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Drives Supporting All DVD Writing Standards? 48

Posted by Cliff from the one-burner-to-rule-them-all dept.
lnxslak asks: "I was asked today to research a viable DVD burning solution. I thought this would be a simple task, little did I know of the horrors waiting me just around the corner. There are 5 different DVD writing standards. DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW. After coming to terms with this I figured I'd just get a drive that does them all. Is there a drive out there that does this, and (hopefully) more ? Have you guys had any experiences positive/negative with various brands? C-Net reviews are great, but I'd like some comments from people that actually know how to use a computer."
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Drives Supporting All DVD Writing Standards? More

Drives Supporting All DVD Writing Standards?

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  • My 2 cents (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Guspaz ( 556486 )
    DVD-RAM is old (outdated), and DVD-R/DVD-RW is sort of the same standard, as is DVD+R/DVD+RW. AFAIK most modern drives can do the recordable-only version of their standard.

    From what I've heard, the "-" (DVD-R/DVD-RW) standard is winning the formats race due to higher compatibility and wider industry support. So I'd say go with that type of drive. However there are drives coming to market that can burn both the dash and the plus standards.

    • Re:My 2 cents (Score:5, Funny)

      by grammar nazi ( 197303 ) on Wednesday December 18, 2002 @02:04AM (#4913893) Journal
      There are 5 different DVD writing standards. DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW.



      According to the MPAA, there are 11,113 standards of DVD burners, since a 8x DVD+R Writer counts for 8 standards, 4x DVD-RW counts for 4, and etc.

    • Re:My 2 cents (Score:3, Informative)

      by tchuladdiass ( 174342 )
      I would just like to point out that dvd-ram isn't really outdated. Basically, it's not a format intended for video use, but for data use. Whereas a dvd-rw or dvd+rw can only be written to no more than 1000 times, dvd-ram can go at least 100,000 rewrites. Also, dvd-ram can be randomly written to, unlike dvd-rw, which uses the same method as cd-rw to simulate a randomly-writable device.

      So, if your application is data-centric, dvd-ram is the way to go. It is basically the same type of tech used in MO drives, but a lot cheaper for the media. Also, dvd players are starting to come out supporting dvd-ram.

      • Re:My 2 cents (Score:2, Interesting)

        by rottcodd ( 180048 )
        I use dvd-ram to store some of my data-- since I generate data in chunks of less than a gig, the fact that it isn't session based is a real advantage-- I've been using ext2 formatted dvd-ram disks.

        That said, I'm a little scared of losing the supply of dvd-ram disks, and I've been thinking of trying to get an extra drive.

    • DVD-RAM isn't dead (yet, anyway) (Score:1, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Actually, DVD-RAM is not old/outdated. It was recently enhanced to allow 4.7GB per disc (9.4GB per double-sided disc) and is being used by many set-top DVD-Video Recorders, like the Panasonic DMR-E30, DMR-HS2, and some models by Toshiba as well.

      If you plan on investing in any of this equipment, being able to read/write DVD-RAM discs on your computer could provide you some benefit as it lets you easily exchange information between these units and your computer.

      I doubt Panasonic and Toshiba would be releasing new products that support DVD-RAM if it were an obsolete format. I happen to have a DMR-HS2 and have been very happy with it.
      • I agree, it's an excellent format for data use, but DVD-RAM discs are nearly impossible to find locally, and their scarcity on the local market doesn't help their prices. Still, I see some ultra-cheap ones for sale on the net... A 10-pack double-sided in cartridge for 85$ US seems like a pretty good deal.

  • Here you go (Score:3, Informative)

    by MattCohn.com ( 555899 ) on Tuesday December 17, 2002 @11:31PM (#4913174)
    Enjoy [pcworld.com]

  • Sony DRU500A (Score:4, Informative)

    by rrowv ( 582861 ) <rrowv1@gmail.com> on Tuesday December 17, 2002 @11:59PM (#4913359)
    I got the Sony DRU500A [sonystyle.com] a few weeks ago. It does DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, and CD-RW. No DVD-RAM, but who uses that anyway? Comes with all kinds of great software. Not bad for $350.

  • I'm Still looking ... (Score:3, Informative)

    by mikecheng ( 3359 ) on Wednesday December 18, 2002 @12:00AM (#4913365) Homepage Journal
    I've been looking for a "do everything" DVD drive for a while. Still haven't found it. But I have found a couple of good spots on the net for DVD comparisons and info:
    Extremetech DVD page [extremetech.com]

    Extremetech dvd/cd page [extremetech.com]

    arstechnica dvd a04 review [arstechnica.com] with a great comparison table down the bottom.

  • Sony DRU500 (Score:5, Informative)

    by the eric conspiracy ( 20178 ) on Wednesday December 18, 2002 @12:09AM (#4913411)
    The Sony DRU500 is the most universal drive currently available, however other companies have announced drives with similar capabilities.

