Samsung SE-506CB/RSBD USB2.0 External Slim Blu-Ray Writer. Wish I had need for one.
External Slim Blu-Ray Writer $67 @ MSY
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interesting.
Is this common for most drives or just this one?
I actually think another limitation here might be USB2…
Faster drives and media are available, but external drives that connect to a PC’s USB 2.0 port are limited to eight-speed (equivalent to 36MBps).
This drive max speed is 6x
I have a Pioneer BDR-XD04T for doing just that and it does seem a bit slow though maybe not quite as slow as 2x (or half real/play time). It's now got me wondering which aspect is the bottleneck: drive mechanics, USB 2.0 or firmware speed throttling and what/if anything could be done to improve that with minimal effort/outlay.
It's only particular drives. I have a Pioneer BDR XD05T and it works at full speed when I use AnyDVD HD. It isn't a limitation of USB 2.0 either as someone else suggested as all other data is read off the disc at 6x as advertised. It's just video data that's slowed down.
Before I bought the Pioneer I bought the Samsung last year, but after the speed was so slow I took it back for a refund.Edit: Don't get me wrong though, it's still a great little drive(albeit a little noisy). It's just not really fit for the purpose I'm discussing.
Excuse my ignorance, but is the Pioneer BDR XD05T region locked?
@mooboy: You'll probably get 5 region code changes on the hardware side, but that doesn't matter if you have AnyDVD or DVDFab HD Decrypter (free).
Pretty much every PC Blu-ray drive is region locked. Only real way around region locking is to used software like AnyDVD HD to circumvent it.
Thanks for the info, Amar and fatpizza. I was recently pulling out an old DVD player and plugging in a NUC to my tv, was thinking it would be nice to have just a little slim line player to plug in the few times I want to watch a DVD or Bluray now. But, seems the software you mentioned only allows decryption, not just watching…
AnyDVD takes me back a few years.
Still as good as ever. They didn't just call it a day after HD-DVD and Blu-Ray came out. The ripping to HDD feature is incredibly handy if you like digitising your Blu-Ray collection; then use VidCoder/Handbrake to get things down to a reasonable size/quality ratio.
But, seems the software you mentioned only allows decryption, not just watching…
Yep, for a Home Theatre Blu-Ray Player, that's a whole different ballgame. You need to get really lucky and find one of the legendary, region-free BDPs that did exist years ago, e.g. Oppo players, some Toshibas (Toshiba BDX3200KY), budget brands Laser and Soniq made a few (Laser BLU-BD1000), and the
Pioneer BDP-150 could be loaded with custom firmware that enabled multi-region playback. Most of the region-free BDPs are long out of production.Really? I picked up one of the Toshiba's - either the one you mentioned or it's non 3D brethren, but I only have one region A locked disc lol. It was a JUST IN CASE purchase (also my 1st BR player - $99 @ Myer lol). Had no idea they had stopped producing region switching players though… I better take care of my Toshi!
which brand aren't firmware blocked?
Anyone has used this? Any good or bad?
Already out of stock online.
Out online in Vic, but not in NSW. Also available at most shops.
Thanks for the tip.
Damn, just bought an external DVD drive. For ~$70 extra it didn't seem worth it to get the BluRay drive, but for only ~$40 more I probably would've gone with it.
Good for mac?
Bag of hurt I believe…
(But should still be able to playback and record provided you have the right software like Toast…)
I've been using this exact Blu-Ray writer on an iMac for a bloody long time without a single issue. Single USB port needed for reading and/or writing, not two as seen in many online discussions about this unit.
Supply & Demand.
If demand is same (same unit, same cable), then it's the high quality supply of your USB port.I've got a drawer full of forked cables, for when I visit friends with PC issues. Never know what their machine can supply. Hell, I've had a $4500 Dell M50 that couldn't supply enough with 2 (both) ports!
1 left at the Slack Creek store.
Thanks for that, looking to buy that exact model today :)
I like the fact that it only uses one USB port instead of two.
Can I use an external blu ray drive to watch movies thru my tv usb port or do I need a PC or Laptop as well for some reason (eg drivers / software)?
Can I use an external blu ray drive to watch movies thru my tv usb port
No.
or do I need a PC or Laptop as well for some reason (eg drivers)?
Precisely. The TV doesn't run a compatible OS for the device's drivers. That USB port is exclusively for USB mass storage devices.
Blu ray players can be picked up fairly cheaper these days. Probably even cheaper than this external one.
this one is 3d BR player
cheapest 3d BR player around 75 for a branded one
Where was 3D?
out of stock at ipswich/bundamba
Current Stock as of 5:30 pm AEST
Store Availability ACT_Fyshwick In Stock NSW_Auburn In Stock NSW_Hurstville In Stock NSW_Kingsford In Stock NSW_Ultimo Out of Stock QLD_Brendale Low Stock - Contact Store QLD_IpswichBundamba Out of Stock QLD_Morningside In Stock QLD_SlacksCreek Out of Stock QLD_Varsitylakes In Stock SA_AdelaideCBD In Stock SA_Elizabeth In Stock SA_HoldenHill In Stock SA_NorthPlympton In Stock SA_PortAdelaide In Stock VIC_Brooklyn Out of Stock VIC_Cheltenham In Stock VIC_Clayton Out of Stock VIC_Dandenong In Stock VIC_Geelong In Stock VIC_Malvern In Stock VIC_Mitcham Out of Stock VIC_NorthMelbourne In Stock VIC_Pascoevale In Stock WA_Balcatta In Stock WA_Cannington In Stock 
That's a nice table!
