Disc info prior to buying the discs

[lbeck]

I have read the stickies (relevant ones are really old) and scanned the recent posts here. My question is probably answered but I can't find the answer:

I can determine the mfgr using a number of the programs after loading them in a burner. How can you determine DVD R/RW manufacturer without buying a bundle and breaking the pack open?

I notice some numbers/codes on the media itself, and the web presentations like BestBuy give SKU and product numbers on their website. But I can't correlate what's imprinted on the disc or the www product numbers with anything listed in the Videohelp media guide/ratings. I've Googled the numbers/codes and can only come up with where the "brand" is sold, not the mfgr.

I've gotten some good TY discs from Supermediastore because they give full information. But I want to go to BestBuy occasionally and pick up a few DVD-RWs and I'd like to know what I'm buying.

[jman98]

I don't think you can. That's why I only buy online as it's the only way to be absolutely sure I know what I am getting. These days I buy ONLY Taiyo Yuden or Verbatim DataLifePlus, but those are not re-writable discs. Taiyo Yuden doesn't make re-writable DVDs so that leaves Verbatim as the only reliable manufacturer. I regard re-writable DVDs are consumable. What I mean is that if they develop even the slightest problem, I throw them away and grab another one off the spindle. Re-writable DVDs aren't designed for long term storage. In fact, even if you do nothing a burned re-writable DVD will eventually become unplayable due to the alloy changing state on its own. Verbatim has no special line of re-writable DVDs. They're all the same. Just buy whatever you can find wherever you can find it.

[Moontrash]

in regards to RW's, good luck finding some solid ones. There have never been very many good ones that work consistently. As jman says, even if u burn it and leave it there, it can just not play eventually. I've had this happen many times. I fortunately have one 2.4x fujifilm(ricoh stamp) that I've used for the last 8 years still works like a charm. I'm guessing that was when they put the effort into making decent ones. I've tried 2.4, 4 and 8 speed ones and there all the same, not reliable.

If your talking about just standard dvd-r's(+ also) then it's a little easier to tell. Generally Best Buy's stuff, by brand, is normally CMC(memorex). Verbatim Valueline is also CMC but the other stuff(Colored packaging) are MCC (excellent). The Sony's are ok but their quality control leaves sumthin to be desired. Scratches all over them when you get em. I grabbed 100 last week and 30 had scratches all over em. This is par for the course with Sony though. I think it's their way of getting back at people who back up movies LOL. TDK's are a toss up, could be CMC or RITEK.

[lbeck]

Re-writable DVDs aren't designed for long term storage.

Yeah, I wouldn't use them for that.

I use DVDRW every time that I write video using Studio 14 or Nero. Reason is that sometimes the video plays fine in the preview window but due to a rendering or some other glitch the burned DVD has audio/video out of sync, skips, studders, or some other problem. I got tired of making coasters so I tryfirst with a RW and if that works the write-once generally works also (burned from the video_ts folder).

I got a pack of 10 Memorex RWs about a year ago. About half never burned properly from the get-go. The others worked for a while then stopped. I have one left and it seems to burn consistently good for some reason, but it's just a matter of time. I'm ready to buy more but want to buy something reliable.

I usually buy on-line for big ticket items, but it's inconvenient waiting a couple of weeks for the UPS truck to save a buck or two on a few DVDRWs. I'd rather stop by a store on the way home.

Thanks

[Reading Bug]

Don't forget that DVD-Rs can be returned. I've had no trouble returning faulty media after discovering it wasn't what I wanted.

[lordsmurf]

Buy Verbatim -RW/+RW media. It will all be MCC.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2F...reative=390957

You don't want "Value Series" or "Life Series" Verbatim DVD-R/DVD+R