2.4" -- Weight: 2.5 lbs. ========== Software notes: -- This hardware is great. But the included Power2Go software has some problems -- 1 fatal error and 2 other serious bugs were found on day 1 of use. I recommend the really free ImgBurn software (no annoying paid-upgrade notices) which is a pleasure to use, is continuously being improved (unlike Power2Go, which is at end-of-life), and has an active and easily used forum site. Plus it works on Ubuntu linux. -- None of the 4 programs I tried (Power2Go, ImgBurn, Blu-ray Creator, Windows cut-and-paste) were able to successfully backup all files from my in-use C: drive without fatal errors and early exit (update: FBackup uses VSS and can do it). Even when files in use are set to be ignored by ImgBurn, it and the other programs still fail on files with no eof (Kaspersky and Windows has such files). That is because these low-end programs do not use the Windows-builtin feature of a Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) which would solve in-use, file-locking and file-eof issues neatly. One way to accomplish backing up all C: files is to first copy the C: partition to a new partition (eg. using a hard disk manager program) and then to backup the new not-in-use partition files using a program such as ImgBurn. -- Install "Cyberlink Media Suite" from the included disk by clicking on the picture with the burning CD (hover over it to see "Power2Go 7"). At this time (9/24/11) there is no firmware update, so the bottom icon does not currently lead to an available download. -- If it bothers you, turn off the always-on-top InstantBurn software: ---- on Windows 7 accomplish this by: ------ goto Control Panel->System->Administrative Tools->System Configuration ------ or navigate to [...] -------- click Startup tab -------- uncheck InstantBurn -------- click Apply, then OK -- To exit InstantBurn, either reboot (after disabling it from auto-start as described above) or Rclick on InstantBurn in the System Tray and click Exit. -- The included software has only minimal features and has many problems that may make it unusable for your purposes. You have to pay to upgrade any of the 4 component programs to get all features. =================== More hardware details follow: (Technical specs provided by Asus on the product box and on other web sites) Asus BW-12D1S-U/BLK/G/AS External 12x Blu-Ray Burner [2x - 12x depending on BlurayDisc (BD) type] The Asus BW-12D1S-U/BLK/G/AS External 12x Blu-Ray Burner offers extreme 12x Blu-ray writing speed with USB 3.0. The stylish appearance and functionality of the Asus BW-12D1S-U/BLK/G/AS External 12x Blu-Ray Burner provides consumers with an ideal choice for both business and entertainment. The Asus BW-12D1S-U/BLK/G/AS External 12x Blu-Ray Burner supports the latest Blu-ray 3D technology for life-like movie experiences with Cyberlink PowerDVD 10. This unique space-saving design can be placed either horizontally [without a stand] or vertically with a detachable stand. Specifications Asus External USB 3.0 12x Blu-Ray Burner Type: Blu-Ray Burners Cache Size: 4 MB BD-R Write Speed: 12X BD-R(DL) Write Speed: 8X BD-R(LTH) Write Speed: 6X BD-RE(SL/DL) Write Speed: 2x BD-R(SL/DL) Read Speed: 8X BD-R(LTH) Read Speed: 6X BD-RE Read Speed: 8x BD-RE(DL) Read Speed: 6x BD-ROM(SL/DL) Read Speed: 8x DVD+R Write Speed: 16X DVD-R Write Speed: 16X DVD+R(DL) Write Speed: 8X DVD-R(DL) Write Speed: 8X DVD+RW Rewrite Speed: 8X DVD-RW Rewrite Speed: 6X DVD-RAM Write Speed: 5X DVD+R Read Speed: 16X DVD-R Read Speed: 16X DVD+R(DL) Read Speed: 12X DVD-R(DL) Read Speed: 12X DVD+RW Read Speed: 12X DVD-RW Read Speed: 12X DVD-ROM Read Speed: 16X DVD-ROM(DL) Read Speed: 12X DVD-RAM Read Speed: 5X CD-R Write Speed: 40X CD-RW Rewrite Speed: 24X CD-R Read Speed: 40X CD-RW Read Speed: 24X DVD video playback: 5X VCD playback: 9.3X Audio CD playback: 9.3X DVD Access Time: 170 ms CD Access Time: 150 ms Color: Black Length: 9.5" Width: 6.5" Height: 2.4" Weight: 2.5 lbs. Load Type: Tray Interface Type: USB 3.0 [compatible with USB 2.0] Enclosure Type: External Detailed Features Additional Specifications OS Support: Windows 7 Windows Vista Windows XP System Requirements: Processor: Pentium® D 945(3.4GHz) or higher Memory:1GB or more is recommended Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce 7600 GT or ATI X1600 series or above Use HDCP Compatible display and VGA card to High Definition digital output Software: Cyberlink Power2Go 7 Cyberlink PowerDVD 10 with Magic Cinema