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Disc Writers Now Print the Label Too

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the it's-a-bout-time dept.

gardolas writes "Rippers and burners with an eye for design have a new way to smarten their image. Disc writers that can print images onto the label sides of the discs will hit the market next month. The LightScribe system has been developed by Verbatim and HP."

202 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. Obvious question, but... by Weaselmancer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...how much extra does the media cost that'll let you write to the label side?

    --
    Weaselmancer
    rediculous.
    1. Re:Obvious question, but... by Blapto · · Score: 5, Informative

      LightScribe blanks will cost more than ordinary discs, but Verbatim says the difference will be less than the price of a sticky label and the ink needed to print on it. But anyone wanting to use the new system will need to buy a LightScribe drive, and that will cost around $200.
      Says the New Scientist article linked to above. So I'd guesstimate that it would be around 50 cents per disk...

    2. Re:Obvious question, but... by ForestGrump · · Score: 1, Informative

      FTA:
      LightScribe blanks will cost more than ordinary discs, but Verbatim says the difference will be less than the price of a sticky label and the ink needed to print on it. But anyone wanting to use the new system will need to buy a LightScribe drive, and that will cost around $200.

      --
      Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
    3. Re:Obvious question, but... by phalse+phace · · Score: 2

      From the article, "LightScribe blanks will cost more than ordinary discs, but Verbatim says the difference will be less than the price of a sticky label and the ink needed to print on it...."

    4. Re:Obvious question, but... by KinkifyTheNation · · Score: 1

      $200 for a fancy schmancy burning drive compared to $2 for a pack of magic markers? I think i'll stick to my "scruffy" handwriting.

    5. Re:Obvious question, but... by eln · · Score: 1

      The only people I could really see using this are independent bands who copy their own CDs (to make it look cooler and more professional), and possibly people selling bootleg CDs (although cover art has never been much of a draw in that market).

      I agree it's a little extravagant for simple home backup purposes.

    6. Re:Obvious question, but... by SenorPez · · Score: 1
      100-disc Spindle of CD-R Discs: $30
      Memorex Label Maker System (20 discs): $12
      Total Cost: $90

      100-disc Spindle of CD-R Discs: $30
      Black Sharpie: $.45
      Total Cost: $30.45

      So, unless the Lightscribe discs cost less than an extra 4 cents a disc, why would I shell out $200 on a new burner?

    7. Re:Obvious question, but... by Lumpy · · Score: 2, Informative

      who cares.

      until it can print in full color and cost nothing extra per disc except for the 36 cents in ink like my Epson R300 on the CD's and DVD's it's a joke that will not catch on like Yamaha's system that will put lettering or GFX on the data side empty space.

      One set of ink carts in my R300 will print full color on over 200 CD's.

      That is only 36 cents in ink for 100% color coverage on each disc. I can easily quadruple that yield by printing only black or color text and no photos, graphics or backgrounds.

      Oh let's add one more thing, how much you want to bet that only windows will be able to print on the discs, linux, OSX and other operating systems will not be allowed to use that valuable secret printing technology.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    8. Re:Obvious question, but... by Rei · · Score: 1

      I wonder how they're going to do color. Perhaps multiple layers, for which you burn down to the desired color layer? Or perhaps it's something like titanium, where the thickness of the oxide can determine the color? Here's a titanium etching like that:

      http://www.theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/Sample s/ 022.34/index.s12.html

      --
      People said I was dumb, but I proved them.
    9. Re:Obvious question, but... by Antonymous+Flower · · Score: 2, Informative

      http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=lightscribe memorex 10 pack is ~8 bucks

    10. Re:Obvious question, but... by wo1verin3 · · Score: 1

      At Macworld LaCie made quite clear that they plan on shipping with Mac software as well.

    11. Re:Obvious question, but... by wo1verin3 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well forget the marker for writing to CDs, the folks behind LightScribe (HP) have given us 101 USES FOR YOUR PERMANENT MARKERS.

    12. Re:Obvious question, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting
      This is not an ink-based system. It uses a laser (presumably the same one as for burning the data side of the disc) to etch a greyscale image onto the label side of the disc.

      I used one of these machines during their beta test and it worked fairly well. The discs I was given were gold-ish in color, so the label looked sorta sepia-toned. One issue that I had was that it took much less time to burn the data side of the disc than the label if you chose a high-quality setting. The finished effect is similar to the frosted labels on ordinary CD-R's (such as the Memorex or Imation discs I have with me now).

    13. Re:Obvious question, but... by UnknowingFool · · Score: 2, Informative

      The market for this is not people who need to just write on the blank disc.. It's for people who want to put an image on a blank disc with their contents. As someone has already noted, small bands pressing their own music is a great application. Other applications could be small software companies. It appears that the first discs are about $8 for 10 which runs about 0.80 per disc. More expensive then regular blanks but still affordable.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    14. Re:Obvious question, but... by zakezuke · · Score: 3, Informative

      Says the New Scientist article linked to above. So I'd guesstimate that it would be around 50 cents per disk...

      Where one can buy a printer like the Epson Stylus R200 and use ink jet printable media. The printer fetches $100 and the printable media 25 cents to 77 cents each plus ink. You can print on regular media but the drytime is 1-7 days and the quality is piss poor. I have only printed 100 DVDs with it so far on one black cartrage. The black cartrage runs about $20 for the Epson or less than half for a generic.

      There is also the Signature Z1 CD/DVD Printer which is a 200dpi thermal ribbon printer that fetches $140 or so. The ribbon fetchs $20 or so which from what i've heard prints on about 200 cds. So about 10cents a piece. This can be cheaper if you buy brand name media like Verbatim.

      LightScribe looks nice, wouldn't run like liquid ink can, and would take up less desktop space but it isn't here yet. At least with the two above options there is a snowball's chance in hell the media will still be around in 5 years.

      --
      There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
    15. Re:Obvious question, but... by Malphaedrius · · Score: 1

      Sadly enough when compared to non internet prices that is the exact same price as a ten pack of memorex discs from OfficeMax.

    16. Re:Obvious question, but... by Doppler00 · · Score: 1

      For about $0.50/pen I can buy a sharpie and label the disc myself.

      Unless you have some kind of a business where you need semi-professional looking CD's, I don't see the point of this other than a "cool" factor.

    17. Re:Obvious question, but... by korbin_dallas · · Score: 1

      Well, I hear the writers union would want $1 US per disk. You know for copyright infringement and such.

      --
      They Live, We Sleep
    18. Re:Obvious question, but... by ISaidItOmega · · Score: 1
      LightScribe looks nice, wouldn't run like liquid ink can, and would take up less desktop space but it isn't here yet.

      It *is* here. LightScribe is standard on all new HP desktops. Holla.

    19. Re:Obvious question, but... by harlows_monkeys · · Score: 1
      For about $0.50/pen I can buy a sharpie and label the disc myself

      And for a little more, you can buy a marker that is actually meant for CD labeling, and doesn't contain any solvents that might damage your disc.

      The sole reason people think Sharpies are safe is because a lot of people have used them with no known data loss yet, but for any important CD that you want to keep using for a long time, that seems pretty risky to me.

    20. Re:Obvious question, but... by ZorinLynx · · Score: 1

      I've been burning CD's since 1997 at least, and this is the FIRST time I ever hear of a sharpie being able to damage a disc.

      Are you sure this isn't something that just schlopped its way out of your ass? }:)

      Seriously, I've written on hundreds of CDs with sharpies with nary a problem. Got a link or something that explains this further?

      -Z

    21. Re:Obvious question, but... by Ohreally_factor · · Score: 1

      Similar to a band releasing a demo, professionals in the movie industry (DPs, editors, directors, actors, etc.) have reels that they use for self marketing. It's practically required unless you're at the very top. A reel is in some ways equivalent to a resume (although often used in conjunction with a resume).

      These reels used to be on VHS or sometimes 3/4 tape once upon a time. Now they're on DVD.

      Initially, this will be embraced by those who want their reel to stand out. Eventually, everyone will use this, and those that don't will look less professional.

