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Community Newsletter: Q&A: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats
- 1/19/06 4:38 PM
DVD-RAM is like Betamax of the old days
by kschang - 1/20/06 1:19 PM In reply to: DVD RAM Misconceptions & What Drives Support Which Formats by deirdrewDVD-RAM is like Betax of the old days. It may be technically superior, but few people use them.
Go into any retail store. Do you see any one carrying any DVD-RAM computer drives? The only one that would fit the bill was a Mad Dog drive here:
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=333658&pfp=cat3
And it's not even advertised as a DVD-RAM compatible drive! Search in CompUSA's website, for DVD-RAM. You'll only find media, no drives. And do you see any DVD-RAM media in local stores? Doubt it. Same with BestBuy. They don't even have the Mad Dog Triple drive.
Yes, DVD-RAM is a technically superior product, but it's LARGELY IGNORED by the public.
Woefully mis-informed
by deirdrew - 1/20/06 1:40 PM In reply to: DVD-RAM is like Betamax of the old days by kschangWalmart sells DVD RAM media, both in singles and in multi-packs. Quite a few DVR recorders and/or DVD recorders support reading and writing to RAM discs (they usually give a choice of writing to either DVR-R or RAM discs).
Many newer DVD drives support reading and/or writing to RAM disks.
Quick List:
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters.php?DVDname=&cdrs=&cdrws=&dvdrs=&dvdrws=&dvdrsdl=&dvdprs=&dvdprws=&dvdprsdl=&writedvdram=1&dvdrams=&buffer=Any&cdrom=&dvdrom=&orderby=Name&hits=25&Su bmit=Search&Search=Search&country=
People who are more knowledgeable about the formats will choose and RAM discs - period.
Still doesn't change the fact that DVD-RAM is a RARE format
by kschang - 1/21/06 9:03 PM In reply to: Woefully mis-informed by deirdrewNo one is doubting its technical superiority
But it's simply NOT being used by the public, and as a result, not wanted either.
Walmart carries just about anything, so being available there doesn't mean much. And there are only how many Walmarts in the world? And are you sure that EVERY branch carries DVD-RAM media?
You tried to show that there are supposedly 90+ drives available that is DVD-RAM compatible. However, most of those are just rebadged versions. And a search of the same datbase shows that there are 700+ drives that are DVD-R compatible, and we're not even talking about sales numbers.
DVD-RAM is a DATA-ONLY format and is quite useful in that regard. However, most people who buy DVD burners want to do VIDEO ALONG WITH DATA. DVD-RAM can store video... in VR format that's not compatible with common standalone DVD players. Add that to the cost of DVD-RAM media (yes, it can be reused bazillion times, but that's besides the point) and you have all the makings of a niche market.
Huh? Where were you?
by JohnWiddifield - 1/23/06 6:40 AM In reply to: Still doesn't change the fact that DVD-RAM is a RARE format by kschangPanasonic set top recorders use Dvd Ram. I buy the discs for my two Lg Multi drives from a stereo shop that sells Panasonic equipment, discs are branded Panasonic and work perfectly.
I'm sure Panasonic would like to be told they are wrong and out of date , maybe you should!
I trust them not only for my data but for critical customer backups too. Far more stable than a Maxtor hard drive.:)
Stubborn or what??
by deirdrew - 1/23/06 11:02 AM In reply to: Huh? Where were you? by JohnWiddifieldObviously the poster was totally unaware that there is quite a viable, higher-end market for DVD RAM, and not just for data (doh). Guess he is simply unable to admit his ignorance on the subject ... can't enlighten this type 
I, too, own a standalone Panasonic DVR recorder/player for recording off with TV (to both DVD-R and DVD RAM). I also own a cool second Toshiba DVR/Recorder/Player (just came out this September) that also has a hard drive, and that also records to both DVD -R and DVD RAM for my HDTV set. (Up-coverts video to 1080i - whoo, whoo)
Reminds me the legacy Magneto-optics...
by mehap - 1/21/06 1:30 AM In reply to: DVD-RAM is like Betamax of the old days by kschangAll these references to DVD RAM media reminded me the formattable - rewritable, double-sided magneto-optic disc cartridges (2x305MB)used in my networkable Pinnacle Micro Juke-Box in mid '80s. The juke-box (housing 10 cartridges)has retired due to worn out mechanical parts, but the disk media in cartridges (3600/5400 rpm) are still functioning perfectly through the single external drive attached to my beloved Macintosh FX!
internal memory read error ...
by mehap - 1/21/06 6:15 AM In reply to: Reminds me the legacy Magneto-optics... by mehapmid '80s should have been mid '90s ofcourse. Sort of memory read error, I suppose...
