I Just got my first DVD writer - questions

[nhdonny]

I just put a cheapo emachines with amd xp chip, 120gig, 512mb, and a Nec DVD writer that does -R +R at 4x

It writes 4.7 gigs faster than my CD burner writes 700mb. this thing is extremely cool.

Questions: I wanted the DVD for backup like I've been using my CDR.

Any issues people have run across yet? I was told to use -R for now and so far what I've burned has read fine in other machines.

Should I be spending the major cash for high quality DVDs or will they all be unreadable anyway in 5 years? For my photo archives I like to use gold CDs.

thanks

[jmbeach]

No, DVD is a great backup medium. Depending on how often you access those backups, though, may determine whether you make doubles. One for daily use, and one for true backup - sealed away, locked in a safe...

The only thing I would worry about is the type of media you buy. I've heard some stories of users backing up movies, and the discs failing after several months. I too am still rather new to the DVD format for burning, so I cannot offer my long term advice. Just don't buy the cheap discs, and hopefully you'll "get what you pay for."

[Silverbug]

whats the difference between the + and - disks?

[jmbeach]

it's a completely different format, and some DVD players cannot read one or the other.

That's why ideally you have a multi format writer.

I don't really know the specific differences, but that's what google is for

[nhdonny]

The "Expert" at Bestbuy said the -R is more compatible with most readers. so far he's right.

I always trust the Bestbuy $8/hr. guy!

[Brangwyn]

In theory +R was the most compatible when first released becuase it was based on existing standards and even many standalone DVD players could read the media, it doesn't really make much of a difference now, just use whichever you can get the cheapest media for DVD's pretty much mainstream now not like 2 years ago when there really were compatability issues to consider.

[nhdonny]

thanks all. I've gone with the cheap -R disks for most stuff and a high cost box to be dedicated to long term archives.

I do believe in media differences as explained at a presentation I heard last fall. A professional photographer told stories of old CD's that are now worthless after just sitting in a safe for 5 years. He now only uses the highest priced gold cds for archives. I think that is the case for DVDs too.

an interesting twist the photogs live by seemed overkill to me. they don't re-use their compact flash. they take those, catalog the images and store them away too fearing the loss of the original file and any degradation that may occur in a copy to HD.

[bigdave]

I use Ritek G04's media in my $99 Optorite burner with no real issues, I burn ALOT and I've never had a problem. I love my DVD burner.

[Brangwyn]

Unless your wanting "long term" archive storage then I'd still use the cheapies, I've got dirt cheap CD's that still work fine easily 6 or more years later. On anything that I want to keep for long term I always have at least a couple of copies of anyway .. for me thats mainly just photos and I've got 3-4 DVD's full of stuff I've taken with duplicate copies of everything in a couple of places.

[jmbeach]

Brangwyn... we don't want to know what kind of photos you're talking about

[mresell]

-R usually works better for dvd players for tvs, but like Brangwyn says it makes little diff, nowadays. Any decent manufacturer puts out pretty good quality disks. Some off brands can be spotty, but in general dvd disks just seem to be better quality production than cdr's. The drive you use has alot to do with how many problems you have, tho.

[nhdonny]

Originally Posted by jmbeach

Brangwyn... we don't want to know what kind of photos you're talking about

Speak for yourself Jmbeach

I would love to see some of Brangwyn's pics from the races.

[Brangwyn]

I'll post some later in the week once I get home and have a chance to sort through the 2GB worth I've taken so far (not all of the F1 though)

[jmbeach]

Originally Posted by nhdonny

Speak for yourself Jmbeach

I would love to see some of Brangwyn's pics from the races.

phfew - that was close. Sorry, didn't know it was just of some innocent old races!!!