      --
      It's not offtopic, dumbass. It's orthogonal.
    22. Re:Obvious question, but... by zeath · · Score: 1

      I didn't feel like waiting for a response from the grandparent and googled for it. I found this thread on cdfreaks. Apparently there is credence to this claim, and there's a poorly formatted correspondence 8 posts down that describes the issue in detail. This seems to be a worst-case it-might-happen scenario since I couldn't find any reference via google to someone actually having a CD go bad as a result of the solvent from sharpies or other permanent marker, but it might just be overlooked as the cause. I suppose a fair experiment would be to extract the ink from a few dozen sharpies and rest a burned CD data-side up in a shallow puddle of it (possibly apply heat, as the post in that link talks about heat being a catalyst) and see if anything makes its way through.

    23. Re:Obvious question, but... by Mycroft_VIII · · Score: 1

      Strictly anectedotal evidence, but of the five discs I've had die, one was broken in half, one scratched very bad (still sometimes could read it, took iso-buster set to retry a sector 4 times before I finally got it read) and the other three were written on with 'sharpie' type pens. Those last three were all done in the same week and all refused to read less than a month later. I've no other disc's written on with sharpies, just regular cd lable pens that cost about the same.
      I don't remember where I read it, but I've read the chemicals in sharpies can leak through the back varnish used on some discs and potententially damage the data containing layer.

      Mycroft

      --
      https://signup.leagueoflegends.com/?ref=4c3ed6600b6ea
    24. Re:Obvious question, but... by deltagreen · · Score: 1

      I agree that Lightscribe is probably redundant for people who already have the DVD/CD-writer they need, and also have a printer that can print on CDs.

      However, I for one am interested in getting one of these drives. Why? First of all, I was already thinking of buying a DVD-burner for my desktop computer (which is now my secondary computer). Secondly, from time to time I would like to make some nice looking labels on my CDs/DVDs. The problem is that I don't have a functional printer at the moment. (I found out a while ago that what little I needed to print was better done with my printing quota at university, rather than maintaining and worrying about ink cartridges that I almost never used.)

      With these two things in mind, Lightscribe seems like a good solution to my needs. And I don't care about the fact that it's only monochrome. Though others may disagree, I think it looks quite professional with monochrome on a metallic surface.

    25. Re:Obvious question, but... by ErikZ · · Score: 1


      What about those of us with bad handwriting?

      I don't label my CDs with labels you send through the printer because they bubble up and don't last long. I've been forced to use a pen to label my CD-Rs.

      This seems like a cool system.

      --
      Democrats or Republicans. They are both taking us to the same place and they are not afraid of us anymore.
    26. Re:Obvious question, but... by Nameles · · Score: 1

      Straight from the horses mouth

    27. Re:Obvious question, but... by harlows_monkeys · · Score: 1
      At sharpie.com, their FAQ says they have done it for years, and that the disc manufacturers have also done it, and no one has seen a problem, but they have not done any long term studies.

      So why risk it? Maxell (and TDK, I believe, and others) sell markers specifically formulated to be safe for discs.

    28. Re:Obvious question, but... by gstoddart · · Score: 1
      ...how much extra does the media cost that'll let you write to the label side?


      Probably not the media that'll be costly, but the damned ink cartridges!

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    29. Re:Obvious question, but... by child_of_mercy · · Score: 1

      well podcasters looking to distribute their shows on freebie CD's will be all over this.

      plenty of office use for a cheap easy way to put a good looking label on CDR's as well.

      lots of archival value as well as you don't have to worry about labels fading.

      in fact anyone who's burning a lot of CD's for anything other than personal use will be very keen.

      --
      'There is a Light that never goes out.'
    30. Re:Obvious question, but... by zakezuke · · Score: 1

      It *is* here. LightScribe is standard on all new HP desktops. Holla.

      Show me the DVD+/-Rs :P

      --
      There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
    31. Re:Obvious question, but... by H8X55 · · Score: 1

      were those three all recorded within the same week, off the same spindle?

      i've written thousands of data and audio discs since '97 and always used a sharpie to label my discs. i've never had a disc 'go bad' unless i got it scratched to all hell. i have had crap discs that i threw away after burning but before labeling that wouldn't read. often times multiples on the same spindle.

      i'm not doubting that there is truth in your experience, i just haven't noticed any correlation in mine.

    32. Re:Obvious question, but... by Mycroft_VIII · · Score: 1

      Admittedly the correlation is a bit week, this was a while ago, but IIRC the disc's came from two different 25disc spindles, but the same brand bought in a two for $x sale somewhere.
      As far as brands go, that usually means nothing except price. Most 'brands' come from whichever factory was selling the cheapest for the the lot size at the time so todays brand x may come from factory y this month, and next month from factory z while brand w is now using factory y's product.
      I do recall a time when 2x cd-burners still cost over $500 and blanks cost $5-10 each. A buddy lost a couple burned disks that were deffinately from marker bleed through, you could SEE it without holding the disc to the light.
      It wouldn't suprise me if the varnish thickness and resistance to bleed through had improved since then however and I suspect it's a fairly rare phenomenon these days, but considering that cd markers are so cheap (4 for less than $3, comparable to most cheap sharpie type markers) I really don't see a reason to risk it.

      Mycroft

      --
      https://signup.leagueoflegends.com/?ref=4c3ed6600b6ea
    33. Re:Obvious question, but... by PhotoJim · · Score: 1

      Why would you buy a laser printer for $150 when you can buy a Bic pen for $0.10? Lightscribe output is a little prettier than my hand-scripted letters with a Sharpie.

    34. Re:Obvious question, but... by SenorPez · · Score: 1
      Please submit your resume for immediate processing. My company has been looking for someone who can hand-write serifed-font text at 10 ppm black.

      Besides, do you ever look at your discs of mp3z and say, "Gee, I wish that label was prettier?" Or do you instead say, "Which disc was that 'Hanson' song on?"

    35. Re:Obvious question, but... by H8X55 · · Score: 1

      but considering that cd markers are so cheap (4 for less than $3, comparable to most cheap sharpie type markers) I really don't see a reason to risk it.

      Agreed. it's not the expense, just convenience. i know at the table in my bedroom somewhere next to my server, there lie two or three sharpies. in my laptop bag, four easily. there are probably three or four at my computer desk downstairs, another two or three in my car. there are probably four in my desk at work, at least one in each of my coat or jacket pockets, and probably a half dozen scattered about in my girlfriends house/car.

      i use sharpies everyday (for things other than labeling CD and DVD R's) so i know i've always got one within arm's reach.

    36. Re:Obvious question, but... by S12at2 · · Score: 1

      Your mom uses pens I bet thats how she had you dude if you dont even know simple math and biology...how the f'ing heck are you going to find the ability to write on a cd...I bet you can't even read...I'd break your hard drive. You're just jealous cause you cant stop whacking off long enough to invent something yourself

    37. Re:Obvious question, but... by S12at2 · · Score: 1

      I bet your mom looks at you and thinks "I wish that son was prettier". stop being fat and go back to your quiercitron. buttface.

  2. That's a good idea by DoorFrame · · Score: 5, Funny

    At last the goatse guy can make an album! I've been waiting for so long. And hell, the hold is already built into the disc!

    --

    --
    RumorsDaily
    1. Re:That's a good idea by Antonymous+Flower · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'll never hold a CD the same way again..

    2. Re:That's a good idea by superpulpsicle · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Don't celebrate yet. Last time I tried some cover printing on a CD over at a friend's house, it got permanently stuck in my CD player. Yep, it was the most expensive label I ever paid for.

    3. Re:That's a good idea by AceCaseOR · · Score: 2, Informative

      Umm... were' not talking about sticky labels here. We're talking about a special, dye-coated layer on the label-side of the disk. Once you've burned your CD you stick the disk, label side down in the drive. You tell the computer your design, and it will "burn" the image (through a photochemical reaction rather than actually burning away the dye) onto the surface of the disk. No sticky lables that can get stuck in the CD player involved at any time. RTFA.

