Recommend a DVD Burner?
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I'm thinking about finally getting a DVD burner. I've decided that it'll primarily be used for burning copies of software (for backup of course) and for backing-up data from my hard drive. However, I'd also use it now and again to burn copies of movies. As such, I've read that DVD- is better for data due to it's faster burn rate but DVD+ is better for movies and is less prone to error since the burn is deeper, though the error rate with DVD- is small. Also, there is the whole compatibility issue. Should I just fork out the USD $300+ for a Sony that burns both formats, or do I really just need a burner that does either DVD- or DVD+ but not both and fork out something in the USD $175 range? Will the bundled software be OK, or do you recommend a specific software package? OS is XP, btw. Any pointers would be welcome!
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I'm thinking about finally getting a DVD burner. I've decided that it'll primarily be used for burning copies of software (for backup of course) and for backing-up data from my hard drive. However, I'd also use it now and again to burn copies of movies. As such, I've read that DVD- is better for data due to it's faster burn rate but DVD+ is better for movies and is less prone to error since the burn is deeper, though the error rate with DVD- is small. Also, there is the whole compatibility issue. Should I just fork out the USD $300+ for a Sony that burns both formats, or do I really just need a burner that does either DVD- or DVD+ but not both and fork out something in the USD $175 range? Will the bundled software be OK, or do you recommend a specific software package? OS is XP, btw. Any pointers would be welcome!
Andrew McCarter wrote: As such, I've read that DVD- is better for data due to it's faster burn rate That's not true. You can burn DVD-R with 2.5 speed, and DVD+R with 4 speed. I have a HP 200e (external USB2) which only burns DVD+. At my tv I have a Philips DVD Player which plays DVD+ so that's good for me :) There was plenty of software bundled with the writer, only missing Nero, which I already had... - Anders Money talks, but all mine ever says is "Goodbye!"
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I'm thinking about finally getting a DVD burner. I've decided that it'll primarily be used for burning copies of software (for backup of course) and for backing-up data from my hard drive. However, I'd also use it now and again to burn copies of movies. As such, I've read that DVD- is better for data due to it's faster burn rate but DVD+ is better for movies and is less prone to error since the burn is deeper, though the error rate with DVD- is small. Also, there is the whole compatibility issue. Should I just fork out the USD $300+ for a Sony that burns both formats, or do I really just need a burner that does either DVD- or DVD+ but not both and fork out something in the USD $175 range? Will the bundled software be OK, or do you recommend a specific software package? OS is XP, btw. Any pointers would be welcome!
DVD+R seems to be gaining, saw some DVD+RW discs in the supermakret here last week. Elaine :rose: The tigress is here :-D
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I'm thinking about finally getting a DVD burner. I've decided that it'll primarily be used for burning copies of software (for backup of course) and for backing-up data from my hard drive. However, I'd also use it now and again to burn copies of movies. As such, I've read that DVD- is better for data due to it's faster burn rate but DVD+ is better for movies and is less prone to error since the burn is deeper, though the error rate with DVD- is small. Also, there is the whole compatibility issue. Should I just fork out the USD $300+ for a Sony that burns both formats, or do I really just need a burner that does either DVD- or DVD+ but not both and fork out something in the USD $175 range? Will the bundled software be OK, or do you recommend a specific software package? OS is XP, btw. Any pointers would be welcome!
Andrew McCarter wrote: Should I just fork out the USD $300+ for a Sony that burns both formats That would be your best bet, ensuring that DVDs you burn will work with all players that support burned DVDs. Should you get a new player in the future or if you want to burn something for a friend you know it will work. The downside is that no-one around here has been able to keep them instock so if you live outside of a large city you could be waiting a while. http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdplayers.php[^] has a searchable list of DVD players so you can find out what formats they support as tested by other people. James "It is self repeating, of unknown pattern" Data - Star Trek: The Next Generation
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Andrew McCarter wrote: Should I just fork out the USD $300+ for a Sony that burns both formats That would be your best bet, ensuring that DVDs you burn will work with all players that support burned DVDs. Should you get a new player in the future or if you want to burn something for a friend you know it will work. The downside is that no-one around here has been able to keep them instock so if you live outside of a large city you could be waiting a while. http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdplayers.php[^] has a searchable list of DVD players so you can find out what formats they support as tested by other people. James "It is self repeating, of unknown pattern" Data - Star Trek: The Next Generation
That's great - thanks!
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I'm thinking about finally getting a DVD burner. I've decided that it'll primarily be used for burning copies of software (for backup of course) and for backing-up data from my hard drive. However, I'd also use it now and again to burn copies of movies. As such, I've read that DVD- is better for data due to it's faster burn rate but DVD+ is better for movies and is less prone to error since the burn is deeper, though the error rate with DVD- is small. Also, there is the whole compatibility issue. Should I just fork out the USD $300+ for a Sony that burns both formats, or do I really just need a burner that does either DVD- or DVD+ but not both and fork out something in the USD $175 range? Will the bundled software be OK, or do you recommend a specific software package? OS is XP, btw. Any pointers would be welcome!
I use an HP200i (DVD+R/DVD+RW/CD-R/CD-RW). Works great, but I found the bundled software limited. Ok for a starting point, but I do a lot of movie editing, so I use Pinnacle Studio 8. Plus, I use it a lot for backing up my gigs of files when XP needs its frequent reinstalls. Something not stated enough on the burners, but showing up on blank DVDs now, is the size limit of 120 minutes video. Most new releases have > 120 minutes on them, so forget copying them (completely;)). Besides, blank DVDs (here) cost about $10, burners average $500, DVD labels cost...etc, while movies average $15-20. Not cost effective unless you plan to copy a LOT of movies for $$.