PC burner and Panasonic DMR-E100H

[nextlife1]

Newbie with new LG GSA-4040B and Panasonic DMR-E100H. I am thinking about exchanging the 4040B for a Panasonic burner (like the LF-D521 or LF-M621). I could go into the various reasons but it might be simpler if I just ask my questions. I have browsed the various forums and think I understand the compatibility issues but want to make sure I am doing the right thing before I make a change.

1) Can I expect the 100H to read DVD-RAMs made in the Panasonic PC burner without problems and vice versa?

2) Can I expect the 100H to read DVD-RW made in the Panasonic PC burner? (I assume yes since the 100H reads -RW from my GSA-4040B)

3) Do DVD-Rs made in a Panasonic PC burner need to be finalized? Could the 100H read -Rs not yet finalized (like it can if they are made on the 100H)?

4) Less important--will DVD-Rs and -RWs made on the Panasonic PC burner be compatible with a reasonable number of non-Panasonic DVD players? I think I have read that the rate should be 60-80%, but not very low (but less than the 4040B, I assume). Do the Panasonic burners and standalone recorders use the same system and thus have comparable compatibility issues?

Sorry for so many questions but when you are a newbie it often feels like "a boy playing a man's game".

Thanks!

nextlife1

[bobones]

I've got an LF-M621 to go with my E50 recorder and it works great. It's not as fast as the LG4040 with cds or ripping dvd, but it doesn't have audio extraction or media compatibility problems of the LG, and has the advantages of accepting caddy RAM and a better software suite for RAM manipulation. I got mine for £137 from the Panasonic Eshop (UK). I've seen the OEM version (Matsushita SW-9572) on sale for about $140 in some US sites, but I'd advise the retail package for the Panasonic DVDMovieAlbumSE software.

To answer your questions:

1) Can I expect the 100H to read DVD-RAMs made in the Panasonic PC burner without problems and vice versa?

Yes, no problem at all either way. In the retail version of the panny burner you get software for editing RAMs and/or exporting them as MPEGs. TMPEnc DVD Author also works well with RAM.

2) Can I expect the 100H to read DVD-RW made in the Panasonic PC burner? (I assume yes since the 100H reads -RW from my GSA-4040B)

I've never tried DVD-RW, but I'd assume there's no problem since any type of media I've burnt on M621 has worked in E50. Note however that panny burners only do -RW at x1.

3) Do DVD-Rs made in a Panasonic PC burner need to be finalized? Could the 100H read -Rs not yet finalized (like it can if they are made on the 100H)?

You don't finalize on a PC, you close the session. I doubt if the open session format would be compatible with the E100's unfinalized format at all.

) Less important--will DVD-Rs and -RWs made on the Panasonic PC burner be compatible with a reasonable number of non-Panasonic DVD players? I think I have read that the rate should be 60-80%, but not very low (but less than the 4040B, I assume). Do the Panasonic burners and standalone recorders use the same system and thus have comparable compatibility issues?

I find that my M621 produces a better quality of burn that my E50 and so you should expect more burns to work than with E100. You can also do nice menus and stuff with TMPGEnc DVD Author.

[nextlife1]

Very very helpful. Thanks so much. Now if I can just find the thing!!!

nextlife1