Which DVD Writer to Buy?  | | |
December 1st, 2003, 10:23 AM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Best To Avoid Me
Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Under Your Bed
Posts: 8,864
| Which DVD Writer to Buy?
Morning clan!
Ok guys, I'm wanting to buy myself a DVD Writer for Christmas, but I haven't done ANY homework on the subject...that's where you come in.
I don't want to say that money is no object, but I am willing to pay a little extra for a better product. I really don't know much about them to be honest, so would you mind helping me out? Maybe tell me what features I'm looking for, what media to purchase, recommend specific models, etc...
Also, right now I don't even have a DVD-ROM...should I buy one so I can copy DVD's straight from DVD-DVD or do I have to burn images when using a DVD writer?
Sorry for the n00b questions, but I can always depend on you guys foe help...
Thanks! 
Mike
EDIT: This one seems to be a good deal, but like I said I'm just now starting to research... LiteOn LDW-401S DVD-ReWritable Drive, 2MB, Retail
It's only $103 shipped, is that too "cheap"? 
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Last edited by Martoch : December 1st, 2003 at 10:31 AM.
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December 1st, 2003, 10:33 AM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Winter Park FL
Posts: 5,303
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Right now I am in the process of writting an article for TechIMO that talks about legally backing up your DVDs  My newphews distroy my sisters DVDs so she needs copies  Anyways... dont settle for anything less than dual format. I have had the best luck with my burner. Pioneer DRU-A06. Dual Format 4X. It was rated by maximum PC to be the fastest 4X around and I havent burned any coasters so I am happy with it. By the time you want to buy your burner it will probably have even faster burn speeds. I have seen some 6X or 8X I think at Best Buy but havent read up on em so I woudnt jump on those just yet. 4X media is hard enough to get so I dont know where to get the faster stuff. I burn no faster then 2X so I have a good burn so the extra speed wouldnt matter to me. Also A new DVD format is comming up in the near future which is similar to DVD-9... dual layers... what most movies are on so you may want to wait for that. Dual layer gives 2x space as a regular DVD-R would. So as you would imagine some compression is needed to get a dual layer movie onto a regular DVD-R. I dont think you need to get an extra DVD Rom though.
-: phenious :- |
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December 1st, 2003, 10:39 AM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Best To Avoid Me
Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Under Your Bed
Posts: 8,864
| Quote: Originally posted by phenious Anyways... dont settle for anything less than dual format. Pioneer DRU-A06. Dual Format 4X. -: phenious :- | Thanks phenious! 
Do it will say DVD-Dual in the description or what? What exactly is dual format referring to?
Speaking of media, should I look for DVD-R's or RW's? Size capacity?
I see people mentioning +R/-R...um, what???
Last edited by Martoch : December 1st, 2003 at 10:43 AM.
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December 1st, 2003, 10:44 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado
Posts: 404
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Phenious is so right, I tried several DVD burners, like five of 'em before I finally settled on the Pioneer A03 (106d). Even Sony likes this Pioneer, so much so, they use it in their newest computers.
I burnt a couple of coasters trying to back-up my DVDs, but it was cockpit error, thanks to Nero and DVDShrink no more coasters. |
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December 1st, 2003, 10:44 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Kzoo, MI
Posts: 883
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I second the Pioneer. And -R media is better IMO. |
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December 1st, 2003, 10:56 AM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Winter Park FL
Posts: 5,303
|  Dual format refers to DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/+RW
-R is rated most compartible for write once media.
+RW if I remember correctly on the Rewrite front. Not sure why but hey just remember reading it  It will say Dual Format in the discription and the media it can burn will probably list it like... DUAL FORMAT: DVD-R/RW/+R/+RW. I only burn with -R and havent ran into a single player that wont play my DVDs which includes some first Gen DVD Players. Let me know if I can help ya  I live near ya if you need help on shoping day
-: phenious :- |
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December 1st, 2003, 10:58 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | I do Ouchy-Bleedy.
Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Albany, Ga.
Posts: 11,485
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I have see a couple of articles about the Pioneer DRU-A06 - both good. I think its about the best available right now.
Vern
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December 1st, 2003, 10:59 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | track03.ogg
Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: 97367
Posts: 5,393
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Plextor has made themselves a name with CDRW drives, and their 8x DVD burner seems to have come out on top. If I couldn't get that, it would either be a Pioneer AO4 or a LiteOn. |
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December 1st, 2003, 11:03 AM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Best To Avoid Me
Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Under Your Bed
Posts: 8,864
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Thanks guys!
I'll be doing my shopping online, but feel free to stop by and show me the ropes as far as burning goes, ok phenious? I'll even treat ya to some of my famous snow crab legs!!!
Thanks for the -R/+R clarification...ok, now for the media, any certain kind I should buy? Brand/speed/capacity?
I didn't see the Pioneer on newegg at first glance...I'll do an epinions search here shortly.
Is this it? http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...er%2CDVR%2DA06
Last edited by Martoch : December 1st, 2003 at 11:11 AM.
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December 1st, 2003, 11:13 AM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Ultimate Member
Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 1,352
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+R is the has been the new standard. Microsoft and a few other companies have made a comitment not to support -R media. I wouldn't buy anything -R unless it is a dual format burner. no -R media for me.
btw, i just bought a 4x liteon dvd burner at best buy, works great. was $80 after rebates and i saw the same one at wallmart for $90. |
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