Cyberlink PowerBackup 2.5 Cyberlink InstantBurn 5 Features Eye-popping Blu-ray 3D Visual Excitement: Supports the latest Blu-ray 3D technology for life-like movie experiences with Cyberlink PowerDVD 10. Features technology to give depth to 2D video with real-time 2D-to-3D conversion with a single click of a button. Refresh Your Listening Experience: Experience crisp audio with lossless pass-through for Dolby Digital EX and DTS-HD (5.1 channels). Diamond-shaped Design and Flexible Dual Positioning: This unique space-saving design can be placed either horizontally [without a stand] or vertically with a detachable stand. Experience Blu-ray Entertainment So True to Life: Asus provides HD-like visuals via an innovative suite of advanced video enhancement technologies that deliver unsurpassed quality in DVD movies easily and flexibly. =============== 6/4/13 update: I have finally uninstalled and removed all traces of the Cyberlink PowerDVD 12 Ultra that I had bought and the associated Cyberlink programs since they were unbearably bad in many ways and didn't play modern Blu-Ray like Game of Thrones. I am now using DVDFab Media Player ($40 to buy, $10/year after that -- suggest you try trial version before buying -- note you will have to allow your firewall to connect to the server in China to use this software -- I got a helpful dialog popup from my Kaspersky antivirus asking if I trusted the Chinese server (which I do just for this one product, but you may not)) which works very well though I need to do Settings->Play->Playmode "Quick and Simple". AnyDVD does not work for me at all to play the Blu-Ray Game of Thrones. I have been using free FBackup4 (after rejecting half a dozen other popular programs such as Areca which is my second choice), an excellent and free solution to do mirror incremental backups on schedule. I burn data to DVD or Blu-Ray using the excellent free ImgBurn (and write at 12x speed to this ASUS BD writer). My needs are simple and Cyberlink did not satisfy any of them without enduring endless grief. I am purchasing another of this same ASUS BD writer for another PC, but will not waste time installing any Cyberlink software. Instead I will use software that works well and is easy to use and is almost all free. 6/5/13 update: I have looked at the one star reviews and sympathize with your problems with USB 3.0 Windows drivers (which are definitely not the fault of this product). I suffered also from random USB 3.0 connection problems and read-write errors and bootup hangs for a very long time (since I was unfortunately on the leading edge of using USB 3.0 with my 2010 ASUS laptop). Finally I got smart and updated my USB 3.0 Host Controller Windows drivers and *all* the random problems with USB 3.0 disappeared! BTW, even though it is not free I highly recommend "Driver Reviver" as an easy way to quickly update all your Windows drivers, including the crucial USB 3.0 drivers (in particular the Host Controller drivers). You don't really need to use it more than once to solve all your USB 3.0 issues (so you don't need to renew it each year). Of course you can spend hours trying to find those same crucial driver updates on the web (I did that too, prior to Driver Reviver). Anyway, for anyone who wants to blame this *hardware* for your USB 3.0 software *driver* bugs, please see my post (Subject: "Partial workarounds in a nutshell ..." -- I should have said "Full workarounds ...") for the product "J-Tech Digital SuperSpeed USB 3.0 4-Port Hub Backward Compatible with USB 2.0 with USB 3.0 Cable". If you look at reviews for popular USB 3.0 hubs, you will also see a lot of false blame laid on the hardware when in fact the software drivers are almost always at fault when the hardware appears to only work sporadically. I totally agree that the bundled software with this ASUS BD writer is horrible in many respects and you should avoid using it if possible (see above for 6/4/13 update which mentions some reliable alternatives, in particular ImgBurn for writing BD-R discs). I also agree that ASUS has effectively zero customer support -- do not waste your time as I did trying to get any intelligent response out of them (prior to my proof that the Windows USB 3.0 drivers were the source of my problems). This ASUS BD writer has excellent performance and the problems you may have are almost certainly either due to your bad USB 3.0 drivers which need updating or to the miserable Cyberlink software included with this hardware.