Best DVD burner standard?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I am not up to speed regarding what DVD burner standard is the one to get
for present (and hopefully future) needs.

Dell offers a DVD+RW/+R as a "free upgrade" with their Inspiron 8600 here in
Canada.

On the other hand:

Asus has avaible a DVD-RW/DVD+RW optical drive for the ASUS series of
notebooks (M6000N series)

Thanks for any insights,

-RS-

Subscribe: asus_bare_notebook-subscribe@yahoogroups.ca

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Hmmm.... can you (or someone) expand slightly on that? ;-) Do you mean to
say that *any* DVD burner *must* offer +R to be useful / anticipate future
needs ?

Can anyone suggest a site that would explain succinctly the differences
between the current DVD burner standards ... and what they are aimed at
doing? Like, for example, why I would want "+R" capability in my DVD burner
?

Thanks !

-RS-

"Dan Koren" <dankoren@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:40808929$1@news.meer.net...
> "RS" <jf_reneX@Xhotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:Gm%fc.37336$dg7.25811@edtnps84...
> >
> > I am not up to speed regarding what DVD burner
> > standard is the one to get for present (and
> > hopefully future) needs.
> >
>
> +R.
>
> dk
>
RS" <jf_reneX@Xhotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Gm%fc.37336$dg7.25811@edtnps84...> I am not up to speed regarding what
DVD burner standard is the one to get
> for present (and hopefully future) needs.
>
> Dell offers a DVD+RW/+R as a "free upgrade" with their Inspiron 8600 here
in
> Canada.
>
> On the other hand:
>
> Asus has avaible a DVD-RW/DVD+RW optical drive for the ASUS series of
> notebooks (M6000N series)
>
> Thanks for any insights,
>
> -RS-
>
> Subscribe: asus_bare_notebook-subscribe@yahoogroups.ca
>
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Regarding an explanation of DVD formats, I found this site linked in a
discussion on the "What Laptop" forum in UK:

http://www.dvdirect.com/TSS/charts/DVDFormats.htm


-RS-


"Gray Beard" <gray.beard@bald.head.org> wrote in message
newsqp28016st37i5f32ls461iv8c7ua4b99i@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 15:52:58 GMT, "RS" <jf_reneX@Xhotmail.com> wrote:
>
> :>Hmmm.... can you (or someone) expand slightly on that? ;-) Do you mean
to
> :>say that *any* DVD burner *must* offer +R to be useful / anticipate
future
> :>needs ?
> :>
> :>Can anyone suggest a site that would explain succinctly the differences
> :>between the current DVD burner standards ... and what they are aimed at
> :>doing? Like, for example, why I would want "+R" capability in my DVD
burner
> :>?
> :>
> :>Thanks !
> :>
> :>-RS-
>
> Check out the group alt.video.dvd.tech.
>
> You'll see advocates for both formats. It's almost like a "religious war"
> sometimes.
>
> In my notebook (Toshiba 5205-S703) I've got a "-" burner. In one of my
full
> size computers I've got a "-/+" burner. In my computer at work I have a
> "-/+" burner. So far I've only used "-" blanks due to the notebook and
have
> yet to find anything that won't read them. In fact I've got a 4-5 year
old
> Toshiba standalone DVD player that reads DVD-R just fine but won't read
CD-R
> audio discs. Figure that one out. :-)
>
> The best bet is to go for a dual format drive if possible. Then you can
> burn either format as needed by whatever DVD drives they will be used in.
>
> Gray

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Thanks,

BTW, what is a "dual format" DVD burner?

What formats does it have?

-Ron-


"HillBillyBuddhist" <hillbillybuddhistshoes@columbus.rr.com> wrote in
message news:c5u2kq$5jupg$1@ID-202030.news.uni-berlin.de...
> "RS" <jf_reneX@Xhotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:Gm%fc.37336$dg7.25811@edtnps84...
> > I am not up to speed regarding what DVD burner standard is the one to
get
> > for present (and hopefully future) needs.
> >
> > Dell offers a DVD+RW/+R as a "free upgrade" with their Inspiron 8600
here
> in
> > Canada.
> >
> > On the other hand:
> >
> > Asus has avaible a DVD-RW/DVD+RW optical drive for the ASUS series of
> > notebooks (M6000N series)
> >
> > Thanks for any insights,
> >
> > -RS-
> >
> > Subscribe: asus_bare_notebook-subscribe@yahoogroups.ca
>
> This question has spawned threads in the video/dvd Newsgroups hundreds of
> posts long frequently ending with disparaging comments directed at
maternal
> family members and threats of bodily harm. Folks seem to get very attached
> to "their" standard. <g>
>
> My experience FWIW with an older NEC1200a +R/RW burner (purchased through
> DELL) is the discs I burn play in everything I've put them in including my
> kids cheapo Symphonic "dual" DVD/VCR deck.
>
> I've no experience with -R.
>
> If I were buying today I'd seriously consider dual format. They weren't
> readily available when I bought my burner way back in the dark ages of DVD
> writing. (2 years ago
>
> --
> D
>
> I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
> I was just trying to help.
> Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions or
> advice herein.
> No warranty is expressed or implied.
> Your mileage may vary.
> See store for details.
>
> Remove shoes to E-mail.
>
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

How much of a disadvantage is it, if the notebook only comes with a "+R/RW"
burner ?

-RS-


"HillBillyBuddhist" <hillbillybuddhistshoes@columbus.rr.com> wrote in
message news:c61on1$5b09v$1@ID-202030.news.uni-berlin.de...
> "RS" <jf_reneX@Xhotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:ZhZgc.35283$mn3.29537@clgrps13...
> > Thanks,
> >
> > BTW, what is a "dual format" DVD burner?
> >
> > What formats does it have?
> >
> > -Ron-
>
> Both + and - R/RW
>
> --
> D
>
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I was hoping to get an answer to that very question. I have never burned any
DVD of any type ... so I'm not qualified to anticipate my needs.

