How to find the laser wavelength before buying DVD writer?

[walter4h]

Hi, guys:
I have got a capture card (have not been disappointed, thanks to this great forum), now I am looking at a dual DVD R/W. I am thinking about Sony 500/510, but have not decided yet.
Today I had another look at dvdDemystified.com/dvdfaq.html and here what I found:
-->In early 2000 the DVD-R format was split into an "authoring" version and a "general" version. The general version, intended for home use, writes with a cheaper 650-nm laser, the same as DVD-RAM. DVD-R(A) is intended for professional development and uses a 635-nm laser. DVD-R(A) discs are not writable in DVD-R(G) recorders, and vice-versa, but both kinds of discs are readable in most DVD players and drives. The main differences, in addition to recording wavelength, are that DVD-R(G) uses decrementing pre-pit addresses, a pre-stamped (version 1.0) or pre-recorded (version 1.1) control area, CPRM and allows double-sided discs. /.../ <---
With this regard I am interested to know which laser I am getting with this or that DVD writer? I had a look at quite a few descriptions (here at dvdrHelp.com) and could not find a single instance of the laser wavelength mentioned. Is it important?
Thx Walter

[solarfox]

Well, yes, it is important, at least in theory -- as the article mentioned, DVD-R(general) media cannot be written in a DVD-R(authoring) drive, and vice-versa.

However -- as a practical matter, it's not something you need be overly concerned about, as all DVD-R drives sold on the consumer market (as well as all DVD+/-R "dual-format" drives) are of the DVD-R(general) type, as is the vast majority of media you'll be likely to find off-the-shelf at your local retailer.

Any DVD-R(authoring) drives or media you come across will be immediately obvious as such because (a) they'll clearly identify themselves as such on the packaging, and (b) they'll be about 10X as expensive as DVD-R(general). (And (c), you'll generally only find them at a specialty shop or mail-order house which caters specifically to the professional market. The only mass-market retailer I've ever seen DVD-R(authoring) at is Fry's Electronics, and even they only carried a very small selection of the DVD-R(authoring) blanks; they never have carried the drives that I know of.)

[walter4h]

Many thanks, solarfox!
As always, once you know it, it seems so simple, but it certainly looks different while you are still trying to figure it out! This process is stretched somewhat longer for the guys like me, who can afford to dabble in this only on weekends.
wh