DVD recorder -- which format?

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Blaustein
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J

John Blaustein

I want to add a DVD burner to my XP Home system. I will use the DVD burner
to archive large Photoshop data files. I'm aware that there are a number of
formats for DVD and I'd appreciate any advice on which is the best to use
for simple backup purposes. I will not be making movies, music DVDs or
anything else like that... just backing up files.

Thank you.

John
 
John said:
I want to add a DVD burner to my XP Home system. I will use the DVD
burner to archive large Photoshop data files. I'm aware that there
are a number of formats for DVD and I'd appreciate any advice on
which is the best to use for simple backup purposes. I will not be
making movies, music DVDs or anything else like that... just backing
up files.
Click to expand...

For backup and archive purposes virtually any 8x or 4x DVD±R/RW will be
fine. Lite-On, LG, Sony, Pioneer, NEC and Plextor all make quality units.
Note: the fastest writing speed, 8x, can only be achieved by using +R media
on some new models.
 
S,

Thanks! Is either +R or -R likely to be compatible with more systems if it
turned out I wanted to share data on a DVD with other people? In other
words, is there a compelling reason to use one or the other?

John
 
Yes, compatibility is an issue with many stand-alone dvd players, but if you
are using only a PC for viewing and burning, buy an LG 8041b for about
$110.00 an it will BURN just about anything, including DVD_RAM discs...Most
people might tell you that DVD-RAM discs are not important, but if you have
a PLAYER that can read them (on your home stereo system) they can be
re-written gazillons of times, just like a RW disc. Of course, on your PC
they will read just fine with the LG DVD burner. Caution on the price of
RAM discs, they are expensive. If you don't care to use a DVD as a sort of
huge floppy drive, (adding/deleting etc) then the RAM discs isn't important
to you, and DVD-R are the discs to buy...you can write to them once.
DVD-R discs are more common for compatibility purposes with stand-alone
players also.. The LG burners will read ALL formats and burn all formats,
one of the few at the moment that will. I have found them to be superb
drives (including their CD burners) and the price is always highly
competitive. They are not as 'trendy' as LiteOn drives, for example, but as
good as you can buy at any price. .Trust me; i only buy LG drives, have
owned several over time.
 
John said:
S,

Thanks! Is either +R or -R likely to be compatible with more systems
if it turned out I wanted to share data on a DVD with other people?
In other words, is there a compelling reason to use one or the other?
Click to expand...

Both DVD-R and DVD+R are 85-90% compatible over a wide variety of DVD
readers and stand alone players. Hint: buy a small quantity of media to test
it on the burner. Chances are good any good quality media will work well.
Better not to get stuck with 50 pieces which are incompatible with your DVD
burner. Fuji 4x DVD-R marked "Made in Japan" is made by a company called
Taiyo Yuden. They are known for superior quality media. I've tested them on
the Pioneer 106, 107, the Plextor 708A, and the Lite-On 811S.
 
Peter,

More good advice.... thank you!

In reality, I'll use DVD only to archive/backup files. I won't need RW
capability, and in fact probably will only use the disks I burn on my own PC
(if I need to re-use old files), not on a stand-alone player. I may use a
DVD disk to send files to my clients if the file size exceeds 1-2 CDs
(assuming they have a DVD player in their PC or Mac). It sounds like -R is
the format I should be using.

By the way, if I burn a DVD on my PC, will it be readable on a Mac DVD
drive?

John
 
S.,

OK, I'll look for the Fuji disks. Are the slower speed disks any more
likely to avoid burn errors than the faster ones?

Given that you say both +R and -R are equally compatible, is there any
reason to use one instead of the other?

John
 
I have been using this site to learn more (i too just had a ot of questions;
still do) but this site might be a help to you. .... dvdrhelp.com
 
John said:
S.,

OK, I'll look for the Fuji disks. Are the slower speed disks any more
likely to avoid burn errors than the faster ones?
Click to expand...

In the case of CD-R media, burning at too slow a speed with ultra speed
(40x+) media actually increases C1 errors by as much as a factor of 4.
Evidence suggests DVD media is much the same. IOW, burn media at its rated
speed.
Given that you say both +R and -R are equally compatible, is there any
reason to use one instead of the other?
Click to expand...

Not long ago DVD+R/RW was a fair bit more expensive. People started using
more DVD-R because of this. Best bet would be to buy a few of each and see.
Chances are good both will work equally well in a new burner.
 
S,

Again, thanks for your help.

John

S.Heenan said:
In the case of CD-R media, burning at too slow a speed with ultra speed
(40x+) media actually increases C1 errors by as much as a factor of 4.
Evidence suggests DVD media is much the same. IOW, burn media at its rated
speed.

Not long ago DVD+R/RW was a fair bit more expensive. People started using
more DVD-R because of this. Best bet would be to buy a few of each and see.
Chances are good both will work equally well in a new burner.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, Peter!

John

Peter said:
I have been using this site to learn more (i too just had a ot of questions;
still do) but this site might be a help to you. .... dvdrhelp.com
Click to expand...
 
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