[webraider]

I just noticed that I can replace one of my internal Optical super drives with a Light Scribe enabled one from OWC. This model is fairly inexpensive. I'm just curious if Lightscribe is actually worth it? I may be doing some freelance work up and coming and was thinking about just going the label route but is Light Scribe worth it? Thanks

[olePigeon]

It's a neat idea, anyway. You get a silkscreen style B&W permanent label on your CDs. It also doesn't cost anything extra; with labels you'd have to factor in the cost of the label itself plus the ink for your printer (which isn't cheap.)

The drawback, of course, is that there's a much larger upfront cost. It's also only B&W, while with a label you can print color.

However, the problem I've always run into with those self labeling kits is that the label comes off, especially if the disk is left in a moderately warm environment. I'm always paranoid they'll tear off in my CD-ROM drive and break something.

[Big Mac]

Is there any Mac software that supports it?

[AKcrab]

Sure. LightScribe - Downloads - Mac

[Spheric Harlot]

Takes AGES, requires expensive media, is very limited in what it can do - in a word, it's a gimmick you'll use maybe three times and then ignore.

Get a printer that can print directly onto CDs - far more versatile in what you can actually do, takes a minute rather than 45, and the added cost for printable media isn't that high.

DO NOT use CD labelling kits with stick-on labels. They WILL eventually destroy your drive - first by ALWAYS being off-center and causing excess vibration, and second by eventually disintegrating.

[webraider]

Actually the media isn't that expensive. it's about the same price or equal to regular media.. I've checked. It's CHEAPER than printable (CD's or DVD's that you can print directly on) media that you're referring to. It May be a gimmick but These type of optical drives are shipping on every computer sold at Office Depot, And most of the default ones at BestBuy. I Agree about using a printer but that's not an option for me. Unfortunatly I do not have a room for another printer, the printers that do this are limited (there are not that many out there) and the ink jet that i use is what I need for my additional printing needs. I've looked at the designs and I actually AM impressed with what Lightscribe can do. That said, I will more than likely use the Title only feature most of the time to keep printing times down. They said you will eventually be able to do color with LightScribe.

[Spheric Harlot]

"Eventually" meaning just in time for the complete extinction of optical media.