      --
      Zagreus sits inside your head, Zagreus lives among the dead, Zagreus sees you in your bed and eats you in your sleep.
    4. Re:That's a good idea by Dogtanian · · Score: 5, Funny

      At last the goatse guy can make an album! I've been waiting for so long. And hell, the hold is already built into the disc!

      Want something even worse? Consider what a CD looks like when it's stored in an ordinary (single-CD) case. The part in the centre looks like a puckered... umm... and you have to stick your finger in it to get the CD out.

      I'm listening to nothing but MP3s from now on.

      --
      "Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
    5. Re:That's a good idea by Ohreally_factor · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think you and the grandparent poster have just revived the tape back up industry.

      --
      It's not offtopic, dumbass. It's orthogonal.
    6. Re:That's a good idea by darkpixel2k · · Score: 1

      It's overused but it has to be said: "Where are my mod points?"

      --
      There's no place like ::1 (I've completed my transition to IPv6)
  3. blatent dupe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    dupe.

  4. Previously covered on slashdot by tOaOMiB · · Score: 1, Informative

    See here

    1. Re:Previously covered on slashdot by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "Previously covered on slashdot"

      Yeah, well I missed it last time. I'll read here, you move on.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
  5. Great... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Now they can nail you for reproducing copyrighted artwork on your CDs full of downloaded music...

    Add another 20 years in the pokey...

  6. Neat concept by podperson · · Score: 1

    In case the site is slashdotted...

    The media is designed so that the laser that burns the data onto the CD can also create an image on the (far) side of the CD. It requires special media and special CD drives (of course) so who knows if it will become widely adopted, but a nice concept nonetheless.

    No clue as to resolution of the image.

    1. Re:Neat concept by Antonymous+Flower · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It is actually pretty pointless. Seems like a gimmick to keep drive prices high, and therefore profitable.

    2. Re:Neat concept by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm not seeing the "pointless" part. At the moment, I label my CDs and DVDs with a black marker (which can result in illegible labels, at least for others). My other option is to use a round-shaped label and a separate printer (and hope that either I or the printer don't screw up and have to print a second copy). I don't see that something that takes additional user error and adds convenience is entirely 'pointless'.

  7. word choice? by brewman123 · · Score: 2, Funny
    This means that rather than have to write the contents onto the media by hand, use a separate specialist (word choice?) disc printer, or sticky label, users can achieve silk-screen quality images using LightScribe-enabled Verbatim CD/DVD discs with the optical drive's laser pickup.

    apparently a bad word choice for "word choice?"
    1. Re:word choice? by dave+sanderman · · Score: 1

      should have been caught by an editor, presumably. the "(word choice?)" mark indicated that the writer or translator or copy editor or somebody didn't think "specialist" is correct; indeed, "specialized" is probably what was intended.

    2. Re:word choice? by mindriot · · Score: 1

      I guess this was meant to be a press release candidate.

  8. Next month? by glenmark · · Score: 3, Informative

    Er, they are already available. I know someone who has one....

    --
    *** Quantum Mechanics: The Dreams of Which Stuff is Made ***
    1. Re:Next month? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Well it was next month, the first time /. ran this story.

    2. Re:Next month? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      By your definition nuclear weapons are also "available" because there are people who have some. Until you can walk into a store and buy one or go online and order one and actually have it delivered in some reasonable time frame, they are not yet available in any meaningful sense of the word.

    3. Re:Next month? by gnuorder · · Score: 1

      He is right, they have been available for at least 2 years for CD recorders. Sony had one for sale and I was torn between getting it or a DVD writer. I figured they would be out soon for DVD writers and be affordable by the time which ever I bought burned out.

    4. Re:Next month? by SlySlick · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yes, the computers have been available in retail outlets since at least Christmas, having sold many of them myself in the last month. Very nice concept and a strong selling point as well. Now all we can hope is that the technology becomes as widespread as Betamax...

    5. Re:Next month? by wo1verin3 · · Score: 1

      You can right now, check CompUSA or order a new system from HP (although yes they only come with new systems at this moment). You can go in to a store and buy one as a part of a system or order and have it delivered.... so shush.

    6. Re:Next month? by Bariclef · · Score: 2, Informative

      As a warehouse coordinator for a major electronics chain I can tell you that we first started getting HP models with this technology about two weeks ago. Check web sites for the HP a832n, a820n As for the media, Verbatim has a 10 pack (non-spindle) of the CD-Rs for $7.99.

    7. Re:Next month? by Loligo · · Score: 1

      No, actually, the first time they ran the story, it was more like 10 months.

      -l

  9. Fantastic! by bigtallmofo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This will make it much easier to label the 42 DVD+Rs it takes to back up the home MiniDV digital camcorder videos I store on my computer.

    Now if only they'd do something silly, like agree on future DVD standards that actually might make a removable media device that keeps up with today's hard drive sizes, we'd be set. In the meantime, we now have been spared the torture of printing DVD labels on a separate device. That's something.

    --
    I'm a big tall mofo.
    1. Re:Fantastic! by dbIII · · Score: 1
      that actually might make a removable media device that keeps up with today's hard drive sizes
      It's called a tape but they are still too small. Sometimes 160GB just isn't enough.
  10. Good for the hobbyist by Bluesuperman · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Cool ... finally I can make pretty images for my Linux distro CD's !!! I think this will be good for the home user and hobbyist but not for professionals. Michael.

    --
    Linux: For those able to think out side of a window
  11. or here by way2trivial · · Score: 2, Insightful

    From march

    --
    every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
    1. Re:or here by lxs · · Score: 1

      Or here (last December)

      So, what do you call a story that's posted three times? A triple dupe? A tripe?

    2. Re:or here by SenorPez · · Score: 2, Funny
      So, what do you call a story that's posted three times?
      "Filler."
  12. Time to repost highly moderated comments! by VeryApt · · Score: 1

    For your reference: Slashdot | Burn the CD on Both Sides.

    1. Re:Time to repost highly moderated comments! by bradkittenbrink · · Score: 1

      like this one?

  13. Wasn't this reported... by FinchWorld · · Score: 1

    ...just a while back?

    And didn't everyone decide it was overpriced/not that good/cheaper to use cd label printers?

    I however shall continue to draw on my Cd's using crayon, I knew childhood had a purpose somewhere.

    --
    "I may be full of crap about this game, and I may be wrong, and that's fine." -Jack Thompson
  14. Guess it's been a slow news...month by beef+curtains · · Score: 1

    http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/12/20/042422 5&tid=198&tid=188

    --
    Just once I'd like someone to call me 'Sir' without adding 'You're making a scene.'
  15. Not Yet by Adrilla · · Score: 2, Informative

    Call me when they print in color, the FAQ says it only does grayscale.

    --

    "Plans are for fools! Oglethorpe, the plutonian (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)
    1. Re:Not Yet by PitaBred · · Score: 1

      ...print? Dude, this is the same kinda thing they do on the other side of the CD to burn the data. There is no ink, other than changing the properties of the ink that's on the label side of the disc.

      --
      My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
    2. Re:Not Yet by dswensen · · Score: 2, Funny

      I won't buy one till they can print in stereoscopic 3D and holograms.

    3. Re:Not Yet by Adrilla · · Score: 1

      Maybe bad choice of words. But, the fact remains that other color options are out there, which give me more control over what I want on my discs. I choose them.

      --

      "Plans are for fools! Oglethorpe, the plutonian (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)
  16. Printable media with color now by rk2z · · Score: 1

    Why not go with the inkjet printable media and go with a cd tray enabled printer. It's here now and it does color.

    --
    This is a sig, there are many like it, but this is mine.
    1. Re:Printable media with color now by CrankyFool · · Score: 1

      The primary reason against that, I'd think is availability issues.

      Until recently, I was under the impression that only two Epson models could do CD/DVD printing, and nobody else had printers that could do this. Turns out this is unique to the US -- because Canon, for example, has their entire Pixma product print to CD/DVD if you buy the non-US versions, but the US versions are hobbled.

      My own solution to this is simple -- I'm getting a friend to bring me back a Pixma from Australia -- but most people just aren't going to have an easy time getting a printer in the US that can do this, I think (expecially if, like me, they hate Epson).

