Interesting new test of DVD writers

[jolo]

I just read an interesting test and review of some of the major DVD Writer players.
Please let me know what yoou think of the article from Tom's Hard News.

http://www.tomshardware.com/newsletter/vol3/5/dvd.html

[BKL]

Tom's says DVD+R/RW is more compatible with home players, yet I have had little trouble with my DVD-Rs burned via DVR-104 or 105. The only problems I have encountered have usually been tied to the recording software, not the format. Admittedly, I haven't tried the +R/RW format, but then, I have had no problems with the -R format. From what I have read, most sources have said the -R format is more compatible for home use.
Has anybody seen a real difference?

[bacardi/avt]

I have tried some different media of both + and - and from what I can conclude there has only been one standalone DVD player that did not like the DVD-R but then again this player is about to break down since it can't play all original DVD either...

Personally I do not think there is much compatibility problems related to the format, it is rater the discs of poor quality that makes the differens..

[BKL]

I have used some cheap stuff from www.meritline.com with little problem. Even with my new DVR-105, once I switched to Ulead DVD Movie Factory 2, no more coasters. Nero was driving me nuts with the 105 and it shipped with the drive.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Good review by Toms' and I have to agree with the statements about cheap media,why spend $300US for a DVD writer and use $.50 no-name
media?I only use Verbatim or Imation disks.

[jolo]

:P
All great feedback to the review and I thank you and I am sure others who read your replies will be grateful for sharing your experienes.

It does appear that Tom's Hardware review seems pretty accurate for most of you, not all.

I also thought the article did an excellent job of summarizing the differences between the + and - R types as well as summarizing the corporate fencing going on.

It does appear that the blank media makes a big difference in this case, where CDs are a much more mature media and that is not the case there.
But I think it also appears that in the case of CDs and DVDs the software makes a significance difference.

Please keep posting, it would be great to get some more feedback on the review of DVD writers.

The review is here
http://www.tomshardware.com/newsletter/vol3/5/dvd.html

[edthesped]

Good review by Toms' and I have to agree with the statements about cheap media,why spend $300US for a DVD writer and use $.50 no-name
media?I only use Verbatim or Imation disks.

I often record things on dvd that will only be used for a year at most and cheap media fits the bill. Valuable home movies and images go to branded media.

[jolo]

edthesped,

That is interesting. I think the point made in Tom's Hardware was that cheap media will make coasters.

What type of DVD media do you use ?

Jon

[crimpshrine]

Good review by Toms' and I have to agree with the statements about cheap media,why spend $300US for a DVD writer and use $.50 no-name
media?I only use Verbatim or Imation disks.

I often record things on dvd that will only be used for a year at most and cheap media fits the bill. Valuable home movies and images go to branded media.

I burn with .80 cent media on a DRU500A with 0 coaster out of 300+ DVDRs so far. (Riteks) (Have actually fully verified around 50 fully no glitches EVER yet)

Have also used around 25-30 princo's with 0 coasters (69 cent media)

All work great on all my Settop DVD players.

[wulf109]

Tom's Hardware is like a magazine,he reflects the views of his advertisisers.

[jolo]

wulf109,

I hear what you are saying about Tom's Hardware site, but I don't believe that his site are like cnet, etc that really bias all of their reviews. I'm not disagreeing with youm it is just that I see measurements there, not just subjective comments.

Please tell me what about this specific review that you disagree with ?

I thought in this review, he used measurements, not just jargon. Also, his site hosts an open forum for anyone to say what they want. Like all reviews though, it is appropriate to be skeptical and use them as a tool, not as a bible.

Jon

[dun4cheap]

I am interested in knowing why he pointed out that the FW update for the pioneer a04 allows it to burn at 2x but they didn't mention the sony fw update allowing it to burn at 4x dvd+r let alone the 4x dvd-r. Even more interesting they mentioned pioneer was the fastest 4x burner. I would believe that the sony is the fastest currently. Especially since the pioneer ao5 can't even burn the 4x dvd+r. In all fairness it was pretty obvious that Tom is a pioneer fan. Not that their is anything wrong with pioneer. Just put all the faxts on the table.

[jolo]

I like your handle dun4cheap,

Those are interesting questions and I know that you can enter comments to his review. I'd like to ask that and check some of the other reviews.

I did think that the burn numbers were interesting. I personally have a Pioneer DVD reader, the 106s.

But it did appear that he felt the only real difference was that the Sony can read both formats. I wonder why other vendors don't start coming out with that as well.

Jon

[StudeBarc]

Jolo,
Sony aren't "the one and only" on the dual +/- drives.

NEC ND1300 is a dual +/- burner
TDK Indi DVD Model AID+040212 is a dual +/- burner

Sony were first but others are following suit.

source: http://www.dvdplusrw.org/pc/overview_next_gen.html

Regards
Studebarc. 8)

[Peka]

Seems to be a fairly objective review, with the exception that the Sony DRU500A can do 4x +R with firmware upgrade, as mentioned already in this thread.

No matter how objective a review is, there will always be skeptics and people who just outright disagree, but he did state this in his conclusion -

You will notice that all the burners in the tests are pretty much equal

A pretty obvious conslusion when all the burners are doing either 2x, 2.4x or 4x - they should be pretty much equal.

The points made about media issues and no different to the media issues that CD-R and CD-RW had when they became popular. One point that he couldn't cover properly in his test, was software. There are so many different apps for burning around, and this site has numerous posts about Nero, or RecordNow or whatever causing issues in certain configurations with certain hardware.

Personally, DVD+R with RecordNow has proved to be bulletproof for me, especially for DVD Video that I make for other people. Having said that, I can't get 4x +R media, so for archiving I use Pioneer DVD-R at 4x to save me some time. I disagree with his statement the DVD-R is better for archiving - my burner can still read the +R/RW discs that it made the first day I bought it so really, what's the diff?

[PhilipL]

Withdrawn

[jolo]

Thanks Philip !!!!!!

I was hoping that there would be feedback like the kind you are offering.

And a double thank you for willing to post on Tom's Hardware site.

Please keep us informed.

Thanks,
Jon

[StudeBarc]

Yo Philip,
Been wondering where you got to. Your 12 year old nemesis here...LOL.

But seriously, I am interested in the pursuit of correct information regarding the DVD-VR and +VR situation. Interestingly you say you can do a VBR direct to -RW disc now using +VR format. Very interesting. As I have said elsewhere perhaps you are right on "da link widout da loss" on -RW etc. It still begs the question though..."Why was DVD-VR necessary at all". A confusing cocktail of formats on the Pioneer 7000 does nothing to help the DVD recorder selection process. Put simply DVD-VR is not cross platform compatible, +VR is. Or are Pioneer about to "fix" their error in providing an Editable version of DVD-Video (ie +VR) on their latest recorders?

Re: The newer PC DVD recorders soon becoming available: http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.asp?RelatedID=3278

Sorry for not sticking directly to the thread topic, but Philip does like to rant a bit. Keep us all posted Philip!!

Regards
Studebarc

[Seraphic]

Not a bad short summary like review.

Lacking a bit in details/opinions on the drives in each individual drives section. I Also would of liked more information and talk about media and graphs of media compatibility & peformance on each of the drives.

The review seems rushed. The topic could of easily been 20 pages deep.

[edthesped]

edthesped,

That is interesting. I think the point made in Tom's Hardware was that cheap media will make coasters.

What type of DVD media do you use ?

Jon

For general backups, princo 2x DVD-R's and ritek DVD-R's. For long term I use Verbatim DVD+R. I have yet to burn a coaster that wasn't my fault.

BTW, I have the Sony DRU-500A and am very happy with it.

Edit: Even better, my 4X Verbatim DVD+R's from Best Buy just shipped. I guess I'll soon know how well the drive performs at 4x. BTW they sell the 50 pack for $99, not bad for 4x media.

Sorry it took so long to reply, I forgot I posted in this thread. I guess I should pay a little more attention to the "me" symbol.