Pros: I measured the performance of two of these discs with specialized Plextor software that measures two critical performance criteria (TE/FE) for DVDs. I was not too surprised that this stringent test revealed this particular batch of Verbatim discs to _far surpass any current discs_ that I have on hand (a huge and varied supply of blank DVDs) from other manufacturers. This includes the vaunted Japanese-made Taiyo Yuden, the long-time "gold standard" of 8x DVD-R performance. Taiyo Yuden _used to have_ the superlative performance that I am witnessing with these current Verbatim discs. They are made by Mitsubishi Chemical Company, _not_ Verbatim). Current Taiyo Yuden discs are just ordinary in this revealing test. Without even burning one disc (while aware that the FE/TE test is only one of many parameters), I can conclude that, for the moment at least, _this is the best quality 16X DVD+R available on the market!! This low "promo" price will quickly vanish--guaranteed.

Cons: None at all, barring expanded future tests with adverse results. It is impossible to be _too_ careful, considering what is happening in this churning market, along with the entry of new and exotic assembly locations. This batch of discs was assembled in the United Arab Emirate--of all places. You had best look behind you, Taiwan!!

Overall Review: Let me emphasize: there are many other tests that I have not made at this time. Yet I am confident of my conclusion based upon this particular test, along with Verbatim's past reputation WHEN ITS PRODUCT WAS MADE BY MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL COMPANY. Verbatim's reputation suffered terribly not too long ago when it quietly dropped Mitsubishi for an inferior (and of course cheaper) product. Hopefully they have learned a lesson from this disaster. We will should keep our fingers crossed and our eyes wide open for possible future Verbatim maneuvers, just in case they have not yet learned and enough time has passed for us to fall asleep and let down our guard..... Such is life in the business world amid the rapidly shrinking supply of DVDs and continuing industry hype to sell us (mostly unneeded) Blu-Ray that few of us "need" at the high current market prices. Perhaps the market will come around to economic reality in the future. But then again, perhaps it won't....... So retreat to DVD?

Pros: Very easy assembly. Electronics work as advertised, with Windows XP. Whisper quiet and the fan cools the enclosure very well. Stable support. Attractive case.

Cons: (1) 4 screws, meant to secure the tray to the casing, cannot be seated (screws do not go in), due to a misalignment between the screw holes on the tray and their receptacles on the casing. (2) The tiny 11-page User Manual (3 1/4" x 5 3/4") is an insulting disgrace! It is written in "Chinglish." No doubt with a Smile and a Chuckle when criticized for this, Rosewill shrugs this off with attitudinal indifference. Since "everyone does this," why depart from the pack? Rosewill, perhaps you should hire someone who can read and write in technically proper English to prepare the documentation, choose an attractive and _reasonable_ format, and learn how to use a word processor and picture processor effectively. Then, by all means, print the resulting manual in BLACK ink. The global economy should not be the excuse for this "trash" manual--if we should even call it a manual.

Overall Review: As a highly experienced electronic equipment designer, who attaches the highest importance to accurate description of a technological product, I believe that good product design, in toto, demands BOTH functional equipment and documention, suited to the particular market at hand. The best way to compete in the global market is to communicate well in the language of the user, which is a symbol of respect. Thumbing your nose at the customer by speaking in Chinglish (in an English-speaking market) is the most disrespectful (if not arrogant) approach that a Chinese manufacturer can take. An attractive price cannot substitute for the essential respect that is due the customer. And it does not hurt, of course, to design equipment which has screws that screw properly into place, as they are supposed to. So get your act together and do what is necessary to complete the job. One star deduction for non-seating screws. One star deduction for horrible User Manual.