    2. Re:Printable media with color now by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

      Though I've read that some of the Epsons are finniky about printing, I haven't had any problems with mine (R300). Moreso, the base model is under $100 at retail (R200), and aftermarket inks are available for under $5 a cartridge.

      Unless you happen to have a thing against Epson printers, thi seem sto be a pretty easy solution. Especially since you can buy a DVD writer and the Epson printer for less than the price of one of these drives.

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  17. Potential use springs to mind immediately by William_Lee · · Score: 1

    Although I wouldn't buy one of these unless both the media and burner were pretty cheap, this would be great to use with a CD ripping program to automatically grab the song titles and times from something like Gracenote and automatically burn them onto the CD. It would be nice to see some of the major mp3 ripping/encoding packages supporting this feature quickly.

  18. Cool by th1ckasabr1ck · · Score: 1
    Now I can make just about exactly the same thing they sell in the stores at a tiny fraction of the cost. I can burn the disc, print the image on the disc, and then print out the insert.

    I wish that more music/games/movies/etc. came with cool packaging or another incentive to actually buy the physical media. I still buy all of the music that I listen to legally, but the reasons/benefits for doing so (other than 'it's the law') are disappearing quickly.

    1. Re:Cool by Artifakt · · Score: 1

      Burned disks tend to age badly. Estimates are that you will lose about 1 disk in 10 after just two years, if you are like the avarge home media burner. Most will need recopied in four or five years at best. So if you hope to get the CD or DVD out again ten years down the road, better go with commercial media. That said, if you expect the disk to get scratched up in six months, or you get bored with the music in two, your incentives for buying a lasting one are non-existant anyway.
      Here's to the RIAA - push ephemeral music for the I want it now generation, then wonder why people are moving to an ephemeral solution. The more you just want to play what's new! new! new!, the better burning your own looks.

      --
      Who is John Cabal?
  19. Obligatory question by kg_o.O · · Score: 1

    I wonder if/when/how will it work under Linux?

    1. Re:Obligatory question by mattyrobinson69 · · Score: 1

      HP (presumably they worked on the drive side of things) are a member of the OSDL, so maybe.

    2. Re:Obligatory question by kg_o.O · · Score: 1

      HP (presumably they worked on the drive side of things) are a member of the OSDL, so maybe.
      It would be great if they released their own linux drivers the moment they send the drive to stores. If not, we'll have to wait a couple of months before kernel devs take time to code the thing.

    3. Re:Obligatory question by Dr.Dubious+DDQ · · Score: 1

      Naturally, I was wondering about Linux capability as well. On the Windows systems, does "LightScribe(tm)" act like a printer driver? Or is it something totally "other"?

      --
      Hacker Public Radio is our Friend
  20. Actually... by Blapto · · Score: 1

    Sod next month.
    Froogle links here
    Get it now...
    Turns out my guess of 50 cents was way out, for the time being at least.

  21. silk screen qualiry, but monochrom appearance by way2trivial · · Score: 1
    I use an epson 960. beautiful full color images, I can make discs better than the riaa's...


    here's a list of current models
    Epson Stylus Photo R200

    $99.00

    Epson Stylus Photo R300

    $179.00

    Epson Stylus Photo R320

    $199.99

    Epson Stylus Photo R300M

    $229.00

    Epson Stylus Photo R800


    --
    every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
    1. Re:silk screen qualiry, but monochrom appearance by Nogami_Saeko · · Score: 1

      Yup, same here. R200, beautiful prints in about 3 minutes directly onto inkjet printable media (cheap, from many manufacturers). Full color.

      I'll take this any day over a B&W only printer that takes 45 minutes for a high quality label and uses proprietary discs... (cawf).

      N.

      --
      "Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence." - Charles de Gaulle
  22. slashdoted already by climbing_monkey · · Score: 1

    8 min after it gets posted Verbatim gets slashdoted...go slashdotters go! in other news, "slashdotted" gets submited for addition to websters dictionary

  23. Re:haven't these been around for years? by Doomstalk · · Score: 2, Informative

    That's the tech where you can burn an image into the data side of the CD. This is different.

  24. too little too late by edeus · · Score: 1

    I was excited about this line of "technology" the last few times i heard about it earlier this millenia... With the price of disc printers/all in one printers as they are, I dont know how it will secure much more than a niche market; and without mainstream support, stock availability will always be a specialised item at best. But that said, I still want to have the swish burned in labels! :)

  25. Will hit the market? by DaFallus · · Score: 1

    I saw a computer with a LightScribe drive at CompUSA last week. I believe it was an HP something or other, but after the sales-person finally left me alone to go harass the people in the mac section of the store, I got to play around with it a little bit. Certainly looks a lot better than what those Disc Stompers produce.

    --
    No one cares what your captcha was

    Houston TX, USA
  26. meh by Ja�ana · · Score: 1

    Wow, if the site weren't being slashdotted right now, I might could put in here how much I'll be saving by just using an old school burner and a sharpie!

    --

    -- Napalm sticks to kids.

  27. Is it more than cosmetic? by Thud457 · · Score: 1

    I have to wonder if this process will shorten the life of the cd the way adhesive labels are rumoured to do...

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  28. We already have the a820n by lrwx · · Score: 1

    At Compusa. It comes with the lightscribe

    --
    KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!!
  29. Printing label's is fine but... by starnix · · Score: 1

    will it be able to RIP the label off of whatever media you are copying to make an exact copy?

    1. Re:Printing label's is fine but... by gtkuhn · · Score: 1

      Then it would need a built in scanner to scan the top of the original media before printing it on the ripped disc. Sounds perfect for a niche market like... mebbe china?

    2. Re:Printing label's is fine but... by starnix · · Score: 1

      Well, if they are gonna do it, they should do it right. That would actually be something impressive.

  30. Why is the news.... by Ogman · · Score: 1

    ...when I have been able to print on CDs with my Epson for a couple of years now?

    --
    But Officer, I DID read the f**king article!
  31. I can see this looking really dated, really fast by dim5 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I can't watch TV for half an hour without seeing the snowboarding ad showing off LightScribe.

    Sure, it's cool... the first time you see it. But it's all done in one sepia tone. I don't see how the technology could advance to include color using a CDR laser, so prepare to get all the monotone fun you can handle. As soon as a more useful idea for CD labelling comes along, no one will be impressed with LightScribe, and the people that couldn't wait to use it will be embarassed to, because it will have gone from looking "high tech" to very dated.

    Kind of like my Casio wrist camera.

    --

    Is something burning?
    Oh, it's my karma.

  32. Nice by springbox · · Score: 1

    This looks like really great stuff. I would prefer having this over a marker. I still can't find that darn thing and there are CDs that need labeling..

  33. Ok, it's pretty cool by digitalgimpus · · Score: 1

    I'm surpised to see it come with HP affiliated with it though. They aren't exactly inovators these days. If I had to guess, I would have guessed: Apple, Sony.

    My question is cost. Media any different? Is there any patents that would hinder low cost of unit?

    That typically defines what succeeds and fails. cost of use.

    1. Re:Ok, it's pretty cool by Horse+Rotorvator+JAD · · Score: 1

      As others have already said, a ten pack of CDRs that are compatible with this = $10.00.

  34. Finally by FuturePastNow · · Score: 1

    Pirated media that is indistinguishable from the original!

    --
    Give a man fire, and you warm him for the night. Set a man on fire, and you warm him for the rest of his life.
  35. Re:I can see this looking really dated, really fas by dim5 · · Score: 1

    I'll point out before anybody else does that I didn't RTFA very carefully. Doh!

    --

    Is something burning?
    Oh, it's my karma.

  36. Advert! by Turn-X+Alphonse · · Score: 1

    Didn't we have this before on Slashdot? I remember the whole comment feel was "been done, this is just an advert".

    --
    I like muppets.
  37. One Question by Slashdot+Insider · · Score: 1

    Yes, but any word on whether these printed discs will be region-locked or not? Because we can never get enough region-locked CD-R's!

