CNET Quick Review of Sony's Dual Layer Burners

[coyote]

CNET posted a quick review of both of sony's dual layer burners that are about to come out.

Here's the link:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3205_7-5128392.html?tag=cnetfd.ld

[MikieV]

Sony's upcoming dual-layer DVD burners double the storage, so you can finally put a full-length movie on a single 4.7GB disc.

:P

Does a "quick" review mean not taking the time to proof-read their own statements for technical accuracy?

Mike

[freestyler]

I noticed that too

[RabidDog]

ushers in a somber slide

spelt correctly sombre... sombre price $230.. too much ! about $130 will do the job for everyone else.

[shelbyGT]

Um... somber is correct spelling, sombre is a variant of it.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sombre

[Creyton]

Except if you happen to be English, where "sombre" is correct, and "somber" the variant.

[MachineMan]

Lots of talk lately about the DVD+R DL burners. What about media cost?

[RabidDog]

YEah its not called "american" is it? (yet) centre colour aluminium
$5 bucks dollars per platter .

SHelbyGT built by AC cars in UK too.

[shelbyGT]

Except if you happen to be English, where "sombre" is correct, and "somber" the variant.

http://www.dnsstuff.com/tools/whois.ch?ip=www.cnet.com


cnet, an american company, so somber is correct.

excuse us for speaking "american" and not adding u's to everything

[bmiller]

The term English language is a universal term for the language,spoken and written.They have been doing it a lot longer than North American's.
Here is the dictionary version.It's American's right to bastardize the language,but still calling it English is a stretch at best.This is only 1 of many"variants" to be found in the dictionary.

Definition
sombre UK, US somber [Show phonetics]
adjective
1 serious, sad and without humour or amusement:
a sombre atmosphere/voice/face
The funeral was a sombre occasion.
I left them in a sombre mood.

2 dark and plain:
He wore a sombre black suit.

sombrely UK, US somberly [Show phonetics]
adverb

sombreness UK, US somberness [Show phonetics]
noun [U]

(from Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

[disturbed1]

Lots of talk lately about the DVD+R DL burners. What about media cost?

I've read that it will appear for ~$5 (USD ). And generally fall from there.

The reflective is less than a DVD-/+RW, so it's compatibility will be less than a DVD-/+RW. The exact statement was a little less reflective than current DVDRW media

This is a big draw back for me personally. I own 6 DVD players, with only 1 being able to properly play a complete DVD-/+RW. My Panasonic S35 plays MCC DVD-RW perfectly to ~3/4 of the disc, and that's with a brand new one, written once. Other brands of DVD-RW(1x) media do play fine on my Panasonic and one of my Apex, but 4x DVD+RW has yet to play completely for any of my players, and 2x DVD-RW is marginal at best.

While I know there are others players that don't have problems with DVD-/+RW media, there is a great number that do. Far many more than those that have problems with current DVD-/+R media.

IMO, this is a step back. Instead of higher compatibility, there is less compatibility. Granted, we gain more storage space at a slower burn speed, but need to update our current equiptment in every aspect. The PS2 was a step forward, it maintained the current standard, while improving with new features.

DVD+DL doesn't maintain the current standard set.

Adding to it, the current price point of ~$230, plus the media cost of ~$5 and only burn at 1/2 the current speed or more. That equates to 3 current single layer units, and at lest 5 single layer pieces of media. My DVD backups look fine with single layer media, and 75% of the time I have to create dummy files to pad my customers projects just to reach the 2,000,000 sector mark.

I'm not excited yet. If I was a DVD pirate, this would be the next great thing, since I'm not, it isn't.

[nissmo300]

Adding to it, the current price point of ~$230, plus the media cost of ~$5 and only burn at 1/2 the current speed or more. That equates to 3 current single layer units, and at lest 5 single layer pieces of media.

I still burn at 1x so I think burning DL at 2x is pretty good.

[disturbed1]

The DL burners should have 8-16x capabilities for single layer media too.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's neat that it's happening. It just isn't for me right now.

