Unfortunately, it's only a trial version, so after three uses you'll have to upgrade to the full version ($39.99) for continued use. The same applies to muvee autoProducer 3.5, which lets you capture digital video from your camcorder and even add captions and music to your videos. The dvd640i comes with Sonic RecordNow 7.0, which handles the basics, such as burning and backing up data files, but you'll have to upgrade ($49.99) in order to rip your audio CDs to MP3s or create slide shows and movies. The rest of the software bundle wasn't as impressive. Our designs took around 24 to 25 minutes to etch, and although color is currently not supported, the monochrome images looked pretty good. (A recent search on found a Verbatim 30-pack for just $20.) The dvd640i includes SureThing CD Labeler 4 SE, a very good software application for creating designs for your LightScribe media. The caveat is that you'll need to purchase LightScribe compatible media, which is available in stores and rapidly becoming more affordable. The drive uses LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling to etch text and graphics on to special coated media, eliminating the need to purchase CD labels or black Sharpies. LightScribe is an attractive technology if you're tired of printing and peeling off CD labels. Though it didn't stand out performance-wise, the drive's features and pricing make it tough to ignore. It includes all the features we consider must-haves for any burner, such as DVD±R recording, dual-layer DVD+R recording, and HP's latest fad-LightScribe technology.
The HP dvd640i DVD writer ($99.99 direct) makes a decent internal primary optical drive for your desktop PC.