    There are drives that combine DVD-RAM with DVD-R/RW out there. I have one of the first DVD-RAM drives made, (read very slow). DVD-RAM has some advantages over other rewritable formats, most particularly in that it really is designed from the ground up as format for rewritable data storage. The big downside with DVD-RAM media is that you can't put a DVD-RAM disk into a typical DVD-ROM drive and read the data, while this is possible with other DVD formats.

  • Sony is working on one, but it hasn't hit the market (that I know of) yet. Personally, I use DVD-R (it came with my Mac).

    Here is a list of what other vendors are using:

    Apple: DVD-R
    Dell: DVD+R
    Gateway: DVD-R
    HP: DVD+R

    I like the -R format, it seems to work well. Haven't tried the +R yet but I'll bet it's just as good.

    DVD-RAM is not worth worrying about.

    • I agree with RAM. The Gateway's have a DVD-RAM that also does DVD-R and -RW. In fact I just used mine tonight to burn off a copy of my MP3's. 4 GB pf MP3 burnt in about 30 minutes. DVD-RAM is SLOW! STILL! Lastnight I formatted a DVD-RAM (Free one that came with system) and that took about 20 min/ Copied 600 MB of data to it and it took nearly 30 minutes to write that! DVD-RAM is 1x. Period. It will die unless the speeds come up. Mine also seemed to say that it will(DVD-RAM Discs) work in some DVD-ROMS and players. Only way I will use it is for backup media. BTW, the drive that comes in the gateways seems to have done away with the tray thingy. If you went the route I did and order a new machine, get a CD-RW with it for normal stuff. From all reports, DVD-R is the best for compatability. DVD+R will eventually work in possibly, but I don't know why DVD+R is better. One review I saw said that the DVD-R worked in nearly everything while the + ones did not. YMMV!

  • A review from someone who knows how to use a compu (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 18, 2002 @01:07AM (#4913681)
    Hello, my name is Alice, I am a retired homeworker currently using AOL as my "Internet" portal and electric mail.

    I own a universal DVD burner myself, which came with my computer, which was conveniently bought from my local Gateway Country store, where I got best deal on the dollar, professional technical help on setting up my modem and extended warranty for a very low price.

    I am satisfied with my universal DVD burner, I usually use it to save digital pictures of my cat. In Windows XP Home Edition (it's a company called Microsoft that makes it, I think they are a Seattle-based company, but you might check your local phonebook to see if you have a dealer in your town) you just click "Burn this to CD..." and even though it is DVD, not CD, the operating system from Microsoft (highly recommended for high-tech professionals, by the way) knows the difference and does the burning just right.

    On a 5-point scale I would rate my universal DVD-burner as 5 stars.
  • C-Net reviews are great, but I'd like some comments from people that actually know how to use a computer *cough* that's a bit harsh. I thought CNet actually has pretty good reviews.
  • Check out the Sony DRX500UL (External USB2/Firewire) at http://www.sonystyle.com/ [sonystyle.com] or the Sony DRU500A (Internal EIDE).

    Both read/write DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-R, and CD-RW. DVD-RAM is basically obsolete.
  • Non Sequitur \Non seq"ui*tur\ [L., it does not follow]
    n 1: a reply that has no relevance to what preceded it

    AutoGoogle [microsoft.com]
    AutoSlashBack [slashdot.org]
    AutoEverything [everything2.com]
  • I would go broke if I had to use DVD+R media. Generic DVD+R blanks cost 2 times more than DVD-R.
  • Here [vcdhelp.com], actually. It's a list of DVD burners (both PC and standalone, since it's related to VCDs) and their capabilities, plus reviews from owners.

    I use it constantly to help friends & family to choose what DVD player (standalone) to buy, so they don't buy something that *only* does DVD and pay through the nose for it.

  • Watch out for that Sony (Score:3, Interesting)

    by phr2 ( 545169 ) on Wednesday December 18, 2002 @05:41AM (#4914485)
    The new Sony unit does both the +R/RW and -R/RW formats, but I've heard (source: it's one of those "I read it on the internet, so it must be true" things) that the -R discs it writes have more compatibility problems than -R discs written by -R-only drives. I'd just pick a format (- or +) and stick to it. Besides, Sony is an arm of the evil MPAA--who knows what DRM the next firmware upgrade will have?

    Anyway, I currently don't see any significant advantage of +R/+RW over -R/-RW, given the people actually write these discs. So I think if I get a DVD burner any time soon, it will be a Pioneer DVR-105. This burns -R discs at 4x speed (maximum DVD+R speed of any current drive is 2.4x), though the 4x blanks are currently considerably more expensive than 1x and 2x blanks. I figure that won't last and DVD blanks will be like CD-R soon enough.

