lightScribe - Tech Opinion

Recently a friend called and asked me what I thought of lightScribe technology--the technology that allows LightScribe enabled CDRW/DVD drives to optically burn labels into CD and DVD discs.

The call reminded me why I started KJR-- because of questions from others about technology. So, here goes...

According to Wikipedia (see link above), lightScribe (official link) was invented by HP (well, an HP engineer) and has been licensed to numerous hardware manufacturers. I've only seen the LightScribe logo on HP equipment, but to confess, haven't really looked lately.

To use lightScribe, you must have a lightScribe enabled CDRW (or writable DVD drive) and LightScribe-able media. Once you burn your favorite playlist (or whatever) onto a disc, you then turn the disc over (I'd imagine) and use a simple graphics program to design and burn a label on the disc.

First generation lightScribe drives were only monochromatic. Second (current) generation are color-capable, but only the background color can be changed. HP has said that future generations of lightScribe will be fully color-capable.

This is pretty cool technology. However, I don't really see the practical consumer use for it. Yeah, it produces cool labels for your ripped music or movie discs, but is the extra cost of the player, discs, and time to burn the label really that much better than a scrawled, handwritten, Sharpie label? 

For me, the answer at least now, is no.