Could do with some chairs.
i might picked up the very last one at mitcham vic…
I have one of these - SE-506CB (or slight variation on the CB suffix). Just be aware that it's very particular about the brand of blu-ray it will successfully write to.
I've toasted about a handful of Riteks (bought at MSY) and Verbatim (UK pack). Only the Jewelled Case Verbatim BDRs bought at Big W could be written to successfully.
See here for a list of compatible manufacturers: http://www.tsstodd.com/rdisc/bd/
Can I take it out of it's case and insert it into my computer as an internal drive?
Highly unlikely the tray is all molded around the case. It isn't a portable hard drive. Regardless internal ones are cheaper.
I'm sure if you looked around a bit more you will probably find a better deal.
This drive apparently supports disc media quality scans.
dumb question—, is this a better option to store pictures and digital home videos? (as opposed to a external HDD)?
Not a dumb question at all, that is exactly why i bought it.
I have photos backed up on two externals HDD's and wanted a last backup method, I didn't want to go with cloud storage.
I'm going to be burning all the kids photos on Archival discs(rated for 50 years of life), haven't decided which disc to buy yet, anyone can recommend that would be great.
Ditto about the question but for storage, I doubt the capacity cost/benefit can beat external HDD. Sending an optical disc to some one instead of a HDD may be of some use but USB flash drives and memory cards are also very cheap.
The problem with HDD's is files becoming corrupt(has happened to me lots in the past), by using a quality disc (as long as you take care of it), the files are obviously 100% safe, this is why I went for it.
Perhaps storing the Blu Ray discs in jelly will provide added protection against oxidisation.
@muncan: Yeah and keep out of sunlight too. As I understand, the longevity of optical discs is questionable for long-term archival storage. Punters intuitively perceive those platters as durable but apparently the reality is that they deteriorate and cheap CD-R & DVD-R can hardly be trusted. I don't know if BD-R is better/improved. I known Blu-ray discs are much more smudge and scratch resistant but I have seen CD-R flaking over time like cracked sun burnt paint from just being stored in an apartment. I imagine it wouldn't take much to flip bits in a large multi GB collection of discs and jeopardise storage. I assume leaving a disc in car continuously over days will likely affect/damage the data.
@millzy:
nothing obvious or safe about quality discs.
safer yes but never 100% safe.
multiple backups is best bet@Garagesale: Yep, I think the main benefit of optical media is physical size and that it cannot be easily altered (wiped/overwritten) so some temper resistance for like evidence gathering, etc. though data encryption would achieve similar protection.
I meant 100% safe in regards to data corruption. As long as the disc does not degrade and the data burned was confirmed then you are safe from data corruption.
The only issue which then remains is degradation of the physical disc.
And yes multiple backups is a must. I have 2 externals and now my last fail over is the blue ray.
thanks guys, I will start googling for alternatives in case my local MSY runs out…this does look like a really good price though compared to newegg.com
note that msy are open till 630pm mostly but after 6 if u call the switchboard u will get the 'we are closed' message which is pretty annoying.
getting hold of the north melb store during the day was a nightmare, got cut off after being on hold for ages several times.If anyone is interested in using this drive for Storage, look into the M-DISC
Verbatim M-Disc BD 25GB 1,000 Year Archive - 5 Disk Pack - About $40 on Ebay for a pack of 5
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/0-P-H-5-x-Verbatim-M-Disc-BD-R-25…WHAT IS M-DISC?
Unlike computer hard-drives and optical discs (CDs and DVDs), M-DISC preserves and protects your files by engraving your information into a patented rock-like layer, resistant to light, temperature, humidity, and more. In fact, The U.S. Department of Defense put this
to the test, and M-DISC was the only solution that passed. The M-DISC cannot be overwritten, erased, or corrupted by natural processes. Best of all, it's compatible with any DVD player, which means you can access your data anywhere and anytime.From Verbatim's site:
http://www.verbatim.com.au/en_AU/products/bluray-dvd-cd/blu-…Verbatim M-Disc is the new standard in digital storage designed to preserve and protect your files by engraving your information into a recording layer, resistant to light, temperature, and humidity. Use M-Disc for best protection of data.
Projected lifetime of several hundred years based on ISO/IEC 10995 tests by Millenniata.
This means whether you’re saving precious photographs, music libraries, medical documents, and more, you’ll have the reassurance of knowing it’s on a disc designed to last a lifetime.
Think I found my Solution! :D
Edit: Just to confirm this drive is M-DISC Compatible/M-DISC Ready
http://www.mdisc.com/m-ready/Might need firmware update:
http://www.tsstodd.com/eng/firmware/fwdownload/?functionvalu…
Keep in mind that if you are planning on buying one of these for ripping your Blu-Ray collection to your NAS etc. they are firmware locked to read movie data at a maximum of 2x. Which means it'll take well over an hour to rip each individual ~40GB disc.