I know the feeling of 1x burning, I still use 4 Panasonic LF-D311s at 1x everyday.

[-jsl-]

The reflective is less than a DVD-/+RW, so it's compatibility will be less than a DVD-/+RW. The exact statement was a little less reflective than current DVDRW media

According to the specs the reflectivity should be >18 % (effectively) for both layers of a DL DVD+R. This is the same as for a pressed DL DVD and DVD±RW media.

[tompika]

The reflective is less than a DVD-/+RW, so it's compatibility will be less than a DVD-/+RW.....
...DVD+DL doesn't maintain the current standard set...

DVD+R DL compatibility has been achieved through the use of a thin silver-alloy as reflector material in the upper layer giving a reflectivity from the layer of at least 18% in compliance with the dual-layer DVD-ROM standard. In addition, the transmission of the upper recording layer is greater than 50% to allow for read-out and recording of the lower recording layer

[disturbed1]

The reflective is less than a DVD-/+RW, so it's compatibility will be less than a DVD-/+RW. The exact statement was a little less reflective than current DVDRW media

According to the specs the reflectivity should be >18 % (effectively) for both layers of a DL DVD+R. This is the same as for a pressed DL DVD and DVD±RW media.

I've read that a few times too, as well as for DVDRW.

There is also this statement

The other big similarity is that the DVD specification requires that players and drives read dual-layer discs. If you encounter one that will read “standard” +/- discs but won’t read DVD+/-R9 media it means the manufacturer had a design flaw which they should correct at no charge.


Since only 1 of 6 of my DVD Players currently fully support DVD-RW/DVD+RW playback, does that mean I can get them fixed for free due to flaws?
I doubt it. Or since some do read the discs, just not correctly, is it not included

None of my players have problems with DVD-R media, DVD5, nor DVD9. But there are reflectivity problems with DVD RW media. This is also evident by people having problems reading DVD RW media, but not DVD R/DVD9 media.

My PS2(version 1 and version 3) will not read any DVD RW media (Video and game backup), yet has no problem with DVD 9 nor DVD-R. I think the spec people may have twisted the numbers a little by saying the same reflective of DVD9, which in pratice, just isn't so.

The statement of being less reflective than DVDRW came from CEBIT, which I'm sure Philips and MKM have changed by now. (MKM is Mitsubishi Kagaku Media, on the forefront with Philips for DVD+DL).

[tompika]

Buy the cheapest noname Chinese DVD player that plays any disc regardless of reflectivity or booktypes.

[sammie]

Have to agree with disturbed. I mean if my burner dies, I would probably consider replacing it with a DL (depending on cost), but we really have backing up to singles down pretty cold these days. Given the time frames for seeing Blu-whatever disks coming out, I don't see a lot of reasons to upgrade just to upgrade.

[disturbed1]

Buy the cheapest noname Chinese DVD player that plays any disc regardless of reflectivity or booktypes.

I did

Got 2 Apex, 500ad and 1100. The 500 is old, I bought it a couple of years ago just for (S)VCD playback, and got the 1100 for RW playback.
Gotta tell you it's a night and day difference between the Apex and Panasonic in terms of quality.

I do think, DL will come around to the majority over time. I just don't see it being popular this year. Some us went through this compatiblity bullcrap in 2001 when DVD-R first came around. I currently see a 99% success rate with DVD-R. I refuse to go back to saying, well it may should could would work. Depends on your player. Been there, not going back.

But then again, I do sell my discs, so it is very important if they play on all players or not. I guess for the home user it wouldn't be an issue.
I could buy a skid lot of Apex DVD players and hand them out to each customer 8)

[KDH]

More news on the DVD+R DL media

http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/Article1.asp?datePublish=2004/04/02&pages=A7&seq=36

[RabidDog]

And thus the circle completes....

[lordsmurf]

I'm with disturbed1 on this one too. This is more space, sacrificing compatibility.