dvd writers....

[sirius]

Hi,

I know bugger all about DVD writers, so I wonder if somebody can explain the scoop on these?......

Seeing as my PC is totally dying on its arse, Im pricing up some new components for a new one. Rather than spend money on a computer DVD compatible player, CDRW drive and standard 52x CD rom player, Im considering getting a combination drive and a simple player as a backup and for perhaps backing up CD's disk to disk.

These combo drives write DVD's and CD's. DVD'd can hold 4.5GB of data!!!! - but can you use dvd's as CD's?. If I wrote a DVD disk of just computer files (not a movie) - can you still stick them in a relatively new CD player and read them?

This +/- business and different DVD standards are pecking my head really bad - just what does it all mean? lol.


For example a fairly cheap one:

NEC1000 DVD+R x2 DVD: 2,4 Writing - 2,4 rewriting.
16x CLV speed CDR 10x CDRW
5-12x DVD reading 17-40 CDrom
Supports *Playing* Various DVD/CD formats
DVDROM DVD+R DVD+RW DVI DVDRW CD AUDIO CDROM PHOTOCD, CD EXTRA, CDRW, CDTEXT. VIDEO CD, DVD VIDEO.

105.0 quid.

or

Sony DWU-10A ± DVD +RW (x2.4) +R (x4) -R (x4) -RW (x2) CDR(x24) CDRW (x10) CDRead x32 DVD x8 OEM
£129.25 inc. VAT


I dont know what I wanna do in future, I may not burn loads of dvd movies, but 4gb of data on one disk sounds great. However if I did put a avi to a dvd disk written on the above drives, would they play on a home system type dvd player?



Or should I aviod combo drives like the plague?

ta

sirius.

[johns_ar]

someone i know off another forum said stay clear of dvd drives for a bit cos theres no standard for em and when there is the prices will plummet

u can always buy one later on

[Myk]

Ive been using a DVD writer for over a year m8 and although what john_ar says is true and the format will eventually change both for PC DVD and for domestic players alike, lets face it, thats gonna take atleast another couple of yeras minimum and to be honest the format of every single PC part is under constant evolution and theyll all change (memory, socket for cpu, etc etc) so theres nothing new in the fact the format will eventually change.

Now lets clear a few points up.

Any DVD recorder regardless of format (- or +) will record and read both CD's and DVD's. However a recorded DVD (infact any DVD) can only be played in a DVD player, so forget the notion of being able to record a DVD and use it in any old CD player.

Format : The best quality is +R but the most compatible is -R, typically about 99% of all DVD player read -R format and only about 20% read +R, the overall difference in quality is virtually non-existant unless you plan on making movie to HDTV standard (i.e cinema quality). For data theyre essentially exactly the same as they are for music too.

Nowadays most DVD recorders record both formats so its not even really an issue. I'd recommend you look at the new Pioneer 106 (same as A06 but non retail) as its a solid and very stable 3rd generation machine.

Any other questions fella just gimme a shout

P.S The NEC machines suck, stick with Pioneer, Sony or Plextor m8

[sirius]

cheers dude


Theres a new sony out that 'reads and writes' all dvd formats....its about 140 quidish, you heard of it?.

Ill check the pioneer out.


cheers

Sirius.

[johns_ar]

wildpitch has got a plextor one or had one and he said it was alright

[Myk]

Yes Sirius I know about the Sony model (Sony DRU-500A ) its a good model fella. Although I think that the Pioneer 106 is as good and probably a fair bit cheaper (it is over here atleast). The Plextor is also a great machine but the most expensive of the 3.

With either of the 3 you cant really go wrong m8

[Myk]

AS a side note mate, the Sony and the Pioneer are available in 2 flavours :

The Sony DRU-500A and DW U10A are the same machine but the later of the two is an OEM issue and doesnt come in a box. Its exactly the same machine though and will cost about 30% cheaper. The same goes for the Pioneer A06 and 106, the 106 being the cheaper of the two and again exactly the same machine.

I'd recommend the OEM version of either, what youll be missing is the box (who cares) and some free software (available all over Overnet, Kazaa etc etc, so again who cares). What youll be gaining is about 40-60€ in your favour