  • One drive to do them all
    One drive to read them
    One drive to write them all
    and in the darkness bind them.
  • You should buy those $10000 drives that burn REAL DVDs. Works on all drives, don't worry about all the other formats.
    • REAL DVDs aren't burned. They are pressed. Production CDs and DVDs have a layer of alumninum that get their Pits and Lands pressed by a metal plate. They are not burned.

  • Re: Sony DRU-500a problems? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by mccalli ( 323026 ) on Wednesday December 18, 2002 @11:58AM (#4915275) Homepage
    Hmm...Slashdot problems as well by the looks of things...

    Anyway I've had one of these multiformat drives on order for a month now, and there's still no sign of stock. I've looked everywhere - no stock in the UK, and none I can find in the US. No-one has any delivery dates either - the retailer I've ordered from says his supplier won't even confirm a date, and they've already blown three of them.

    All this makes me wonder if the device has been withdrawn for some technical reason. I'm aware there's been a BIOS update already, but it does seem odd that no shop anywhere can get hold of these drives. Even Sony's own online shop says end of January before shipping.

    Has anyone heard anything?

    Cheers,
    Ian

  • Strictly speaking, the formats are properly called +RW and +R. Look at the logos on the front of the drive.

    The drives and discs are called "DVD+RW" on the fairly spurious grounds that they are compatible with DVD drives. +RW is *not* a DVD format. That's why it doesn't have the DVD logo on it.

    There are several Panasonic drives which support all the DVD writing standards; for example, the LF-D321U. Only one drive supports both DVD and +RW writing standards, the Sony DRU500A.

    In terms of which you actually want to use: DVD-R is best for video discs playable on a DVD player. +RW or DVD-RAM are best for data storage. I haven't found much use for DVD-RW, except test burns of DVD-R discs to check the DVD authoring worked properly. +R is a bit better than +RW but not as good as DVD-R for video, and less convenient than +RW for data, so there's no much point in it.
    • I tend to go by the cost of the media more than anything else.

      For example, 1 DVD-RAM disc costs more than several DVD-R discs. If you are really concerned about data, you could burn 2 DVD-Rs for the cost of 1 DVD-RAM. (I always double-burn everything -- I've burned some 1900 cds, each twice.) Or even 3. Having a spare means when you scratch your precious dvd and lose 100M of data, that you can simply go back to your archive copy and re-copy a 2nd copy of it. Yay.

      Also, the Panasonic LF-321U is one of the cheapest drives out there that does what it does. There is a good deal at TigerDirect.com [tigerdirect.com] -- $199. You can add a 2nd year to the warrantee for $22 more. Grand total of $235 with shipping. I don't know how long this deal is going to exist, but I have one on order as my first DVD-Writer and am really looking forward to it. (It's a christmas present from my parents)

      • On the other hand, DVD-RAM discs are in a cartridge, so they're practically impossible to scratch in regular usage.
        • Nonetheless, DVD-Rs are about 60 cents (I just ordered 100).
          I see DVD-RAMs for about 6 dollars.

          Which is easier? Being careful and burning multiple copies, or paying 10 times as much? Which takes more time? Burning 2 copies, or earning the money to pay 10 times the cost for all your data storage needs. (Answer: Depends how much you make per hour, really.)

          And keep in mind those cartridge DVD-RAMs may not work in other people's DVD-ROM drives. If you want to give data to your friends, it's not the most compatible solution.

          I would personally not be caught dead paying 10X the cost for the storage. The whole reason I am only now, as of December 2002, switching from CDR to DVD-R is because it is finally cheaper per-byte to store the data.

          I have some 2 terabytes of information and aquire new data (mostly due to encoding tv shows I watch) at about a gigabyte per day. That comes out to a hefty sum each year (I have ordered 1000 cdrs 4 times in the past 2 years). For anyone wanting an economic solution, DVD-R is the way to go.

  • Thanks to everyone that gave me some info. While I am a little bit wary about getting a dvd burner from sony, it seems as though they have the best product out there right now. So I just request a DRX500UL, not all that expensive either, only 750CDN.

    Thanks again.
  • I can't rember what it's caleld but best buy should carry them. AT least that's wher emy frined got his.
  • I have a 1st generation DVD-RAM (Panasonic LF-D103). I'm very happy with it, but I really only use for backups. You can write to it 100,000 times, I think the other re-writeables only support up to 1000 writes. I think it is supposed to last much longer too, 30yrs vs 10yrs.

    The initial format may take 30mins, but after that formats only take 60secs, although there's no need to format as you can just delete all files.

    I would recommend DVD-RAM as a backup solution (new DVD-RAM drives support approx 4.5GB per side of disk). I use one disk for each type of data (e.g. one disk for mp3/ogg, one disk for data). Remember to make off site backups (parents, friends house).

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