  38. doesn't lightscribe advertise on slashdot? by amnesiaWind · · Score: 1

    not only has this article been on slashdot before, but i'm pretty sure i've seen advertisements for lightscribe on slashdot.... in fact i first heard of this device by clicking on one of those ads, long before either of the articles was posted - i thought it was this site but it may have been another, so feel free to correct me if i'm wrong.

  39. My Favorite CD Label Printer by jmanforever · · Score: 1

    http://www.sharpie.com/

  40. Re:Next month huh? by zentigger · · Score: 1

    yeah, I think the tech is old nes, but it's _finally_ hit the shelves...

    --

    the above is my personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect that of the little voices in my head

  41. Wouldn't this turn into... by g33ker · · Score: 1

    ... The same type of psuedo-monopoly (I guess you could call it that) that printer companies have... After the product has been established, the hardware prices fall to about 30 GBP, but the price of replacement ink cartridges will cost about two thirds to three quarters of the cost of the printer in the first place?

  42. Picture or data? by .+visplek+. · · Score: 1

    I believe that where the image is, no data can be burned. So a CDROM with an image covering the entire CD will look pretty cool but can hold no data. Will this lead to burning 10 Mb of data on a CDROM to have a bigger/cooler image on it? That would suck.

    --
    - Save a tree, eat more woodpeckers
    1. Re:Picture or data? by wo1verin3 · · Score: 1

      Incorrect, the top of the CD or DVD media is coated with a special dye that reacts to the laser and has no effect on the bottom of the disc.

    2. Re:Picture or data? by Game_Ender · · Score: 1

      The image is printed on the opposite side of the CD from where the data is burned. What you are thinking of is DiscT@2 which printed text and images on the area left on the data side of the CD after burning.

  43. Interesting, but.... by shoemakc · · Score: 1

    Hmmm.....replacing a perfectly fine cd writer and a massive stockpile of blank cdr's and having spiffy labels vs using a sharpie and having functional ones.

    Hmmm....let me think about this one a momment...

    Wait Wait, don't tell me...

    -Chris

    --
    --an unbreakable toy is useful for breaking other toys--
  44. Mirror of Verbatim EUROPE's website: by gik · · Score: 1

    Warning: Too many connections in /var/www/www.verbatim-europe.com/includes/sql.clas s.php on line 72

    Warning: MySQL Connection Failed: Too many connections in /var/www/www.verbatim-europe.com/includes/sql.clas s.php on line 72

    Warning: Cannot add header information - headers already sent by (output started at /var/www/www.verbatim-europe.com/includes/sql.clas s.php:72) in /var/www/www.verbatim-europe.com/includes/leftnavi .php on line 10

    Warning: Too many connections in /var/www/www.verbatim-europe.com/includes/sql.clas s.php on line 72

    Warning: MySQL Connection Failed: Too many connections in /var/www/www.verbatim-europe.com/includes/sql.clas s.php on line 72

    Warning: Too many connections in /var/www/www.verbatim-europe.com/includes/sql.clas s.php on line 109

    Warning: MySQL Connection Failed: Too many connections in /var/www/www.verbatim-europe.com/includes/sql.clas s.php on line 109

    Warning: MySQL: A link to the server could not be established in /var/www/www.verbatim-europe.com/includes/sql.clas s.php on line 109

    Warning: Failed opening '../includes/mysql_log.class.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/share/pear') in /var/www/www.verbatim-europe.com/includes/sql.clas s.php on line 164

    Fatal error: Cannot instantiate non-existent class: mysql_log in /var/www/www.verbatim-europe.com/includes/sql.clas s.php on line 165

    Seriously, this is verbatim's website. Awesome.

    --
    ZERO
  45. Needs a built in label scanner.... by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Since probaly 90% of CD burning is disc duping, you really need a scanner to dupe the label too.

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
    1. Re:Needs a built in label scanner.... by renehollan · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Noooo...Need a standard to store the label data on the disk itself, somewhere...

      /me smells patent.

      --
      You could've hired me.
    2. Re:Needs a built in label scanner.... by Lord+Ender · · Score: 1

      Wow, welcome to 1996! I've burned hundreds of CDs in this century, and none have been exact copies of music CDs. Today, people make mixes or burn MP3 CDs or distribute digital photos on CD.

      --
      A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
    3. Re:Needs a built in label scanner.... by DCheesi · · Score: 1

      Noooo...Need a standard to store the label data on the disk itself, somewhere... /me smells patent.

      I can see the patent application now: "Method to facilitate music piracy by including cover and/or liner notes in digital form..." Yeah, I can see the music industry jumping at that business opportunity! ;-)

    4. Re:Needs a built in label scanner.... by renehollan · · Score: 1

      Method to facilitate media duplication by includeing machine readable represetations of external human-readable passive identifying information not requiring interpretative equipment.

      --
      You could've hired me.
  46. progress is good by Xorkid · · Score: 1

    But its been around for a while but just not widely available. Was the next big thing when I used work at HP, never caught on first time round. IIRC can be used for CDRW for, you guesed it, re writeble labels- obviously at higher cost. What would be cool is if the laser could be used to burn through a white layer to 3 different coloured layers. The time the laser is on determines the colour (off=white). You could get really high quality full colour discs. syd

    --
    www.microsoft.com/athome/sec urity/children/kidtalk.mspx Was This Information Useful?
  47. Again? by Kell_pt · · Score: 1

    When I log into ./ and check the latest news, I sometimes wonder wether by some twist of caching I am watching a page from ages ago...

    Exactly how many times do news on LightScribe have to be reported?

    Oh well. :)

    A lot of things have been said on that previous news thread, including media costs and other companies subscribing to this technology, so if you're actually interested, reading it is recommended.

    --
    "I don't mind God, it's his fan club I can't stand!" E8
  48. $200 Lightscribe drive?? by Timmy+D+Programmer · · Score: 1

    I find it difficult to belive they need a drive. Time to create a competing product that uses any ole burner...

    --


    (If at first you don't succeed, do it different next time!)
  49. how about reading the article? by amnesiaWind · · Score: 1

    really?! you have an Epson *CD BURNER* that prints cd labels using the burner's laser? that's amazing, because Epson doesn't list that in their product line on their web site... ... oh wait, you simply didn't read the article at all and you thought we were talking about printers, i see!

  50. Re:haven't these been around for years? by athakur999 · · Score: 1

    I think you're thinking about Yamaha's "T@2" (or something like that...) system that printed stuff on the unused portion of a CD-R.

    --
    "People that quote themselves in their signatures bother me" - athakur999
  51. I noticed this a couple weeks ago by CAIMLAS · · Score: 1

    I noticed the existence of this technology several weeks ago while when I passed by the TV while it was on. HP had an ad that said something like, "Now with LightScribe, so you can put labels on your CD!"

    Since the ad wasn't really clear, I thought it was talking about a simple label maker, like the POS things you can buy for $5 at BestBuy. Then I thought about it for a while, and realized even HP isn't dumb enough to market something like that as a major feature, and came to the (correct) conclusion that there was something within the burner which painted the disk's upper side.

    My wonder is - how much will the cartridges cost? Coming from HP, the ink used is likely to cost a bundle and a half.

    --
    ~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
    1. Re:I noticed this a couple weeks ago by wo1verin3 · · Score: 1

      There is no ink, just special discs. The lightscribe discs have a dye on the top side that reacts to the laser used to "print".

  52. disappointing.... by wo1verin3 · · Score: 1

    Having used these drives already I am disappointed in the quality of print on the DVD lightscribe discs. The print on CD is quite nice but the DVD comes out somewhat blurry in comparison.

  53. Normal inkjets that can print on the label side... by Dr.+Zowie · · Score: 2, Informative

    ... are available right now at Costco. It blew me away -- there's a separate feed for putting your disk in the printer, and it prints your image on the textured label side of the disk.

  54. Nothing to see here, move along by eSims · · Score: 1
    Until the system can print color high res and do so in under 30 seconds for less that $.20/cd (cost above standard cdr) this will be niche device.

