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Liteon 4X Blu Ray Reader Black Retail Pack | 
 enlarge | Brand: Lite-On
Category: CE
List Price: $169.99
Buy New: $98.99
You Save: $71.00 (42%)
New (21) Used (1) from $89.99
Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 5956
Platform: Windows 2000
Media: Personal Computers
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.7
Dimensions (in): 10.2 x 5.1 x 8.4
nv:Cache Size: 8 MB
BD Read Speed: 4X
DVD Read Speed: 12x
DVD Access Time: 160 ms
CD Read Speed: 32x
CD Access Time: 160 ms
Length: 7"
Width: 5.7"
Height: 1.6"
Weight: 2.6 lbs.
Load Type: Tray
Interface Type: SATA
Enclosure Type: Internal
Supported Read Formats: CD-ROM
Supported Read Formats: DVD Dual layer
Supported Read Formats: DVD single layer
Supported Read Formats: BD-R
Supported Read Formats: BD-RE
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: DH-4O1S-08
Model: DH-4O1S-08
UPC: 844149003405
EAN: 0844149003405
ASIN: B0010ZWYF8
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | A perfect tool kit for repairing your computer. | | • | Provides you with everything you'll need to repair and maintain today's computers. | | • | Designed to be used in offices or by computer services people. |
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Product Description
The Lite-On DH-4O1S is a read-only device for all popular media formats, including Blu-ray discs. Besides Blu-ray discs, the drive can read DVD+/-R(W) and CD-R(W) media.The DH-4O1S has a Serial ATA interface and reads BD-R/RE/ROM/SL/DL media at a maximum of 4X. Single Layer DVD ?R can be read at 12X, while Double Layer DVD?R and Single Layer DVD-?RW can be read at 8X. CD-R(W) can be read at a maximum speed of 32X.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Too Many Problems - Avoid This Drive September 17, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you're building a new system, I recommend you consider another drive. This drive primarily has problems with Vista and new SATA controllers. I paired this up with a Asus microATX P5Q-EM motherboard with the latest firmware and drivers. The latest Lite-On firmware (CP56) didn't resolve any of the problems I had below.
(1) When Vista would wake from sleep, drive would be missing
(2) Drive would occasionally lock-up and make a "buzzing" sound when a Blu-ray disk was entered - this never happened with a standard DVD.
(3) Drive would occasionally lose power; could not open tray; required power to be unplugged from PSU to resolve.
(4) Drive wouldn't play some Blu-ray disks - probably 50% failure rate.
(5) Region code would occasionally disappear; preventing the drive from playing regular DVDs. Research indicated that firmware version CP56 would solve the region problem but it didn't work for me.
In summary, this drive required constant reboots to work, failed to play 50%+ of blu-ray disks, didn't work with Vista sleep (or at least the controller on my new MB), and took a frustrating amount of time to troubleshoot. I don't think I'll ever buy a Lite-On Product again.
 Good blu-ray drive; some problems and solutions July 20, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Summary: At time of writing, it is cheaper to install this drive in a reasonably powerful HTPC than to buy a blu-ray disc player, assuming you have the HTPC already. As with any new technology, there are problems; these will be worked out as the technology matures. You should upgrade the firmware (CP56 recommended). The bundled software, PowerDVD, has limitations and problems which you can work around.
NOTE: This drive is a READER only. It does not write any kind of disc. This is stated clearly in the product description and I am not complaining: it is much cheaper than a writer, and fine for my HTPC.
THE DRIVE
The drive itself works fine so far (one month). As a very standard optical drive, it is as easy to install as any DVD drive. SATA is required for this model, of course, but the advantages of SATA is one reason I bought this drive. In operation, the drive is reasonably quiet.
Blu-ray content requires a reasonably powerful computer. My do-it-yourself HTPC is based on an Intel E6600, an Asus/Nvidia EN9600 video card, and Windows Vista SP1. These are adequate for quality playback on most discs, but I see a stutter occasionally (no more than once every 3 seconds) on Batman Begins, but not others. Blu-ray requires a video card and display or TV that supports HDCP. I was pleased to find that my 3-year-old Sharp Aquos LCD TV does support HDCP; I assume most or all modern LCD TVs and monitors do now.
My drive came with firmware version CP54 installed. I had two serious problems that were corrected by upgrading to CP56 (visit lite-on's support page):
1. Windows Media Center complained that the region number was incorrect, so I was unable to play a conventional Region 1 (USA) DVD, even after setting Region 1 in the control panel.
2. Using PowerDVD 7.3, I was able to play blu-ray movies for awhile, but then one day, every time I tried, I got an Information box that told me that certain key parts of the program needed to be updated (sorry, I don't have the exact message). It gave me the opportunity to update, to which I said yes, and after a brief pause, it said it was successful. Pressing the Play button again put me through the same sequence; I was no longer able to play movies I had already played on the same equipment.
Since both problems were corrected by upgrading the firmware, I recommend that all users upgrade to CP56 or newer by visiting lite-on's support page.