-RS-


"Dan Koren" <dankoren@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:40876c52$1@news.meer.net...
>
>
> None.
>
> Why would you want to burn -R/RW
> anyway?
>
>
> dk
>
>
> "RS" <jf_reneX@Xhotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:9%jhc.38851$mn3.37268@clgrps13...
> >
> > How much of a disadvantage is it, if
> > the notebook only comes with a "+R/RW"
> > burner ?
> >
> > -RS-
> >
> >
> > "HillBillyBuddhist" <hillbillybuddhistshoes@columbus.rr.com> wrote in
> > message news:c61on1$5b09v$1@ID-202030.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > > "RS" <jf_reneX@Xhotmail.com> wrote in message
> > > news:ZhZgc.35283$mn3.29537@clgrps13...
> > > > Thanks,
> > > >
> > > > BTW, what is a "dual format" DVD burner?
> > > >
> > > > What formats does it have?
> > > >
> > > > -Ron-
> > >
> > > Both + and - R/RW
> > >
> > > --
> > > D
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

> -R/RW is an older standard that allows for
> less data to be stored on a DVD, so there
> is little incentive to use it. Its main
> virtue is that it is supposedly closer
> to DVD video and more likely to be
> playable on consumer DVD equipment.
>
> The reality is that many consumer DVD's
> will play +R/RW discs but this fact is
> not loudly advertised. I've burned
> many +R DVD's and they all play
> without problems on my 6 year old
> Pioneer LDV-909.

Huh? Both DVD-R and DVD+R store the same amount of data on a disc
(4.7GB rated, 4.3GB actual).

DVD-R was first introduced to the professional user over 10 years ago
by Pioneer Electronics, and remains the longest running, recordable DVD
format available for the pro-sumer/consumer market.

DVD+R was introduced years afterwards, and is primarly a 'marketing &
royalties' gimic by those involved (why else introduce
yet-another-format-that-has-no-advantages? ie. burn both formats, stick
it into any DVD player, and they do the =exact= same thing. no format
has any added features available after burning when played in any player.)

----

DVD-R has the greatest compatibility across the wide range of DVD
players when tested in DV.com and emedia magazine's prior DVD player in
their prior tests from the past year or two.

You can see whether your own DVD player accepts which formats at:
http://www.dvdrhelp.com/ -> DVD players

(after all, if you're player can only take DVD-R dics, let's say, no
point buying a DVD+R recorder unless you want to buy another player, right?)

Some players only take DVD-R, some take only DVD+R, some take both,
and some take none at all. You simply have to check to see what your
player takes (otherwise, buy a cheap Apex player for <$40 at Walmart.com
or a LiteOn DVD/DIVX/VCD/SVCD/etc player for ~$100-150 that'll play
everything).

----

No format has greater than about 90% compatibility across the entire
range of DVD players today, and most times, it's far less. That's
simply due to the fact that DVD players are not always designed to play
DVD-R or DVD+R discs, only DVD discs which have a higher surface
reflectance (ie. more light reflects off DVD discs, vs. DVD-/+R discs).

----

The single largest disadvantage of buying a single format recorder
today is simply that you have to always check that you're buying the
right discs. Dual format drives are better in that you can simply buy
whatever is out there, and you can use whatever discs play the best in
your DVD players.

----

For desktop PCs, I'd still recommend the Pioneer A05/A06 series today
for the lowest PI/PO error rates on written discs vs. most other drives.

see www.cdrinfo.com and http://homepage2.nifty.com/yss/subindex.htm
for the various burner reviews and corresponding charts.

Low PI/PO error rates = well written disc that will have the lowest
chance of problems in a player and lower data corruption. Higher PI/PO
error rates = more potential playback and data problems.

As for notebooks, very few drives have been rated, so you'll simply
have to go with what they sell and pick quality media (Maxell, Apple,
Ritek Generation 4 or higher, etc.).

Also, Pioneer burner burned discs tested the most compatible in both
DV.com and emedia magazine tests earlier.

---

Different DVD media quality can affect playability and recordability,
so if cheap stuff doesn't work well, try the brand-name, quality media
noted above.

---

Recording-wise, it won't matter which format you use -- you can
record, erase, format, etc. DVD recordable discs the same way either
format, and whatever video or data disc you create will perform exactly
the same no matter what. (that's a must since both formats must conform
to the DVD disc format that players accept)

---

Because most major movie companies have used the Pioneer DVD-R
professional recorders for years already (those $1k+ models), they'll
likely have DVD-R recorders in use. If you're doing work for them,
better check first, but you'll likely find DVD-R recorders and media in
use already. No point using DVD+R discs here with them if you're in
this field....

---

DVD+R has the advantage currently of having faster burners for that
format (on desktop drive models; laptops are limited to 4x either way).
12x DVD+R drive have been tested already, but keep in mind that
they're writing to 4x/8x media, not 12x media which isn't even available
yet. (ie. you're gambling as to whether the disc will write correctly
w/o error if you use a slower disc at faster speeds)

While this may be a nice marketing angle, and good for the casual
consumer, it may not be good for the professional looking for a reliable
burn that won't corrupt data. They just keep pushing faster drives out
before they've had a chance to really test and optimize drive & media
nowadays. (which is why all of the 8x burners have such high PI/PO
error in the charts vs. the 4x Pioneer A05/A06 series, for example, or
even the older 2x Pioneers)