NOT SO
by greener1 - 1/21/06 6:44 AM In reply to: DVD-RAM is like Betamax of the old days by kschangif you notice that all of the current toshiba notebook computers are including the DVD-RAM format in their drives, that being the reason i purchased my latest laptop a toshiba with that drive included, toshiba is the largest notebook seller in the country today, and they must realize how good that DVD-RAM is, and all the major electronic chains carry toshiba notebooks
DVD RAM
by Superknown - 1/20/06 10:28 PM In reply to: DVD RAM Misconceptions & What Drives Support Which Formats by deirdrewI want to express my total thanks for taking your time and reminding me about my DVD RAM. I have an awesome home recorder with RAM and an older Computer (ready to take another plunge for the latest) that just has RW/R +and-. In my latest searches for comuters i totaly forgot about the absolute benefits of the DVD RAM
Tone
DVD RAM discs
by writergirl - 1/20/06 9:21 AM In reply to: Honorable mentions by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Just to clarify a bit. Commonly DVD RAM discs are used in DVD recorders hooked to TVs. They come in cartridges that are double sided, or in single sided form, with Panasonic seeming to be the only widely available brand. For me they've replaced video tapes because a person can record from 1-6 hours -- high quality to extra long play -- and then erase and record again thousands of times with no noticeable degradation found with video tapes. I record at LP which gives me 4 hours of playback, which is far superior to any video tape playback. A DVD RAM disc can only be played on the recorder it was recorded on until it's finalized, and then it can be played on any player.
They are also sold NOT in cartridges
by deirdrew - 1/20/06 9:48 AM In reply to: DVD RAM discs by writergirlin fact, it is easier to find the them SANS the cartridge - even my local Walmart sells them, so no need to buy the cartridge type and then have to remove the disc if your device simply takes straight RAM discs.
I believe devices (players/recorders) that use non-cartridge RAM media actually outsell cartridge devices now-a-days.
Not quite...
by eddyp - 1/20/06 9:49 AM In reply to: DVD RAM discs by writergirlI agree with you, however, I've discovered a couple of things.
If you owna a Panasonic DVD recorder, your media can be played back (unfinalized) in Panasonic DVD Players, or on otther brand DVD recorders.
Athough not mentioned anywhere, Panasonic DVD recorders can play back DVD-RW finalized media.
VR Format, recorded in DVD-RW Media finalized, can also be played back in Panasonic DVD recorders; If you have a recorder with a Hard disk, you can also dub your videos from the DVD-RW.
I own a Panasonic DVD recorder, a Panasonic DVD Player ans a Samsung DVD recorder (which writes to RAM and -RW)
Other advice from our members
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 1/19/06 3:28 PM
In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Answer:
Andy- Nobody can tell you what to buy for a DVD burner. However here are some thoughts. First What will be the use of this burner? Are you going to attempt to copy rental movies or back up your Kid's Disney movies so they don't get scratched or are you burning home made video for Mom and Dad to see the Kids or to keep the memory. Or are you just getting it to Archive data files. These questions will help you select what you are going to get. HD and Blue-ray are the new High Definition standards to Prerecorded DVD's. They have a greater amount of storage than any other format. Sort of the New Beta verses VHS standard for DVD's. Where as the DVD-R verses the DVD+R where the old Video Standards used to make Prerecorded DVD's. Depending on the manufacture of the DVD player you plan on using and when it was made will determine which format you need. The RW's of any of the formats is a Erase and Rewire option. So you record over and over or just update. The Dual layer usually label DL is a new format that came about last year or so to allow more storage.
Each of the different formats requires a different Disc. The HD and BlueRay are just starting to come to market and will be battling it out like the VHS and Beta wars of before. HD-DVD uses a Red Laser and is supposed be able to play your Old DVD videos as well as the New High definition Disc's. Where as the Blue Ray will only play the Blue Ray Disc as it uses a blue laser to read the disc. And neither of the High Def formats is available quite yet. They have said soon for 2 years now. If you are just going for Data storage any of the Formats will work for you.