Pros: This enclosure is a very-well-thought-out, excellent compromise between (what I can presently observe) performance and price. Assembly is virtually instantaneousable :-), with a secure, solid feel--so very rare (just like this word) in such an enclosure. The HD plugs directly into a solidly-attached connector, _without the use of any auxiliary cable(s)_. Screws which virtually eliminate vibration fit precisely into place, struggle-less. The removable vertical stand is secure in its fit and adjustable in position--a very-well-designed accessory. Most important, the very small aluminum case conducts away the heat without using a fan and its attendant potential problems. With a 640GB drive running continuously at idle, the hottest point on the case surface measures (using a laser, spot thermometer) just 100 degrees F. in an ambient temperature of 75 degrees with simple air convection from the surface. This is well below the danger point for premature, heat-induced failure.

Cons: My extensive engineering design experience with electronic hardware warns me that the cheap, small, power on-off snap (feels bad!) slide switch is a _failure waiting to happen_, even with moderate once-a-day use! Fortunately, I rarely have a need to operate this switch. Other users may not be so lucky. Rosewill should look into this potential problem right away, without waiting for the RMAs to come rolling in. Apart from this one serious problem as I see it, the tiny instruction pamphlet can use a large improvement, although a technically competent user can proceed quickly by intuition. The black-and-white photos in this tpamphlet are atrocious. Furthermore, The author does not speak English which befits the generally high quality of this product. The power adapter cable is mechanically flimsy, even though it is surely capable of conducting the small current without excessive heating. The led drive access light is too dim. Most such lights are too bright!

Overall Review: The price for this high degree of performance is incredibly low!! Congratulations, Rosewill, for a job well done. This company also has an excellent attitude and degree of concern for providing customer service. To me, this goes a long way toward converting me into a regular customer.

Pros: This HD enclosure is a very-well-thought-out, excellent compromise between (what I can presently observe) performance and price. Assembly is virtually instantaneous :-), very easy, with a secure, solid feel; a combination so very rare in such an enclosure. The HD plugs directly into a firmly-attached connector, _without the use of any auxiliary cable(s)_. Screws which virtually eliminate vibration fit precisely into place, without a struggle. The removable vertical stand is solid, secure in fit, and adjustable in position: a well-designed accessory. Most important, the very small aluminum case conducts away the heat without using a fan and its attendant potential problems. With a 640GB drive running continuously at idle, the hottest point on the case surface measures (using a laser, spot thermometer) just 100 degrees F. in an ambient temperature of 75 degrees with simple air convection from the surface. This is well below the danger point for premature, heat-induced failure.

Cons: My extensive engineering design experience with electronic hardware warns me that the cheap, small, power on-off snap (feels bad!) slide switch is a _failure waiting to happen_, even with moderate once-a-day use! Fortunately, I rarely have a need to operate this switch. Other users may not be so lucky. Rosewill should look into this potential problem right away, without waiting for the RMAs to come rolling in. Apart from this one serious problem as I see it, the tiny instruction pamphlet can use a large improvement, although a technically competent user can proceed quickly by intuition. The black-and-white photos in this tpamphlet are atrocious. Furthermore, The author does not speak English which befits the generally high quality of this product. The power adapter cable is mechanically flimsy, even though it is surely capable of conducting the small current without excessive heating. The led drive access light is too dim. Most such lights are too bright!

Overall Review: The price for this high degree of performance is incredibly low!! Congratulations, Rosewill, for a job well done. This company also has an excellent attitude and degree of concern for providing customer service. To me, this goes a long way toward converting me into a regular customer.

Pros: Excellent Quality Control, as evidence by sophisticated technical tests which I have run on a number of discs in this batch, using Plextor advanced media-testing software. In the earlier Ritek discs a few years ago, quality control was a big problem. The worst discs were terrible, while the best were excellent. In the later RitekG05 discs (DVD-R 8x), the number of terrible discs was greatly reduced. In the present technology, RitekF1, I have yet to see what I consider a "poor" disc (by advanced test, as opposed to practical burns). On the contrary, this batch so far is of consistently excellent quality, and I am sure that many future burns will bear this out (no coasters). So far, so good....... However, as to be expected at this price, the quality of these discs does NOT match that of the best discs now on the market--but this is getting a lot closer. Practically speaking (i.e., coaster-wise), Ritek's compromise between price and quality is an excellent one. Finally!