    Those of us doing alot of short run CDr find the cheapest and easiest method is still paper labels through a color laser printer.

    I've never had a label peel off inside a drive... heck, I can't even get 'em loose when I misplace them for 1/8 of a sec, so that isn't my worry.

    Now according to the NIST (Care and Handling of CDs and DVDs the 2 worries wrt to CDr and labels are the label adhesive eating into the dye layer and the label peeling off (Page 23).

    For what it's worth I moved to spending the extra pennies on inkjet (or thermal) printable media that has an extra coating on the CDr to provide protection against the adhesive affecting the dye as well as peeling removing the reflector.

    I would be interested in hearing any knowledgeable comments regarding the effectiveness of the extra layer on printable CDr. (Trolls need not apply)

    --
    I .sig therefore I am!
  55. The Details by Malicious · · Score: 1

    FYI, it's Black and White only (No Colour) and you have to take the Disc out and turn it upside down in the Writer after (of before) the data is written.

    --
    01101001001000000110000101101101001000000110001001 10000101110100011011010110000101101110
  56. Message from a beta-tester... by minga · · Score: 5, Informative

    I was a beta tester for the LightScribe program and have one of the external burners. Here are some answers about MY experience.

    1) There are 3 different modes/quality settings for burning the graphic. Good/Better/Best. The "BEST" setting is the darkest, and takes around 45 minutes for a good graphic. Pure text is quicker. And the "good" setting burns really quick with just plain text.

    2) I forget the software provided - but it's a basic label making software package that usually prints on Avery labels. It is pretty powerful and easy to use. Easy to import graphics, manipulate text, etc. Works with any font you have. And even comes with about 30-50 "built in" designs that are soft of cheezy - but look good.

    3) The media is "special". No idea of cost. My big complaint was that the print able service was GOLD. So, the dark didnt show up as well as I had hoped it would. If the top was silver or white it would be alot cooler. Hopefully they figure out a way to do that.

    4) The external burner is either FIREWIRE or USB2. It is a CDRW burner. It is also a 4x (single layer) DVD burner. Mine is external and BLACK - comes with a seperate power supply cord that is nice and small. I never tried it in Linux, sorry.

    5) Right now , the media is CDR only. But when I asked about DVDR media in LightScribe format I was not greeted with "no, way". But instead I was informed that if the media became available during beta testing, they would send it. That sort of tells me its in the works.

    Burning: The only problem I ever had was burning some DVDR images using Nero. I dont know why it didnt work. Got to 99.9% done and never finished. The problem eventually fixed itself. Everything worked perfectly with the provided software.

    Overall (This is what I told HP as well):

    I was happy with the device and would continue to use is AS LONG as the media wasn't TOO pricey.

    The burning of the image takes too long - but for CDs that I REALLY care about - I am willing to wait. But I wouldnt use the fancy light-scribe media for all the crap I burn and only use once or twice.

    1. Re:Message from a beta-tester... by wo1verin3 · · Score: 1

      5) Right now , the media is CDR only. But when I asked about DVDR media in LightScribe format I was not greeted with "no, way". But instead I was informed that if the media became available during beta testing, they would send it. That sort of tells me its in the works.

      Yes lightscribe DVD works identical to CD-R including the color of the surface. However the "print" quality on the DVD discs is significantly lower. Even a high quality "print" appears blurry where the same "print" on CD looks crisp.

    2. Re:Message from a beta-tester... by kryptkpr · · Score: 1

      Burning: The only problem I ever had was burning some DVDR images using Nero. I dont know why it didnt work. Got to 99.9% done and never finished. The problem eventually fixed itself.

      I've had this problem with Nero, and only with Nero, on my BenQ DVD-R drive. It would eventually pop up a "Failure to close disk". I guess it's time to stop recommending Nero to people, I don't feel like explaining to them why their burn failed. What other CD/DVD burning software out there doesn't suck in the UI department?

      --
      DJ kRYPT's Free MP3s!
  57. Inkjet by Markus+Registrada · · Score: 1

    Of course real inkjet images will always look better. I know a small company called R-Quest makes printers that produce an astonishingly good image, using an HP mechanism. (No, I don't work for them.)

    1. Re:Inkjet by Ohreally_factor · · Score: 1

      But how well does inkjet ink hold up in the dishwasher? I don't want to send my discs to the dry cleaners.

      --
      It's not offtopic, dumbass. It's orthogonal.
  58. Re:Lifespan by wo1verin3 · · Score: 1

    This is not true... while direct sunlight and constant touching can fade the image itself, the disc is no more or less durable or reliable. It is simply a chemical reaction in dye on the top of the disc.

  59. dupe. by Triv · · Score: 1

    ahem.

    Triv

  60. Double dupe! by 00null00 · · Score: 1

    Double - dupe!

    Anyways, I wouldn't buy a special disc AND drive when I've got my Sharpie.

  61. DUPE by BillsPetMonkey · · Score: 3, Funny

    Dupe.

    This only confirms that the finger of this site isn't on the pulse, it's errr ... hidden somewhere else.

    --
    "It's not your information. It's information about you" - John Ford, Vice President, Equifax
  62. Re:haven't these been around for years? by InfiniteWisdom · · Score: 1

    Its a joke, you idiot. Nero lets you burn an image (i.e. ISO image)... and that gets burnt on the data side. This image is a picture which gets "burnt" on the other side.

  63. Question by siege04 · · Score: 1

    So, does slashdot get paid for running such blatant advertising copy for technology that doesn't even seem to exist commercially yet? If so, how much?

    1. Re:Question by 1u3hr · · Score: 1
      So, does slashdot get paid for running such blatant advertising copy for technology that doesn't even seem to exist commercially yet? If so, how much?

      At least that would be less embarrassing than admitting they've run this slashvertisement for "LightScribe" three times so far, all for a product that isn't yet for sale.

  64. Dupe by AaronStJ · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is a dupe of a dupe

    --
    Stupid like a fox!
  65. Deja vu by suwain_2 · · Score: 1

    Anyone else feel a bit of deja vu?

    --
    ________________________________________________
    suwain_2 :: quality slashdot p
  66. Ink? by t_allardyce · · Score: 1

    It would be sooo much nicer to have an inkjet built into the drive, it would be able to work the exact same way as the laser (eg disk rotates, head moves side to side) either that or a thermal printer which would be much more compact and robust. It could work with pre-stamped blank labels or specially coated or pre-labelled disks or special inks and the radial motion of the disk would lower the resolution requirements of the print head. Although technically this is kinda like a thermal printer anyway, colour and high contrast is what people want.

    --
    This comment does not represent the views or opinions of the user.
  67. I have a better idea by syousef · · Score: 1

    Why not build a writer into a printer. As it is these days all the new printers have trays for printing to printable CD/DVD. How much more effort would it be to build in a writer so you could write and print all in the one device?...and all with current technology.

    --
    These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
  68. A better link... by nuckfuts · · Score: 1

    is here.

    The Verbatim site mentioned in the article is scant on info and lacks pictures.

  69. User Friendly? by morganjharvey · · Score: 2, Informative

    From the article:
    More recently, special printers that print directly onto a disc's label side have come onto the market, but the process isn't very user-friendly.

    My Epson Stylus R300 can print directly onto printable CDs. The process isn't that hard. You have to feed a special tray into the front, but that's about it. You have to use Epson's special software, but you also have to use special software for these doodads. Yeah, you have to buy special media, but I'm guessing the price is about the same as for the LightScribe discs.

    And the Epson does pretty darn good color and has software for the Mac. (At the time of this writing, Mac support for LightScribe was only available as an SDK for integration into other applications.)

    -mo

    1. Re:User Friendly? by DaveCBio · · Score: 1

      I have an R200 and I am pretty happy with the results I get. Very professional looking and unlike labels you never have to worry about bubbling or peeling.

    2. Re:User Friendly? by zakezuke · · Score: 1

      My Epson Stylus R300 can print directly onto printable CDs.

