Cheap media

[Gaskan]

I know that it is not advisable to use cheap media for DVD backups, because of the choppy video playback and other non desired flaws. But, is there any risks or drawbacks of using this kind of media, to store data, mp3's or doc's just for storage and retrieval? Any and all opinions are welcome.

[richdvd]

I would think cheap discs would have the same effect on anything thats on them. Why would you want to take the chance? Spend a little extra and then you will know your data/mp3s are ok. Just my opinion. I only ever use Maxell -R's that are Made in Japan. I tried Ritek's awhile ago and had lots of grief with them.

[Fandim]

Gaskan - a main drawback would be large sections of the DVD being unreadable, and you losing any data that you didnt have except on the disc. Another risk being failed burns outright, and throwing away discs that didnt complete the burning process..although this is much more rare.


Seth

[Capmaster]

With top-quality media being so cheap, why risk it? You live here in the US ..good media is cheap and plentiful here

<chants "TY' ..."TY" ..."TY">

[yoda313]

Hello,

I use cheap media all the time. I haven't had any issues with it yet (hoping ). I've had a single layer burner for just over a year and no ill effects yet.

Though I back up my stuff so frequently (once every few months) that I don't really worry about long term problems...

Kevin

[Capmaster]

Hello,

I use cheap media all the time. I haven't had any issues with it yet (hoping ). I've had a single layer burner for just over a year and no ill effects yet.

Though I back up my stuff so frequently (once every few months) that I don't really worry about long term problems...

Kevin

But surely the difference between 39 cents and 49 cents per disc isn't worth taking the chance? I could see it this past winter when good TY media was $1.90 each, and the cheap stuff was "68 cents. BUt there is so little difference now, especially when you buy in 100 spindles ....I just don't understand the logic anymore

[yoda313]

Hello,

I use cheap media all the time. I haven't had any issues with it yet (hoping ). I've had a single layer burner for just over a year and no ill effects yet.

Though I back up my stuff so frequently (once every few months) that I don't really worry about long term problems...

Kevin

But surely the difference between 39 cents and 49 cents per disc isn't worth taking the chance? I could see it this past winter when good TY media was $1.90 each, and the cheap stuff was "68 cents. BUt there is so little difference now, especially when you buy in 100 spindles ....I just don't understand the logic anymore

Hello,

Just haven't gotten around to it I guess. And I still have maybe thirty or more kypermedia and other noname blanks I haven't used.

Kevin

(maybe my next stock up will be through a reputable dealer here for "good media" )

[Gaskan]

I probably should have mentioned that I was just given these disks and was not looking to just cheap out and buy crap for archiving. Just looking for an opinion as to what I can use them for, instead of throwing them out.

PS
Besides coasters, frisbees, etc.

[Capmaster]

I probably should have mentioned that I was just given these disks and was not looking to just cheap out and buy crap for archiving. Just looking for an opinion as to what I can use them for, instead of throwing them out.

PS
Besides coasters, frisbees, etc.

Yeah, nobody likes throwing media away ...even cheap media

[talk]

With top-quality media being so cheap, why risk it? You live here in the US ..good media is cheap and plentiful here

Second this. I have gotten some TY (Maxell brand) on recent sales here as low as 33 cents. Fuji TY for 40 cents and prices are still dropping.

[winifreid]

It seems that DVD video is a quality demanding operation, but simple file archiving is not. I have never been able to get my DVD-RW to work with video, but have never had a problem with file archiving. So it is less risky to use cheap media for file archiving than for video, but good media would be safer.

[lordsmurf]

It seems that DVD video is a quality demanding operation, but simple file archiving is not. I have never been able to get my DVD-RW to work with video, but have never had a problem with file archiving. So it is less risky to use cheap media for file archiving than for video, but good media would be safer.

That is not true.

Your problem with DVD-RW is compatibility, not quality.
DVD-RW is only maybe 60% compatible with DVD players.

Bad media will always be bad media.
Regardless of the content.

In fact, cheap media will work better on a DVD player than data on a computer, because a DVD player has the ability to ignore errors and try to continue. A computer freaks out and spits up error messages, forcing you to use data recovery software (like ISOBuster Pro).

[winifreid]

I should not have said never. I have gotten RWs to work on my player, but rarely. So it is not compatability. They have never failed for data.

[smearbrick1]

I should not have said never. I have gotten RWs to work on my player, but rarely. So it is not compatability. They have never failed for data.

Actually, it could be for compatibility. One brand of DVD-/+RW is not going to be the same as another brand (or we wouldn't be having this conversation and the whole cheap media point would be moot). Have you ever done a firmware update on a DVD writer? Well, in case you didn't know, not only do they include little bug fixes in their firmware updates, but they also provide compatibility updates. This assures that you DVD writer is compatible with as many DVD brands as possible. Same goes for set top players. The firmware from the factory may allow some DVD-+/RW brands to play, where others may not work so well/not at all. The proof is when you run a media check on your pc. This is the only way to determine if you have a compatibility issue or a crap media/data issue.

In short: Just because it doesn't play DVD-/+RW doesn't mean that the data/disc is crap. There are too many factors to make that determination by just throwing the disc in your standalone.

[winifreid]

Same media.

[smearbrick1]

Same media.

Once again, the only way to tell if it is an actual data problem (the media is crap) is to run the disc through DVDInfoPro.

[That Bastid]

Movie backups are the only thing I would use cheap media for. If they fade, no biggie -- burn another.

As for data, I don't know about yours, but if I needed to retrieve mine and couldn't, I'd be completely hosed. So for my data, it's DVD-RAM only. DVD-RAM is dog slow and expensive, but it is the only format that was designed from the ground-up for safeguarding business data -- the format requires hardware (on the fly) read-after-write verification, and the format is phase-change (not dye) based, making it more reliable than even the finest dye media. (Once the crystals have been moved, they sit there -- unlike dye, which is always fading.)

DVD-RAM is a so-so choice for movie backups, but the only choice for critical backup in the DVD format.

(My 2 cents only.)

[lordsmurf]

and the format is phase-change (not dye) based, making it more reliable than even the finest dye media. (Once the crystals have been moved, they sit there -- unlike dye, which is always fading.)

This is partially true, partially wrong.

DVD-RAM uses a type of phase change material that will last a long time. DVD-RW and DVD+RW does not. In fact, RW discs are known to go bad (used or not!) after a short amount of time, unlike dye. The crystals start to form pockets (they look like "air bubbles", but are not), visible with the naked eye. In layman's terms, the media dies. This is due to the nature of the media (and much like "disc rot", this is not something you can find on dye-based media ... different chemical/physical conditions).

Never use RW media (DVD media) for long term storage. You'll be sorry.

Dye will outlast RW phase change, without a doubt.
RAM phase change is not all that much better than dye.

The beauty of RAM over RW is it can stand more uses.
It's meant to be re-used on a rotating basis, not permanent storage.

[That Bastid]

I don't believe I mentioned DVD-RW and DVD+RW.

As I said, for me, DVD-RAM is the only choice for critical backup in the DVD format.

BTW, I would be interested if you could point me to a source for your assertion, "RAM phase change is not all that much better than dye. "