Cons: I have very reluctantly taken away one star from my rating to denote my strong dissatisfaction with the HIGHLY CLUTTERED design on the top surface of the disc. This design consists of RIDATA logos, etc., etc., which are very irritating to one who wishes to write information on this top surface with a felt point pen. Those who wish to do so will prefer a plain writing surface (with only minimal hype and/or logos) with at least a few lines to make it easy to space the lines of writing and line up the writing neatly. I have tried to explain this problem more than once to Ritek USA "support" representatives over the telephone ((they have very good phone service: Advanced Media in Diamond Bar, California)). Unfortunately, they are unable to grasp the concept that some users may be concerned about the design on the top surface of the disk. Ritek apparently leaves it up to the individual designer, who has his/her own agenda! "Beauty" and usability always seem to be at odds.......

Overall Review: If one can overlook the lack of intelligence and necessary concern with the top-surface appearance of the disc, then the current RitekF1 (used by countless brands, none of which tells you that Ritek makes the "branded" disc that you are buying) is an excellent choice for general purpose use by those who want a 16x, DVD-R disc. This assumes, of course, that the media player is designed to accept a 16x disc (as opposed to an 8x disc). Ritek has long made an 8x, DVD-R for use in media players that will not accept a 16x speed. Although the artistic design of the top surface may change (almost instantaneously in the design department) with no apparent good reason, the 8x and 16x versions of DVD-R (or so I have been told by those friendly folks at Ritek USA) differ _ONLY_ in their ability to be played on the variety of media players which refuse to disappear from the active scene. So go figure :-)

Pros: This is an excellent choice for a general-purpose DVD, from a _manufacturer_ of this media. There are very few such manufacturers in business today. For example, Sony does _not_ manufacture DVDs which it sells under the Sony brand name. In the past, at least, Ritek has (unbeknown to almost everyone) supplied Sony with its DVD-RW 2x blank discs. Currently, at least, Ritek appears to have finally got its act together (although I am keeping my fingers crossed!) insofar as quality control is concerned. I have burned a large number of discs from this company, either under its own name or those which it has furnished under some brand name or other, with very, very, very few "coasters." But then, _I_ know what I am doing and how to do it.

Cons: Ritek is currently undertaking a massive overhaul of its extensive product line. DVD package sizes are changing, and some are, without any warning or explanation, disappearing from sight. One may buy one size, one day, at a very good price (How can they sell these so cheaply), only to come back the next day to buy some more and find out that this particular product is no longer available. After the shakedown (no estimate how long this may take, of course with no acknowledgement from Ritek), it may well happen that Ritek will abandon many direct sales to consumers, in order to avoid competing with its sales to brand-name distributors, such as Sony, Office Depot, etc., etc. So hurry on over to Newegg (special deals, shell-shockers, etc.) to stock up before the party is over :-). One final note of caution: for unexplained reasons, some Ritek DVDs have lines on the front side which aid immensely when writing on the discs with felt markers. No comment when I asked them!

Overall Review: Here is a BIGGIE! I was absolutely "shell-shocked" to find that the two 100-packs of Ritek discs in this current order were _double-boxed_. The FIRST TIME EVER!! Hopefully, those folks in Newegg's shipping department will (in 5 years?) learn how to STUFF (repeat: STUFF) the fill space with foam beads, as opposed to just LOOSELY throwing in a few of these beads. Apparently no one has taught these people that "fill" space really means FILL! Really. I guess that progress comes in small steps, heretofore at less than snail's pace :-). I had all but given up buying internal hard drives from Newegg, for fear that the failure to properly package them against shipping damage would result in an RMA and all of the attendant hassle and cost.