      Both the R300 and R200 can. The R300 is a touch more spendy than the R200 but offers onboard LCD display, memory cards slots, and they offer a bluetooth adapter that isn't listed for the R200. I went for the R200 model my self. I couldn't justify the extra $80 for fancy features I won't use.

      But I have tried the R200 model on regular media. While the ink takes days to dry black text is readable.

      --
      There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
  70. How about not assuming I didn't! by Ogman · · Score: 1

    Oh good...I've been waiting for one of you RTFA cops to show up on one of my comments. I DID read the article, and you are a pure idiot for assuming I didn't. I just happen to think that the Lightscibe process looks just as ugly and is as useless as the old DiscT@2 system from a few years back. Since you can do a full color, photo-quality label with Epson, why would a repeat of DiscT@2 be newsworthy?

    Now, go police somebody else's comments!

    --
    But Officer, I DID read the f**king article!
  71. It's cool... by Anita+Coney · · Score: 1

    ... but it'll fail. First, the drives cost much more than normal drives. Second, you have to use expensive discs. Third, printing out labels is not that hard.

    --
    If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.
  72. great idea by xamomike · · Score: 1

    this is great technology being put to use, simple and inexpensive. I for one look forward to picking up a lightscribe burner!

    --
    There are 10 types of people in the world; those who can read binary, and those who can't.
  73. This isn't that new... by chevybowtie · · Score: 1

    ...Yamaha has had writers that do this for at least a couple of years. Maybe how it's done is different, I didn't RTFA but I do know you don't have to wait - you could have it now.

  74. Call me when its re-writable by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

    Seriously. A rewritable lightscribe surface would be (to me) the perfect solution to labelling my RW discs. I use mainly +RW for rapidly changing stuff and for interim backups, as well as video which I'm not going to keep indefinitely. Being able to re-write the label side would be cool. Cool enough to be able to live with monochrome, imho.

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  75. Removable drives by tepples · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Now if only they'd do something silly, like agree on future DVD standards that actually might make a removable media device that keeps up with today's hard drive sizes, we'd be set.

    There are two such standards: "USB hard drive" and "FireWire hard drive".

    1. Re:Removable drives by LurkerXXX · · Score: 1

      Well yeah, but did you ever try to shove one of those into an inkjet printer to label it? It's not pretty.

  76. Re:haven't these been around for years? by Doomstalk · · Score: 1

    I meant DiscT@2 technology, which uses a special version of nero to burn pictures onto a CD.

  77. How open is this? by Trogre · · Score: 1

    So how long until we see this as an option in cdrecord?

    Plain text:

    cdrecord -tao -v -eject MyCD.iso -scribe "Trogre's Vorbis Backup #1"

    Graphic:

    cdrecord -tao -v -eject MyCD.iso -scribeimg /home/trogre/CDScribes/CoverArt.png

    Or is this technology obscured by some horrible intellectual property racket?

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
  78. Needs to be taken a bit further by vadim_t · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It should be able to add something to an already labelled disk. Perhaps by printing a marker and reading it.

    Here I have a set of shell scripts that make a list of files, do the backups, open the CD tray, pop up a dialog window, and burn the CD when I click "okay". All that would be needed to make it even better is to print a mark on it.

    I'm thinking of something like burning a calendar on the CD, then being able to burn over it to indicate the day the backup was made.

    1. Re:Needs to be taken a bit further by jargoone · · Score: 1
      It should be able to add something to an already labelled disk. Perhaps by printing a marker and reading it.

      Good fucking lord. Before you bitch about a feature it should have, read the goddamn article to see if it does have the feature. From TFA:

      If you want to add more information to the label at a later date, a small barcode on the label side of the disc tells the laser how to align the new info alongside what's already there.

      I don't know what's more sad: your comment, or the fact that you got modded up.
    2. Re:Needs to be taken a bit further by andyland · · Score: 1

      It does... (incremental labeling)

  79. Talk about weird timing by Cassanova · · Score: 2, Interesting
    For some random bizzare reason I headed over to the HP site about an hour before this article was posted and spec'ed out their top of the line system with what I would have wanted (the pavilion series). I managed to reduce their recommended configuration (which was $1800+) to about 1000 (cut out the 3 year HP extended warranty among various other things). It was there that I was quitely dazzled by their "LightScribe" writer that they were giving as an upgrade.

    Then I hit slashdot and see this article posted. Now thats what I call Extra-Slashdottery-Perception. ;-)

  80. Dupe/Tripe League Table! by ThreeDayMonk · · Score: 1

    With a little Google scripting, I've acquired the latest Slashdot Editor Duplicate Post League Table:

    Name - Dupes/Tripes
    timothy - 176/38
    michael - 128/43
    CmdrTaco - 110/17
    Hemos - 33/20
    CowboyNeal - 46/0
    pudge - 7/0

    Despite his best efforts, CmdrTaco is still languishing in third place, the same as back in June 2004.

    This was determined by the following scientific query in Google:
    site:slashdot.org article.pl type "posted by editor"
    Where type is dupe or tripe, for each editor name.

    --
    If your comment title says 'Re: Foo', I'm not likely to read it.
    1. Re:Dupe/Tripe League Table! by Ohreally_factor · · Score: 2, Funny

      It would be interesting to see this information compared to total articles posted by an editor to come up with a batting average.

      Then we could start a fantasy slashdot league, pitting teams of editors against each other. =)

      --
      It's not offtopic, dumbass. It's orthogonal.
  81. HP and Compaq already shipping.... by thracky · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I work at a large national electronics retailer and I can say that HP and Compaq are already shipping systems with Lightscribe enabled drives however we don't yet have the media to take advantage of that yet.

    The Compaq SR1350NX and I *believe* that HP A820N both have the Lightscribe enabled drives, but I know only of the Compaq for sure.

  82. Re:I can see this looking really dated, really fas by Dunbal · · Score: 1

    I'll point out before anybody else does that I didn't RTFA very carefully. Doh!

    That's ok. This is Slashdot. No one reads the articles anyway...

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  83. Re:Picture or data?: Thanks by .+visplek+. · · Score: 1

    Glad to hear that fase of tecnology is behind us now. Thanks for the info! :)

    --
    - Save a tree, eat more woodpeckers
  84. Sharpies are actually a really good deal!!! by ztirffritz · · Score: 1

    Check out this hi-tech experiment: http://www.cockeyed.com/inside/sharpie/sharpie1.ht ml

    --
    Why doesn't anything interesting happen when I have mod points?
    1. Re:Sharpies are actually a really good deal!!! by notthe9 · · Score: 1

      Props for linking to Rob.

  85. Lightscribe Compatible DVDS already out by knix · · Score: 2, Informative

    Looks like Verbatim and Imation already have their LightScribe DVDs out.

  86. Really a beta tester? by DogDude · · Score: 1

    I've got to ask, as a beta tester, didn't you sign a NDA? I beta test several software applications, but I can't talk about any kind of details about the applications until they hit the market officially.

    --
    I don't respond to AC's.
    1. Re:Really a beta tester? by wootest · · Score: 1

      Verbatim's press release of the system (linked in the description up top) isn't good enough for you? It's official alright.

    2. Re:Really a beta tester? by Drathus · · Score: 1

      Well, seeing as how the drives are available now in two HP PCs currently on the market, I'd say it's officially hit.

  87. old news by mr_burns · · Score: 1

    These kind of things have been on the market for a while already. My company had a buddy who has a burner/printer print our own design on a fat spindle of blank cd-r's and that's what we use for client deliverables. But the thing also burns.

    We did that about 8 months ago and they guy who did it bought the device used off of ebay.

    --
    "Let him go, Ralph. He knows what he's doing." --Otto Mann (simpsons)
  88. This tech has been available for a long time. by Afrosheen · · Score: 1

    Last time around it was called Disct@2 (disc tattoo) and was available from Yamaha. This has been around since mid 2002. The fact that it never went over well isn't much of a surprise, this is gimmicky tech that requires special media.

    Let me know when someone builds some tiny inkjet heads in a cdrom drive, and you can slap white stickers over the disc and let it do the work after it burns. All it has to do is some special image processing and it can print as the disc turns slowly either direction.

