Two months ago, three LightScribe drives came to our labs. One of them was the BenQ DW 1625 drive, the one we are reviewing here. Back then, we saw what LightScribe technology was, how it works and how each of the three LightScribe enabled drives performed. Here, we will not be reviewing the LightScribe potentials of the 1625 drive since that has already been done. For the Lightscribe comparison review, feel free to look here. Instead, we will take a brief look at the LightScribe technology, what it is and how it works. You can also find useful information about LightScribe here.

-What is LightScribe?

LightScribe technology is an integrated system that with the combination of three key elements, manages to produce "precise" as it is said, CD and DVD labels. These three elements are the Lightscribe enabled drive, the specially dye coated discs, and the specific supported software. Note that the use of specific coated media is required and cannot be done with any printable media.

Only specific media must be used...

-How it works?

In layman's terms, the LS enabled drive uses a laser that emits light energy onto the thin dye coated disc (on the label side of the media) chemically changing the dye coating and enabling visible points on the disc. As the disc spins inside the drive, the light beam marks even more points on the dye, following the pattern given to the drive's mechanism by the specific lightscribe software. This results in a precision image on the label side of the disc.