The Worst DVD-R Media on Earth?

[acanthis]

... or at least in the UK.

I am currently in the middle of a bitter row with Dabs.com over this product:

http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/hardware/storage/productView.htm?quicklinx=2HB3

I have so far been unable to burn any useable disks in either my Pioneer 106D or BTC 1004. They either fail at lead-in, burn as coasters, or are unreadable on any DVD-ROM drive/DVD player that I have access to.

There are visible dye flaws on the surface of 50% of the disks, no manufacturer's markings and DVDINFOPRO reports a blank manufacturer ID. The only distinguishing marks are a white top for inket labelling and the lettering P.A.G.-02 around the hub.

Beware if you are thinking of buying these. Dabs will NOT refund your money claiming that it is the customer's fault if the disks are unwriteable.

I would have been content to settle with using them as data only, limiting them to a couple of gig, but they're not even fit for that!

I am steaming mad ... to put it bluntly! As I said to them, I don't expect perfection on unbranded media but for f***'s sake, a failure rate of less than 100% would be nice!

Beware.

[Faustus]

The worst actually had to be the cddvdrecordables.com media that sucked so very hard. Of course they are out of business now.

[ktton]

I understand your pain. Been there, done that. My advice is to not buy cheapo anymore. Save yourself the headache and wasted time. Buy good quality media like ricoch and you should not have any problem.

[ROBERT BLACK]

Hmmm, someone's trying to hide the Longten 02 Id perhaps? Visible dye flaws, unplayable on various standalones,errors out on you're burner,all the evidence is there.Could be. I don't know what speed you're burning them, but try 1x. They should at least burn all the way through if they're Longten. Then you only have the playback issues to contend with.

[dvd_maestro]

Actually I think it might be the 10 pack dvd-r khypermedia I have sitting next to my monitor. Need a coaster? Perhaps some new wall art?
Brian

[dafreak]

haha, yep khypermedia is probably one the worst I've ever used.

Stay away, stay far far away from them.

[gcutler]

khypermedia=asking for trouble.

My Experience...
1) Highest rate of failure whe going very close to edge of media (4.3GB+)
2) Burn image and play, tons of freeze/pixelation problems, burn identical image on "Better" media, works fine.
3) Forget on Finicky players.
4) Only time (twice) I've Tried burning and total failure within 5 seconds (use "Better" media without resboot or SW restart and no problem)

[mhar4]

"Mirror Platinum" from Rambox.com in the UK is my worst. Weren't even that cheap. Ritek is the best I've used.

[acanthis]

Well I'd already learnt my lesson from the deceptive labelling of some Verbatims that turned out to be CMC, so I generally only buy the most expensive now for anything important, but I wanted some disks I could use for testing or for less important material. Unfortunately these disks are unfit for use as anything other than as fancy jotting notes (the white top can at least be written on with a felt tipped pen)

As for Dabs.com, I can only warn people of their policy on media. They will NOT give a refund on the basis that it is *your* responsibility not to buy incompatible media! Absurd and totally overlooks the fact that the disks are visibly flawed!

At least I know where NOT to buy my media from in future.

[bappida69]

Don't even bother with the COMPUSA brand (Princo) make. I have had only coasters with them so far.

On the other hand, I had no issue with FUJIFILM(Princo) brands.

[ricky1756]

optimum suck

[Bricktop]

These get my vote.... LONGTEN 001. Marks on burning surface and not very reliable towards the edge of the disc.
But only 50p a disc.....bargain LOL

[maestro5050]

Well I'd already learnt my lesson from the deceptive labelling of some Verbatims that turned out to be CMC

Yeah tough lesson to learn. I bought some Verbatim Data Life DVD -R last week when they were on sale at Office Depot. It was discovered that the packs (15 packs at least) with the grey spindles were Ritek G03 disks. Ones with the black bottom were either CMC or MCC disks.

A good buddy of mine bought some of the +R media from them with the grey spindle and they ended up being Ricoh. So I guess right now grey=good and black=bad.

I can't comment on the worst media. I am still very new to this and have only used quality disks so far.

[andydd]

Acanthis.

Ive only bought a DVD Rom from Dabs and had no probs but when it comes to media you are better off sticking to places like SVP that will offer refunds on DVD-R media, have u mentioned this to Dabs ?. Id write back and point out that what they sold you wasnt fit for the purpose and if they claim it is ask them what DVD writer they used ?

[elmotheteapot]

These get my vote.... LONGTEN 001. Marks on burning surface and not very reliable towards the edge of the disc.
But only 50p a disc.....bargain LOL

Brill! howd you get plastic cricles for that price! If only people looked around instead of going straight to dabs Ritek GO3 only work out around 59p with delivery anyway.

[Bricktop]

elmotheteapot - LOL man yeah what a muppett i was for buying those. I got a shit load of them too haha, still got some left.
Now i have a little more "education" on the subject i now use ritek g04 at around 90p a disc....they are excellent, not a coaster yet.
Oh princo are also crap i recon...well on my recorder anyway.

[kickbxn5]

Gotta be those damn Pengo DVD's I picked up last week. 25 for 39.95 and six coasters. What a ripoff!

[CraigRT]

Hypermedia is pretty bad. I bought like 10 of them (bulk) from a guy near my place, and maybe 5 of them worked, and maybe 2 of those 5 actually play in a set top DVD player.

total junk.

[Faustus]

anyone who suggest CMC or Longten1 as the worst ever has obviously never used the disc I mentioned.

[jam007]

HQ - Got some from meritline cause they were inexpensive (and I didn't know any better). WOW those sucked for me when I had my Pioneer 104!

>>JAM<<

[tito13kfm]

Hmm.. strangely enough the KHypermedia DVD+RW's that I bought a 15 spindle for $12.99 are surprisingly reliable. I have not 1 bad burn and have re-written over the one on top at least 40 times. Then again I have not tried going too close to the edge yet.

[peebee23]

acanthis I share your pain, I too bought this junk in good faith from Dabs a week ago. For a real laugh check out the Dabs reviews posted, they must be doing it for a windup! So far not one success. Have you actually tried them for data - this was my kinda forlorn last hope for them?

Since our writers are the same which discs have you found most succesful, so far only tried these and some Imation DVD+RW (which are 100% succesful but damn pricey.)

[elmotheteapot]

elmotheteapot - LOL man yeah what a muppett i was for buying those. I got a shit load of them too haha, still got some left.
Now i have a little more "education" on the subject i now use ritek g04 at around 90p a disc....they are excellent, not a coaster yet.
Oh princo are also crap i recon...well on my recorder anyway.

Dont worry man i wasnt reffering to you but most of the uk public who get a dvd burner in their latest pc world buy, they either end up paying 5 quid a disc from argos or some place or go crazy on bulkpaq (uk guys you know the orange ones) princos.