HP's LightScribe Price of Drives, Cost of Media

Last updated: 1/27/2005
Lots of people like the idea of LightScribe, HP's new inkless, paperless technique for labelling recordable discs. But, when they learn that LightScribe requires special drives and special media, the next question is obviously: "How much does a LightScribe drive cost? What's the price of the special discs?" That's what's going to determine how many people are going to buy into LightScribe.

I can now actually purchase a LightScribe product! Compusa is showing LightScribe CD-R media available, 10 discs for $8, or $.80 per disc. That's about a 100% markup from the cost of similar non-LightScribe media from the same store -- a far cry from the "pennies" in extra cost that HP promised. Of course, I guess it is only 40 pennies more per disc, so maybe HP thinks their promise was kept.

But what about a LightScribe DVD burner? Well, you can now place an order for a LaCie LightScribe-enabled DVD burner, but I doubt you will get it before February. The cost is about $180, which is not exorbitant for a dual-layer DVD burner (though it's real hard to tell from the order page whether this is an internal or external drive).

Old Text From This Page

Unfortunately, the answer right now is: Nobody knows! The FAQ at HP's official LightScribe website used to claim that the technology adds "only dollars" to the cost of a computer and "only pennies" to the cost of each disc. Of course, that doesn't really narrow it down much. If a LightScribe-compatible DVD+R disc costs only 2 pennies extra, that will not discourage most customers, but if each disc costs 80 pennies extra, that might be nearly a 100% price markup. Now the FAQ appears to not mention price, and products are supposed to be shipping, but I can't find any.

You can reportedly finally buy a LightScribe-enabled DVD burner -- but only by purchasing an HP Pavilion PC! Most people, of course, are more interested in just purchasing a LightScribe-enabled DVD burner, but I know of none for sale right now, and no firm pricing information.

What about LightScribe-enabled media? I heard a report that it was being sold at Fry's, but when I went to my local (Renton, WA) Fry's to investigate, I was told they have none. I see reports that media is available online, but when I go to purchase them, they all appear as "Out of Stock" or "On Order". I am skeptical that the average consumer will be able to walk into retail stores this month and walk out with the ability to burn LightScribe discs, one of the more recent promises HP has made for this product.

Stay tuned to see what the real prices turn out to be. If LightScribe finally ships this month, as promised, we will soon know what the LightScribe price penalty is for drives and media.

HP's LightScribe Price of Drives, Cost of Media

Old Text From This Page

See Also: