What should I expect to do with a cd burner?

[Will Hay]

Hi
(Sorry for the rather niave question, I've scanned the first page posts and can't find answer!).
I use CladDVDXP, DVD2AVI and TMPGEnc to rip my dvd's to vcd.
I'm contemplating buying a dvd writer, what can I do with it that I can't do now with the proceedure I follow and my cdrw burner?
Will I simply gain storage space (ie. will I be able to create a large mpeg2 file and create what is effectively a dvd) or can I copy dvd disks directly to a cd?
In buying regaular cdr's I've seen 4.3gb dvd disks for sale. What benefit are these if winodws has a 2gb file size limit?
Thanks,
Will

[kitty]

With your current setup you are ripping DVDs to smaller res SVCD files. DVDs can be authoured with higher resolution & bitrate MPEG2s which will (arguably) look better than SVCD. Also the menu options are a bit better with DVD. And of course it can hold more video, depending on bit rate alot more.

DVD is also the future. While I have spent over 2 years making (S)VCDs I have not made a great deal with our home movies etc. knowing that a DVD burner will make video that will be compatible for more time.

Depends on your plans & finances whether you want to jump over from CDR to DVDR.

[Will Hay]

That's a big help, thanks.
Not knowing where you are but over here in England pc dvd burners are running at around the £200 mark so, having just had a child and making a small five-ten minute movie of him each month I think I can convince the wife it's a good purchase!
Is the proceedure for creating mpeg2 dvd's assimple as it is for vcd/svcd?
Thanks,
Will

[ghoster]

well you all ready have the software all you need to do is change some of the settings in TMPGEnc. not sure what program you use to burn with though......

[Will Hay]

Hello, thanks for the post.
I use Nero, and notice that has a facility to create dvd.
You know it, is there anything better?
Will

[MrBlond]

Some people think Nero stinks with DVD but im not one of them mine are fine on each burn using 5.5.9.17 some people swear that Prassi Primo, stomp record now and instant CD/DVD are the best for DVD I have problems with these progs and stick with what works for me