Hewlett Packard HP DVD1040E External 20x Dual Layer Burner w/ LightScribe Review

Bottom-Line: The HP DVD1040E with LightScribe technology is an outstanding bargain and a must have for anyone who needs to burn CD's or DVD's in single or double-layer format.

The matt black HP DVD1040E is an external USB 2.0 connected drive with DVD+-R/+-RW with DVD+-R up to 20x, double layer recording, DVD-RAM, and LightScribe.   The "Double Layer" feature allows the drive to record and store up to 8.5 GB of data or music.  The drive also acts as a fully functional CD-R/RW & DVD+R/+RW drive, however it is also compatible with single-layer DVD's (4.7 GB storage).  The HP DVD1040E can burn data at speeds of up to 20x single layer (8x double layer), and a CD writing speed of up to 40x.

Installation

The HP DVD1040E is a rather large drive, but it ships with a vertical stand, so one can tuck it away.  I choose to let it lay horizontally on my desk.  Though earlier HP external (LightScribe) drives shipped with Firewire and USB connectivity, the HP DVD1040E only has USB 2.0 ports.  A disappointment considering I have a Firewire port waiting to be used, but...

There is no software to install really; once plugged in Windows Vista recognized the drive and assigned it a drive letter.  Since this drive was replacing an older LightScribe-enabled drive, I did have to download and install the latest version of the software control panel from HP's website; once this was done SureThing CD Labeler, recognized the drive.   

LightScribe Technology

Hewlett Packard's proprietary LightScribe disc labeling technology allows you-the end-user-to burn data to a disc (CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-R/DVD-RW); flip the disc over and scribe or etch, or burn, if you will, a label onto the opposite side.  With LightScribe, now on version (2), there is no longer a need to print a separate label, or use awkward press-on gadgets to label your discs.  The LightScribe etching is indelible and the results are professional-grade.

Using specially gold-coated discs and a LightScribe drive like the HP DVD1040E, in conjunction with a third-party disc labeling software like SureThing Disc Labeler, which is LightScribe aware, you can go far beyond just labeling discs, you can create your own custom designs using templates, text, backgrounds, and photos that you can import into the software that ships with the drive (more on that below).  The drive then laser etches the design onto the CD.  Imported digital photos or backgrounds can also be burned directly onto the LightScribe discs from your favorite graphic-design software.

My Viewpoint

I love this drive!  The burning speeds are more than respectable using Easy CD Creator Platinum 9.0, and it didn't even require a program upgrade to use the drive.  Equally impressive is burning files through Windows Vista Home Premium native burning applet. 

The SureThing CD Labeler Deluxe 5 program ships with special LightScribe templates and background included, and I take full advantage of them, though as I stated above labels will not be in color.  However, they will be dark, sharp, crisp, and permanent.  The program allows you to customize the labels will all manner of special symbols that give them a very professional look and feel, which is what I needed most of all.

Overall, the HP DVD1040E with LightScribe technology is an outstanding bargain and a must have for any aspirating (or seasoned) small business owner who needs to burn CD's for clients and want to give them that professional touch, or for those who are tired of those not-so-friendly adhesive labels.