IF your looking for Video to send to Mom and Dad it will be one format or another. My parents Toshiba Played DVD+R where as my Apex played DVD-R. So I went with the Dual format before the Dual layer became available. My suggestion is if your into High Definition Video wait for those recorders. But for data and standard video recording get the multi-format with the Dual layer based on your buget. That way what ever format fits your needs you can use it. Or which ever DVD media is on Sale and available you can get it and know you have a viable recorder to use it.
Submitted by: Bruce W.
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Andy, most of the common DVD burners that you will buy at a "computer department" store like Fry's or Microcenter are both + and - compatible. You can tell this because on the box it will have a plus on top of a minus sign between the DVD and the R. Dual layer discs are a new technology, and while the drives are becoming relatively cheap, the DVD media (discs) are still outrageously priced, so unless you have specific projects in mind for them you probably don't need to worry about that for now. When purchasing media for your new burner, some people will say that minus DVDs will work more often than plus DVDs for burning movies to play in your home DVD player, but I only believe this is partially true--the ability of your burned DVD home movie to play on your home DVD player depends a lot on the software you use. Roxio and Sonic have joined hands to come out with the new Roxio 8 suite, and it does a great job at burning DVDs, it is under $100, and is easy for beginners to learn how to use. One last thing--when you get your new DVD burner installed, go to its manufacturer's website and download a firmware updater--often firmware updates for your DVD burner will make it burn faster and more reliably.
Submitted by: Susan K.
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Myself, I'm waiting for Blue-Ray. With Larger capacities, and better quality, Blue-Ray will make DVD's of today, what Video Tapes and Zip Drives are now, obsolete. However, if you have to have a DVD Writer today, and don't want to wait for Blue-Ray to become mainstream, I suggest a Dual Format Drive, one that supports all the formats, excl. DVD-RAM, and one with LiteScribe, making it nice and easy to write what's on the discs, without having to make labels.
Submitted by: Brett F.
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Answer:
With regards to which DVD/CD burner or player to get, you are a bit early to purchase a high definition player, as the Toshiba et al v. Sony battle is not quite finalized, although I believe Toshiba will win.
However, since you probably want to play games and watch movies, inexpensively backup, and make MP3 and CD copies for your car, which most units do, what you REALLY want is a fast quiet unit. One with rubber mounts is nice and if you want it to look "nice," you should get the silver, black, or ugly beige to match.
I am very pleased with the Pioneer DVR-A08X I bought and it has this way of playing movies very quietly. It seems to me that the ones that come built with a given color (mine is silver) are better than the faceplates. This is a top rated unit and seems to handle any blank you throw into it, so far.
Rather than the usual discussion of features, I suggest you but this top ranked unit and enjoy.
Submitted by: Thomas D.
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Answer:
Well Andy, you're in luck. It's all been made a lot simpler in the last two years or so. Most new DVD burners come as +R and -R compatible! The general thought is that +R format is more compatible. I myself have a -R burner, and being that everyone claims + is more compatible, I have yet to encounter a problem.
Dual layer DVDs on the other hand or more or less DVDs with nearly double the storage capacity. Which means instead of 2 hours of standard play video on a single layer DVD it does 4 hours of standard play video. The thing to keep in mind, Dual Layer DVD blanks are not easy to come by, and on top of that can be expensive for decent brands of media.
As for Blu-ray, the first generation of those burners are due out this month...with a 1500$ price tag. (I have yet to hear of any HD-DVD burners on the way.) The thing to keep in mind with those new formats coming out in the near future, is that they will more than likely be ridiculously expensive for the first year or so. They are also first generation, which means you may run into +R vs. -R type of situation when trying to choose between Blu-ray and HD-DVD. Translation? If you wait, there's a decent chance HD-DVD and Blu-ray burning capability could be implemented into the same burner. Much like newer DVD burners are both +R and -R compatible.
As for DVD-RAM, I'm not very educated on this particular format, but I believe it relates to Digital Camcorders.
Submitted by: Jeezum C.
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Answer:
Hi Andy. I'll make this short and sweet and as non-technological as I can. There are a few things to take into consideration when buying a DVD burner and for the most part, they are personal choices.
Foremost though, is to make sure your computer is able to handle the new burner if you are just going to add it and not replace your old cd-rom (and why would you replace it anyway?). Make sure your power supply is big enough and your operating system is capable (which they should be if your machine is newer). Secondly, make sure you have enough room inside and have enough cables to hook it up. After that, it is all about what you want. DVD-R appears to be the most widely used format and is usually accepted on older DVD players with DVD+R next and also, if price is going to be a concern, they are the cheapest media to buy. DVD-R and DVD+R are even cheaper than most CD-R media, depending on brand. I have discovered that it it a very good idea to read through the forums to see what everyone else who has used the media has to say. Learn by their mistakes and trials.
