Samsung Claims Fastest DVD Burner

Samsung Electronics on Monday launched what the company claims is the fastest DVD burner.

The Super-WriteMaster SH-S203N internal DVD burner is a 20x SATA DVD burner that Samsung said is capable of 16x dual-layer DVD recording. The industry standard is 10x to 12x, according to the company.

The drive also features Samsung's LightScribe technology, which enables users to engrave labels, photos, and designs onto CD and DVD discs. The new product's label-making software is preloaded with an array of designs and labels for users who choose not to create their own.

"Samsung's new SH-S203N is an all-in-one powerhouse that provides not only the fastest recording speeds on the market, but also built-in labeling technology that saves time and expense over the life of the drive," Richard Aguilera, western regional sales manager, Samsung Storage Division, said in a statement.

Along with 16x dual-layer burning, the drive has 20x DVD+ and -R, 12x DVD-RAM, 8x DVD+RW, and 6x DVD-RW. The drive supports the SATA interface found on new PCs. SATA eliminates the need for master/slave jumper settings and provides thinner data cables, which improves airflow and cable routing.

The LightScribe technology, which only works on supporting CDs and DVDs, is used after a recording is made. The user turns over the disc and imprints the label, design, or photo.

Other features include speed adjustment technology to match the speed to the functionality of the disc and what Samsung calls "double optimum power control," which balances the laser power on the sides of the disc for a better writing performance.

The SH-S203N ships nationwide with a street price of $80.