THE BUNDLED SOFTWARE
PowerDVD 7.3 BD, two channel edition, is included. It is capable of playing some blu-ray discs (Blade Runner, Stargate), and not others (Batman Begins).
Some people complain that the two-channel edition does not provide surround sound. For sure it does not provide Dolby Digital 5.1, but I do hear surround effects on my system, at least for Blade Runner blu-ray edition. There are two possible explanations: it could be that the movie includes a two-channel soundtrack with Dolby Pro-Logic (an early surround technology that is inferior to Dolby Digital 5.1); it could be that my updated Accurus digital processor is simulating surround sound in the same way it expands stereo music into full surround. I don't know which, but the surround I heard on the two-channel edition sounds appropriately surrounded, and comments from others on a different forum report the same thing (suggesting that the Pro-Logic theory is correct).
When I start Batman Begins (blu-ray edition), I get the piracy warning and the Warner logo, followed by an icon suggesting a disc read, then a black screen. For most movies, the black screen lasts a second or two, then the movie begins. For this movie, it stays black, and the application appears to be hung (can only terminate with Windows Task Manager). I worked around this problem by installing the trial (30-day) version of PowerDVD 8 Ultra, and it played fine, so I believe this is a problem with PowerDVD 7.3 BD, or some incompatibility with Windows.
One feature I really like is the speed control. You can set playback speed to 1x, 1.1x, 1.2x, 1.5x, 2x and higher, and similar speeds for reverse. For forward speeds less than 2x, it still plays the audio! but in a sped-up fashion. When watching The Wire (HBO series), we have often wanted to replay the previous episode, and this allows us to review some parts carefully and others more quickly.
One feature I really dislike is the permanent background screen, which is visible at all times that the program is active but a movie is not playing or paused. It is bright red, shows their logo in a large size, and includes a cheesy picture. They should allow us to have a black background, or to substitute our own image.
You can upgrade to PowerDVD 8 Ultra for eighty five dollars (which is ten dollars less than if you bought it without upgrading from the bundled version). For me, there are just a few reasons for doing so: bug fixes (e.g. a fix to allow me to watch Batman Begins), full digital sound including some modern formats, and DVD-Audio (but: NO SACD!!).
There is a whole lot of stuff in PowerDVD 8 that I will never use. I wish there was a simple blu-ray CODEC that would allow those discs to be played through Windows Media Player instead.
I have found only one alternative blu-ray player software offering: WinDVD from Corel. It is on sale for eighty dollars. Unfortunately, their trial version does not allow you to watch blu-ray, and I am unwilling to take a chance without knowing it works properly. No doubt in the future there will be better alternatives.
While I think that the PowerDVD upgrade is too expensive, the cost of the drive plus the upgrade still makes a less expensive option for watching blu-ray than buying a dedicated blu-ray DVD player.
UPDATE: Windows Media Center again complains about a standard DVD with Region 1, even though Region one is set, which forces me to use PowerDVD. The only thing that has changed since it worked before is playing a blu-ray movie (with PowerDVD). I suppose it is possible that... nah, Cyberlink wouldn't disable the free competition, would they?
UPDATE: I have seen the hardware/software refuse to believe that a disc was present in the drive, even after open/close to check. The solution is a power cycle of the computer. I saw this once before writing the original review (but forgot) and was reminded of it when it happened again yesterday.
If I were writing this review today, I would call it 2 1/2 or three stars because of the various bugs that it seems I have to live with. Perhaps the firmware will improve eventually.
 Blu-ray movies for a fractiont he cost June 30, 2008
I bought this for my home theater PC so that I could watch blu-ray movies without having to buy a separate blu-ray unit or an HDMI switch. Unfortunately I needed a new video card in order to have enough power to watch blu-ray movies. The drive front bezel was too large to fit through the opening on my media PC case and the button placement was just enough off that the button placement on my media PC case doesn't actually hit the button. The bezel comes off so this was easily solved, though does leave me slightly concerned about getting dust into the drive. However once I had a suitably powerful video card I've watched a number of movies and enjoy the crisper quality.
Great for its value June 4, 2008
All my (only) three blu-ray discs played without problems (Blade Runner, Celine Dion and Shakira).
I took one star out of it, because it DID NOT read DUAL LAYER DVDs I have recorded here (from Ridata). Other DVDs and CDs media read normally.
I even updated its firmware to the latest version. But still didn't read my recorded DL DVDs. And... strangely, at Lite-On site, the firmware available for this drive says it DOES NOT read DVD-RAM also... as I don't have any media like that, I can't tell much...
But it is not a big problem, because in my computer I have a CD/DVD recorder (from LG) and it reads all CD and DVD formats.
Will not play Blu-Ray discs May 25, 2008
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
Most reviews indicate that you need to upgrade the firmware.
I did this and still no Blu-Ray disc will play. Unable to read the disc.
PowerDVD advisor gives me all greens as to if my system can playback Blu-Ray, too.
Tested Blu-Ray disc by putting in a regular player, recognized and played just fine. There seems to be a problem with this particular model.
I went through 2 of them with the same results, will have to return the second one today.
Plays DVDs, but that's not what I bought it for.
Can't recommend buying this one.
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