You will also need to know what software you are going to use. In most cases it comes with your new burner and there are also lots of good programs available through Download.com. Price-wise for the burners themselves is not a real big issue as there is not a lot of difference between regular burners and double layered burners but again, the price of the media is the main difference. Personally, if I were just learning how to burn DVDs, I would rather waste a 30 cent DVD than a 2 or 3 dollar DVD in case some thing goes wrong (and it usually does when you are first learning). With the programs available now, it is real easy to split files that will not fit onto one DVD and burn them onto two. If cost is not a big concern, then research the burners you are considering and decide which type is going suit your needs. For starting out though, I would recommend just a regular DVD burner that supports the most formats. You can always upgrade later to dual-layer or Blu-ray if that is where the technology seems to be heading.
Hope this helps and happy burning.
Submitted by: Lloyd S.
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Answer:
Hi
Re your question about what DVD writer to purchase.
The best DVD writer available is the Plextor. I have 1 and its just the greatest. They get there drives tested by an outside Laboratory and they test them to near destruction before they release them on the market. Go to http://www.plextor.com
Submitted by: Mike D.
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Simply, go for the DVD+RW, NOTHING ELSE.Go to a reliable store such as Future shop if you have one in your area and they will explain why.
Submitted by: Chad O.
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Answer:
Andy, I think the LITEON 16X DVD+R/+RW Drive Double Layer is good, I use it in my computers and haven't had any problems.
Submitted by: Timmy L.
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Answer:
Best answer - Go for one that writes EVERYTHING! +/-R, +/-RW, and Dual Layer. Also, HP and I/O magic make DVD burners that support lightscribe a special disc labeling feature, so that's a nifty bonus. As for your HD-DVD/Blu-Ray question, My recommendation is this: Let It Bake. They're both coming out this year, but good luck finding media for them! Also, a good DVD burner costs less than $100 these days; to invest in a first-gen blu-ray drive isn't going to provide a cost-effective advantage for a while.
Submitted by: Joey L.
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Answer:
You asked about the DVD burners, the best burner for everyday use is a DVD-Rw. I bought one for my system and I haven't had a problem. A dual layer DVD burner is a waste of money, due the fact that the disk are double the price. You can get a single layer DVD-rw burner and all you need is a good 16x DVD-r disk, because a DVD-r holds what you burn.
Submitted by: Steven B.
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If you do like I did and buy Iomega's Super DVD, then all formats are covered by it.
DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, CD-R and CD-RW
Submitted by: Steve S.
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It is recommended that you purchase a 16X DVD+/- Dual Layer Sony Internal or External Burner which is of the highest technological quality available . They are available at very reasonable prices to include through ebay.
Submitted by: Dick P.
Plextor is the best brand DVD Burner
by Zeppo - 1/20/06 3:45 AM In reply to: Other advice from our members by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I concur with one member response about the Plextor DVD burners. Plextor makes the best, most trouble free burners available.
Not only do I believe this, but 2 high end computer makers, Velocity Micro (www.velocitymicro.com) and Falcon Northwest (www.falcon-nw.com) offer only two dual layer brands as consumer choices - Plextor 16x DL DVD+/- and Lite-On 16x DL DVD+/-. Because both these computer makers offer extreme machines for enthusiasts, they take care in choosing the best components.
What ever brand you choose, it should be DL (Dual Layer) DVD+/-. This allows you the most flexibility, and is quickly becoming what most manufactures offer anyway.
Plextor currently has the best burner, but ...
by googey10 - 1/20/06 4:53 AM In reply to: Plextor is the best brand DVD Burner by ZeppoToshiba and BenQ - newest models are, according to quite a few reviews, just about equally good. Plextor quality was not consistent - with say LiteOn you always got a high quality product.
Many Plextors were re-branded LiteOns anyway. Currently the best burner IS, according to reviews, the Plextor PX-740.
Good computer manufacturers do stick to a good brand, quite true, but there is a bit of commercial reasoning, buying large quantities and binding contracts in order to get lower price, so if the next Plextor turns out to be below average, it will still be built in quality systems.
We used to buy only Plextors for a large organisation, had a lot of problems some two years ago with a model which was a re-branded ?, can't remember, not LiteOn. Had to replace about 50 units, took LiteOns instead.
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