DVD -R/-RW or Dual

[hitekfreak]

Im noob when it comes to this matter, I have been searching and reading on this board for the last few weeks. I want to buy a burner to back up my DVD and my PS2 game. I want to spend the cheapest I can since expecting the baby on the way. Now my Bose only read DVD -R and I have Sony and Toshiba in the house and dont know what they read. I am leanning toward DVD-R or dual but I see Bestbuy, Fry's selling most of the blank media as +R. So what is the deal with that? Thanks for any input.

[Saminai]

Just get an NEC 1300A, then upgrade the firmware to Herrie's latest and you'll be set to use Riteks, BeAll's and DupEZ's.
Then if you find good deals on DVD+R you can use those too
Its also a cheaper drive than some dvd-r/rw only drives

[hitekfreak]

Thanks for reply and just order the NEC and Ritek media today. I might have them in two days. Now what kind of software do I need? Does DVDXpress will do all the job or I need a few softwares for different stages. Thanks.

[Bob W]

Get SmartRipper and DVDshrink and both are free. Also you need some burning software if it doesn't come with the burner. I use RecordNow Max and many here use Nero.

[XtremeG]

I've been using DVD Xcopy Xpress with some 4x Infiniti DVD+R for the past few days (just got the NEC ND-1100A DVD+RW only last week) and Xcopy ripps and burns for me in less than 10-15min per DVD which I think is excellent. So far 10 copies made and only 1 coaster.

[hitekfreak]

I just got NEC 1300A and took me 14mins for ripping and 10mins for burn with dvdxcopy express. How you got 15mins for both unless you got P4 3gig mhz. Mine is 1.8gig mhz.

[dougry]

I have a Toshiba SD-R5002 DVD-R/RW from Jazz Technology and I have never made a single coaster. I use two programs that are freeware, DVDShrink and burn4free to burn. I have gotten several responses that burn4free does not work for them but it works great for me.That burner is not bundled with any software but I don't care. But the plus is that it only cost $125.00 USD. I paid that much for my CD burner.

Repeat, NEVER a single coaster. And I have used DVD2One, DVDShrink, Record Now Max and DVDDecrypter as well. Never any problems.

[overloaded_ide]

I also have the Toshiba SD5002 and not a single coaster (since I figured out what I am doing ) My only coasters were RW's anyway so realy I geuss they don't count
I am using cheap 1x disks.

Mine is a 2x though, and you can get the Dual Format NEC burners from newegg.com for around $150 and free shipping. Plus they are 4X burners.
I am thinkng about one myself. Don't remember if they were retail boxed or OEM though. I buy alot from newegg.com and never had a problem with anything. I did have a dead Systemboard once, could have been my fault, but they RMA'd it with no hassles. I buy alot of stuff there!

As for media you want to check out online. Sometimes you can get good stuff cheap with sales and re-bates from local stores but online is probably cheaper most the time, no tax, and most places will have often even have free shipping.

Since your having a baby, if you haven't got a camcorder you might want one. The Canon ZR60 I hear is a very good digital camcorder.
I'll be getting one myself. I mention this for several reasons. You can use it as a capture device if you want to backup VHS tapes to DVD also by connecting it to the VCR and using firewire to connect to the computer.
If your having a new baby and are burning DVD's, well, might as well make some baby movies if you can
It's $356 at http://www.buydig.com/shop.php?category=CAMCORDERS
about 2x the price of a burner, but if you need one I would get it first then buy a burner latter if your just dong backups.

[hitekfreak]

Yeah, I got Canon Elura MC 40, the smaller kind and it's very sweet. I have been back up those DV movies to CDR but now, Im moving up the food chain. Everyone around here seems using DVDShrink, DVD Descrypter, SmartRipper and burn them back using Nero or RecordMax Now and for me it took around 50+ mins to rip out the movie while DVDXCOPY XPRESS will rip and burn around 30mins. Am I missing something here? Of course DVDXCOPY XPRESS is not free. Please enlighten the noob.

[troyvcd1]

If your are gonna be shooting a lot indoors I would check up on the low light performance. The canon mc60 has only a 1/6 in ccd. It got bad low light reviews at camcorderinfo.com. I would look at a sony if I were you.