What is the Life Expectency?

[vitualis]

Perhaps you should get your own facts correct before going on a random rant. The only uninformed person here is obviously you.

As to test, it is as simple as going to my local computer store. There are the Verbatim DataLife Plus discs for sale which have been around for a long time. They use the MetalAzo dye as they always have. They are distinguished by their extremely dark blue colour. I know, as these are my favourite media type and I use them now almost exclusively.

Next to the Verbatim Datalife Plus discs are Verbtaim Datalife discs which cost a whole lot less. The bottom colour is usually a pale yellowy/green. The ID of the disc is that it is made by CMC. They obviously don't use the MetalAzo dye. I know because I've bought these as well.

CMC is a third party manufacturer that makes the media for many other brands -- hence "regular cheapies". "Regular cheapies" doesn't mean that it is "bad". It just means that the "Verbatim" name has nothing to do with the quality with this line.

Mitsubishi/Verbatim are the ONLY ones that use the MetalAzo formulation and are one of the few original formulations from when CD-Rs first came out. Those discs have been of consistently excellent quality which is why I use them.

I no longer use cheap media because I no longer trust them. I used to buy cheap media but after one batch of poor quality discs, I gave up.

Regards.

[sidewinder33625]

They use the MetalAzo dye as they always have. They are distinguished by their extremely dark blue colour. I know, as these are my favourite media type and I use them now almost exclusively.

Next to the Verbatim Datalife Plus discs are Verbtaim Datalife discs which cost a whole lot less. The bottom colour is usually a pale yellowy/green. The ID of the disc is that it is made by CMC. They obviously don't use the MetalAzo dye. I know because I've bought these as well.

Mitsubishi/Verbatim are the ONLY ones that use the MetalAzo formulation and are one of the few original formulations from when CD-Rs first came out. Those discs have been of consistently excellent quality which is why I use them.

Regards.

It sounds like you are referring to CD-Rs. Maybe there in lies our confusion. Here are some facts:

1. Datalife PLUS DVD-Rs I have are Taiyo Yuden media ID but those are made in Taiwain.

2. I also have the new 4x variety of Datalife non-PLUS DVD+R and those have the Ricoh media ID and they are also made in Taiwan.

3. Checking my 2.4X DatalifePLUS DVD+Rs and they have the MCC id and guess what, they are ALSO made in Taiwan.

4. Many people have reported the older 2.4X DVD+R Datalife PLUS are made in Singapore.

My point here is that you cannot use blanket statments saying a PLUS is better than a non-PLUS or that discs made in country xxx are better than discs made in yyy. I think when you're talking DVD media its a different ballgame compared to CD-Rs.

Incidently, if you think about it, it is possible that they could have removed the "PLUS" from DVD medias to avoid furthering consumer confusion associated with plus and minus standard.

[tgpo]

Quick New Flash

IT DOESN'T MATTER

No need for a Federal case of this, guys. Everyone just use what you like, I personally use Verbatim DVD-R Datalife Plus. They have worked the best, and are the best quality I could find. Why such a big fuss over 4 letters?

[defense]

One thing I will make clear so there isn't any confusion for people is that my first couple of 15 pack spindles of Verbatim disks were all "CMC" and they were "NOT" a greenish color...they were the DARK PURPLE and they did have the DATALIFE PLUS....even though they were manufactured by CMC. I purchased those disks from Best Buy in November and December.

I also just purchased the buy one get one free 15 pack spindles of Verbatim disks from COMPUSA....they looked EXACTLY the same as the CMC disks...but these manufacturer id is "MISTUBISHI CORP".....I think it was MCC...or MMC....something like that...I can report exact manufacturer id's if anyone wants. But my point is that CMC may very well make some disks for Verbatim with a "greenish" bottom...however, I know for a Fact, CMC makes a DARK PURPLE record side....just like Mistubishi Corp....the disks look EXACTLY the same, both have DATALIFE PLUS....and the only difference in the manufacturer id. The CMC's all burned and play flawlessly, and I assume the Mitsubishi disks will do the same.

[sidewinder33625]

It DOES matter. Its one thing when someone has had good experience with certain brands and recommends it to others. But its another thing to come out and state their personal experiences as if it were fact.

Besides, Virtualis is referring to CDRs since no DVD media I've ever seen has yellow/green writing surface. I do know that CDRs have yellow/green surface and Azo CDRs have dark-blue surface. Like I said, CDRs and DVDRs are apples and oranges.

[tgpo]

apples and oranges.

I prefer Apples.....what, not funny?

[vitualis]

It sounds like you are referring to CD-Rs. Maybe there in lies our confusion....

