dvd writer to buy.??

[gio709]

can anyone give me some help on deciding which writer to buy. i have been looking now for weeks and im really stuck. people keep telling me certain writers are good but you have to watch what discs you buy. is there one that gets rid of that problem..?

thanks for any help

models and est price would be a help...cheers.

gio

[ptmurphy]

I think you are going to basiccally get two opinions, or at least the most often mentioned drives...

Sony DRU-500A(x)
Pioneer A05

The Sony writes both - and + formats - so a bit of an insurance policy, I got mine for $300 after rebate.

The Pioneer can be gotten cheaper ($250) and even cheaper if you get the Cyndyne model that is just a re-branded A05. I have seen this as cheap as $189 at my local Staples. As I am sure you know, this is a - format only drive.

I think all recorders will have problems with some media at this point. Just buy good quality media and stick with something you know works.

[yg1968]

This website tends to be pro -R/-RW. If you want a more balanced opinion, you may also wish to consult this website:

www.dvdplusrw.org

In any event, I have an HP 200i (+R/+RW) and I am very happy with it. So I would say that your choices should be between:

1- Sony DRU-500 (writes +R/+RW and -R/-RW)
2- HP 300i (writes +R/+RW)

However, to be honest, even though I am convinced that +R and +RW are better formats, I would have gotten the Sony DRU-500, had it been available at the time I bought my HP. It is hard to go wrong with both formats.

[ochsfamily]

As I have been reading and reading these posts... it would seem logical to buy the Sony so you were covered with the - and the +.

My DVD player will only play the -... I was thinking about getting the HP DVD burner, but then I would have to get another dvd player. Granted DVD players are cheaper... one day the standard could switch to - or +.. and I could be out again.

I would imagine that burning both, they would be good quality. Plus if you did burn a home movie in a - format and DVD players all changed to the + you could just copy your dvd- and reburn it to a +? Right?