  89. Re:I can see this looking really dated, really fas by Atragon · · Score: 1

    That's ok. This is Slashdot. No one reads the articles anyway...

    Articles?

  90. Re:This does not provide what I need. by TooTechForYou · · Score: 1

    Yay Sienfield.

    --
    -- Nic
  91. Re:The story that wont die by JesusQuintana · · Score: 1

    Not only was this story posted on Slashdot over a month ago, it is significantly older than that. Here is a PCWorld article (yes, PCWorld!) that is exactly 1 year old today that talks about this technology attributing it to HP and even calling LightScribe. A little bit ironic? Don't you think.

    Slashdot. One year old news. Stuff that used to matter.

    --
    You said it man. Nobody f#%ks with the Jesus.
  92. What I wanna see is... by ScottBob · · Score: 1

    A software that will let you write images on a Lightscribe CD in an ordinary (one-sided) burner merely by flipping the disk over and inserting it. Or at least burn text into the unused portion (along the outer rim perhaps) of an ordinary CD-R or DVD±R.

  93. For OS X one of the Epsons is the way to go by gozar · · Score: 1
    Combine OS X, Printshop, and an Epson 960 and anyone can create good looking labels. Printshop even integrates with iTunes, so you can burn an audio disc from iTunes, flip over to Printshop, and print the CD label from the playlist that created the CD, so you have all the artist and song information.

    Very cool stuff. And Epson has quite a few printers now that will print on printable CDRs and DVDRs.

    --
    What, me worry?
  94. Re:DUPE by blaksaga · · Score: 1

    "Say, would you like a chocolate covered pretzel?"

  95. opps ... by scharkalvin · · Score: 1

    Once you have burnt your music or video onto the blank disc in the usual way, you create your label design on your computer using a graphics program supplied by LightScribe. Then you flip the disc over, and the recording laser burns the image onto the blank label side as the disc rotates.
    And if you forget to flip the disk over before you try and burn the label on it you probably destroy the data you just burned! I hope the firmware checks to make sure you DID flip the disc over first!

  96. Sharpie by Preferred+Customer · · Score: 3, Funny

    So I'm thinkin' of makin' a font called "Sharpie" for those who want to do things the long way round.

  97. Canon i865 Been Printing to CDs for Some Time by schwit1 · · Score: 1, Informative

    Canon i865 printer review

  98. Flawed from the get go by nightsweat · · Score: 1

    If you're relying on writeable CD's to last a long time you've already got problems.

    Recopy them every three or so years at a slow speed if you really want to keep the data,

    --

    the major advances in civilization are processes which all but wreck the societies in which they occur - A.N. White
  99. Why do I have to filp it over? by Zarf · · Score: 1

    Why don't they make a model with a scribe laser on the top so I don't have to flip my disk over?

    --
    [signature]
  100. O M G by gotr00t · · Score: 1
    How many dupes of this old story can there possibly be? I mean, the system is not really _that_ amazing, for one, and the fact that it has been reported over and over again makes it even less amazing.

    Please, people, move along... there really is nothing to see here.

  101. Wrong by C.Maggard · · Score: 1

    This isn't going to hit next month, it's already out; I've already seen HPs with it on the retail shelves, and I've already tested it out.

  102. Moustaches all around! by MorboNixon · · Score: 1

    Man, the Sharpie people are gonna be pissed!

  103. Yamaha did this better and cheaper in 2002 by spworley · · Score: 1

    Yamaha's CD writers burned a readable pattern into stock CDRs years ago. It was pretty readable! And the fact you didn't need special media made it practical.
    This was in 2002, so I can't get excited about a 2005 burner that requires special and more expensive media.
    You can read one review at Tom's Hardware archive.
    http://www6.tomshardware.com/storage/20020927/yama ha-02.html

  104. Your wish is my command by ThreeDayMonk · · Score: 1
    Editor _____ Dup. Tri. Arts._ Avg. ___ Score
    timothy ____ 62 _ 12 _ 4160 _ 0.0236 _ 98
    michael ____ 53 _ 14 __ 973 _ 0.0976 _ 95
    CmdrTaco ___ 34 _ 11 _ 1140 _ 0.0588 _ 67
    Hemos ______ 12 _ 12 __ 797 _ 0.0602 _ 48
    CowboyNeal _ 12 __ 1 __ 433 _ 0.0346 _ 15
    Zonk ________ 9 __ 1 __ 270 _ 0.0444 _ 12
    samzenpus ___ 7 __ 0 __ 159 _ 0.0440 __ 7
    Cliff _______ 2 __ 1 __ 422 _ 0.0118 __ 5
    pudge _______ 2 __ 0 ___ 50 _ 0.0400 __ 2
    I've arbitrarily given one point for a dupe, and three points for a "tripe". I used a slightly more sophisticated Google query this time in order to remove some of the duplicates in their results!

    As you can see, timothy is the king of dupe posts in terms of raw output. However, michael has the highest dupe average, managing to post nearly as many dupes as timothy despite posting less that 1/4 the number of articles. In fact, nearly one in ten of michael's posts are dupes.

    None of the editors has anything to be proud of, with the exception of Cliff, who appears to be the only editor actually to read Slashdot!

    PS - I apologise for the underscores I had to use to combat Slashcode.
    --
    If your comment title says 'Re: Foo', I'm not likely to read it.
  105. Re:That's a good idea...except for one thing: by Guncrazy · · Score: 1

    No CD has a hole large enough.

  106. Copying labels? by cra · · Score: 1

    So, how long before there is software that "scans" the picture side of my CDs? Then the kids can have "real" copys of their CDs to wear out, insted of just the ones that have handwriting on them. The ones that don't read yet recognize them better by the picture on them.

    --
    This message has been ROT-13 encrypted twice for higher security.
  107. Lame... here's why by tbase · · Score: 1

    If I want the hassle of taking it out and flipping it over to "lightscribe" the other side, I might as well take it out and put it in my $89 Epson R200 at home and print it in inkjet. Overall costs are probably the same (guessing - inkjet printable will probably be cheaper, offsetting the no-ink costs of the lightscribe system), and I can't imagine lasers would do a better job with photo-based labels than an inkjet.

    And if I don't want the hassle, I'll put it in my $1,500 (with accessories) Pimera Bravo CD Publisher, which will burn and print 50 CD's at a pop, unattended.

    Now IMHO the earlier Sony (I think it was Sony- TA2 or TAT2 or something?) system that inscribed text on the outer edge of the data side with a laser was much cooler if you want to go this route... you lost some capacity, but there was no disc flipping, and you used standard media.

    So even before you get into the big (size, capacity and dollar) machines for CD Duplication, you already have 3 relatively inexpensive options for labeling. I don't see this gaining much market share.

    --

    666-607: 6th floor apartment of the beast
  108. Missing the point as usual, I am. by John+Pfeiffer · · Score: 1

    ...though the failing may not be in ME.

    So basically, you're burning a monochrome image into the face of the CD with a laser? (btw, there was a /. story about the predecessor to this technology on here a year or two back)

    As someone else pointed out, you can get an Epson Rx00 printer that'll print on a CD/DVD in full color. The R200 is like $100, $70 refurb'd. The DVD media I buy, Ritek G05 8x DVD-R discs, already have printable matte silver faces. (Not bad for $0.40 a disc, and falling weekly...$0.33 each for 4x media)

    As totally novel an idea as this is... No...not so much. Though, I'll admit that if you're just burning a name and catalog number onto the disc (Or even a barcode or something), it'd be awesome. But if you're just putting that kind of info on the disc (with the exception of the barcode) you can get along just as easily with a sharpie. I don't know off the top of my head what a sharpie costs...but you get the idea. ;)

    Anyway, that's just my 2 yen.

    --

    Friend: "The NIC is misconfigured..." Me: "No prob, I'll just telnet in and fix it." *Silence*
  109. Alternative by mmalcolm · · Score: 1

    Check this out as an alternative noone has mentioned.

  110. So when do we get ... by Rares+Marian · · Score: 1

    Linux drivers?

    --
    The message on the other side of this sig is false.