If you read my original post, YES I WAS.

Regards.

[gmatov]

Idiot,
I believe you have burned hundreds of Digital Research disks with no screwups except through your own fault/ Maybe NOT your own fault? " Yeah, half the disks were no good, but the forum I questioned told me I screwed the disk up. It ain't the media, it's still the best."
Here's another for you. My LiteOn 48X reads an Optimum disk as 32X max burn. I have one in for repair, 48X LiteOn, reads the same stack as 48X burn. Latest firmware, both machines. I know, I'm her tech guy. 'splain that one, if you can.
George

If anyone has read thiswhole thing, can you read the ID on a commercially burned disk? I tried, with DVDs, Audio CDs, and no good. I figured if the media Cos used such and such, it would be an indicator, but no such luck. I can't read them.

[sidewinder33625]

It sounds like you are referring to CD-Rs. Maybe there in lies our confusion....

If you read my original post, YES I WAS.

Regards.

OK then that clears it up. I assumed you were referring to DVD media since this thread was started on that premise.

[Metaluna]

I just bought a bunch of the Verbatim DataLife 4X DVD+R from Best Buy. Previously, I had been using the DataLife Plus 2.4X +R's from the same source. I've been running tests with a tool called Kprobe, which uses Liteon DVD readers to scan the discs for parity errors (very similar to Nero CD Speed). The 4X non-Plus discs seem to have an error rate that is about the same as Pluses.

You can see some DVD media tests (including my results) here:

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?threadid=67821&referrerid=25892

[digitalmaster]

I bought Verbatim DVD+Rs cause they were a good price. They have a purple color, which seems to match the Memorex and Imation DVD+Rs I recently purchased. They all seem to be the same colored DVD+Rs. Even the top platinum/silver coating is identical.
I then bought some Fuji DVD+Rs and they are way thicker(not enough obiviously to affect play) and heavier than the other three, and have a blue coating instead of a purple one. Along with a different top coating.

[sidewinder33625]

I just bought a bunch of the Verbatim DataLife 4X DVD+R from Best Buy. Previously, I had been using the DataLife Plus 2.4X +R's from the same source. I've been running tests with a tool called Kprobe, which uses Liteon DVD readers to scan the discs for parity errors (very similar to Nero CD Speed). The 4X non-Plus discs seem to have an error rate that is about the same as Pluses.

You can see some DVD media tests (including my results) here:

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?threadid=67821&referrerid=25892

Glad to hear that the non-plus fared a least as well as the plus. I would hardly consider one test as conclusive but nonetheless we're going in the right direction. The Plus/non-plus may apply to CDRs but as far as I've seen its a mixed bag when it comes to DVDR media.

[defense]

Glad to hear that the non-plus fared a least as well as the plus. I would hardly consider one test as conclusive but nonetheless we're going in the right direction. The Plus/non-plus may apply to CDRs but as far as I've seen its a mixed bag when it comes to DVDR media.

1 test definitely isn't enough either way...but one thing that is CERTAIN is that if "CMC" makes such "POOR" Verbatim disks, and the DATA LIFE "PLUS" is so excellent...then what about the Data Life "PLUS" disks which are manufactured by "CMC?" That's a conflict right there and doesn't hold much weight...but all I really care about is the fact that they all burned and play flawlessly.

[txpharoah]

apples and oranges.

I prefer Apples.....what, not funny?

Nice.

[TerminalVeloCD]

G'day all,

Remember that all Verbatim DatalifePlus discs with the Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. (MCC) ID all come from the CMC Magnetic Corp. factory. They're the only CMC-produced discs that have azo dye.

The discs made in Singapore are made at a dedicated MCC plant. Notice with the packaging of Singapore-made MCC discs that the tear off strip runs VERTICALLY down the left side of the jewel case instead of horizontally towards the bottom.

TerminalVeloCD

[Metaluna]

Glad to hear that the non-plus fared a least as well as the plus. I would hardly consider one test as conclusive but nonetheless we're going in the right direction. The Plus/non-plus may apply to CDRs but as far as I've seen its a mixed bag when it comes to DVDR media.

Yes I should have pointed out that this was hardly an exhaustive test. Only one or two discs from one package of discs, and only on my writer (Sony DRU-500AX). Also, some people over at CDFreaks are skeptical as to whether the Liteon drives really report parity errors correctly. Still, it's encouraging and a bit more quantitative than just seeing if the disc plays on a few players. I also have a package of TDK 4X's that performed similarly. I'll be doing a lot of burning over the next couple of months so I hope to be able to test a lot more samples.