Princo DVD-R Lifetime? Issue or no?

[MachineMan]

I got some Genric 1x DVD-R disc for <$1 each. They are white top with purple back. The media code says they are Princo.

After reading some of the comments for Princo a few people say that after a month or so the discs are unreadable by there stand alone players.

I have burned a dozen or so movies with these discs and some older then 2 months with out any problems.

Should I be worried about my backed-up movies becoming unreadable overtime? Or if theve lasted more then a month there OK? Is it a burning speed issue that induced this problem? Should I stay away from Princo and go with Ritek?

Players: Zenith XBV343, Sony NS415
Drive: NEC ND-1300A
Burnt with Nero Express. (Nero says its burning at 2x)

[lordsmurf]

As far as lifetime, there are rumors about Princos exploding and what-not, but I think those people are either on drugs or full of baloney. My Princos from 1½ years ago still work. I've read about disc rot and all sorts of thing, but I don't believe any of it, as that applied to pressed media, not burned media. There's some old post on this site if you search, back when I just read here and didn't post.

On the other hand, I do have two Princos I got from SOMEBODY ELSE, that suddenly won't work, but I think it's more of a case of I did not notice. Until recently, I honestly had not thoroughly tested the discs. They were likely always bad. I think the person used 2x hacked firmware and burned the 1x discs at 2x.

As far as Princo burn quality? Well, you do get about 5 coasters out of 100. And about 10 more will not burn good past about 3.8GB. I only use mine when content is under 3.5GB or it's for somebody else and they didn't specify or provide their own media. Some people have worse errors, but I chalk it up to user error.

I will say the 4x Princo are much better than the 1x or 2x Princo, both from what I've read and experienced personally. The 4x are not perfect, but a lot better.

I do like Ritek more, as I get less coasters, at least on the 4x versions.

I use Maxell if the data is important. I use Ritek if it's somwhat important. I use Princo if I don't care or if it isn't going to fill up the disc.

That a good enough review?

[poopyhead]

Well, you do get about 5 coasters out of 100. And about 10 more will not burn good past about 3.8GB.

wow...that's still a lot of coasters...i've so far managed 1 coaster (my fault for using comp at same time) out of over 150. and out of 150, only like maybe 5 max have some playback issues over 4.3 GB.... even on those, files burned under the 4.3 GB mark still play fine on my pioneer.

as for files over 4.3 GB (i.e. 4.3 - 4.38 GB), my pioneer still plays them pretty well...most of time w/ no issues...only when i play the same files over and over again on the "outer edge", does playback issues occur...

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so, it could also partially depend on your dvd player...as some may have stronger lasers that can read these cheapos better....

[LanEvo7]

I'm not sure about degradtion, but I had two and one crapped out on me. The other had playback issuses. As far as it being fine if you burn under 4 gigs, I think that is such a rip off. I am paying for a 4.3 gig disc, why are you giving me a 4 gig? Its like getting a computer that is 2ghz but you are only able to run it at 1.6ghz, because it'll explode if it goes any higher. I'd rather pay a little more for Optodiscs or LD media and be able to burn at a consistant 4.3 gigs with relatively few issues.

[lordsmurf]

wow...that's still a lot of coasters............
so, it could also partially depend on your dvd player...as some may have stronger lasers that can read these cheapos better....

As a side note, the coasters are generated from my 103 and my friend's 104. My 105 has not made a coaster yet. So it may also depend on the burner. His 104 makes more coasters than my 103. So it may also depend on your burner's ability to burn on cheap media, as well as the player to read it. My Apex refuses to read Princo, but my others are fine. And again, it may be simply a dirty laser, and I plan to clean them soon.