DVD Media

[Walmsley]

Hi

I'm new to DVD writers, and I'm due to get a Sony DWU 18A which:-

"Writes DVD-R/DVD+R formats at a speed of 8x
Writes DVD-RW format at a speed of 2x.
Writes DVD+RW format at a speed of 8x"

I'll be using it to backup my H/D from time to time, and to store all my
MP3s and Digi Pix.

What is the difference between DVD- and DVD+ and DVD-RAM?

I have a SONY PS2 as the only other Player in the house (Other than a
Pioneer DVD 106 on my other PC) and I hope to be able to D/L some movies and
burn them onto disks.

What are the best/most suitable type of Disk to be able to do the above
tasks, and will I be able to Burn D/L movies onto these disks, and what
format should I be burning them in?

Also, any tips on where to buy cheap DVD media in the UK would be
appreciated (Ebuyer are doing "Bulkpaq DVD-R 4.7Gb 4x Orange top, 25 pack in
cake box " for £9.25 (inv vat) - any good?)

Thanks in advance,

Nik.

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[Big Mac]

I'm new to DVD writers, and I'm due to get a Sony DWU 18A which:-
"Writes DVD-R/DVD+R formats at a speed of 8x
Writes DVD-RW format at a speed of 2x.
Writes DVD+RW format at a speed of 8x"
I'll be using it to backup my H/D from time to time, and to store all my
MP3s and Digi Pix.
What is the difference between DVD- and DVD+ and DVD-RAM?

I am not real techie, but I have a DVD +R/-R in my computer. You
probably know most of this, but I'll run on anyway. Just ignore most
of this stuff. It is basic stuff, but I'll add I don't know a whole
lot about it. Just to start, regular DVD video mode (don't know what
that is called, I think just DVD), which is what you buy or rent to
see a movie, was factory made.

All of this other DVD stuff, -R +R +RW +RW, is computer write-to
stuff. If you are going to write to a DVD disk for someone else, like
someone who has a DVD player, that's when you have to worry about what
kind of DVD disk you write to for them. You have to write a standard
that their DVD player can read. To be basic, DVD-R is older
technology & DVD+R is newer technology. (more explained later. See
the ** below)

To answer your question, you can back up your hard drive with either.
I backed up mine with DVD+Rs. Just buy the corresponding disks.

You see the -R on most copy-able CDs, like CD -R. I don't know what
the -R stands for, but any CD-R means that you can copy to it only
once. With DVDs, maybe the -R was meant to mirror the -R used with
CDs so that people could easily identify what it does.

As far as DVD-RAM, I see the format has been around since the late
90s, and I don't know what advantages or disadvantages it has, but it
isn't a popular format. MY Sony DVD player is supposed to play DVD,
SVDVD, VCD, CD, CD-RW, CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW, & MP3s on those
formats. I purposely bought it because it could do DVD+R, so I had
all bases covered. But this $90 multi-format-playing marvel doesn't
say it plays DVD-RAM...

** DVD players originally played only factory written DVDs. Then
they.started being produced that could play the computer written -R a
while back. Now DVD +R has come along. It is supposed to have some
advantages over -R. I do not know what they are. It also is write to
only once. Most of the bargain DVD players (under $100 American)
still only will play DVD -R stuff. But there are some bargain DVD
players that play DVD+R stuff. The high end newer technology DVD
players/writers like +R. They probably do both. Almost every DVD
player out there for sale now will play MP3s, even $50 ones. The last
time I saw a DVD player that could only play a regular DVD and no
other formats was about 4 months ago, on sale for less than $30. And I
saw a DVD player for like $645 that specified +R, but didn't specify
-R. I don't know if they just forgot or what.

As far as buying the disks, The DVD-Rs are getting cheaper all of the
time. I don't think you pay more for DVD+Rs either. RWs - I don't
know what they cost. But it is probably most economical to buy a
bunch of DVD +R or -R rather than DVD - or + RW.

I hope some of what you wanted to know was answered above. And if you
get interested in copying regular factory made DVDs, they'll be copy
protected, and you'll need to get hold of the right software to strip
it away. Legally companies can't outright sell you DVD copying
software that does this (A judge just shut down a company that did
this). But there is old freeware that will do it. And I saw today
that a company is selling their easy to use software without the
decoding/stripping stuff in it, then you just go to a site on the
Internet, supposedly not associated with them, and download the
"update". The program is sold at Wal-Mart & CompUSA, as well as
downloadable off of their site (and a link to the site for the
"upgrade" off of this site ($19.95 American for the software):

http://www.123copydvd.com/?source=GOTO&keyword=123+copy+dvd

 

[Big Mac]

other formats was about 4 months ago, on sale for less than $30. And I
saw a DVD player for like $645 that specified +R, but didn't specify
-R. I don't know if they just forgot or what.

Typo. I meant $65, not $645.

 

[Lefty]

I hope some of what you wanted to know was answered above. And if you
get interested in copying regular factory made DVDs, they'll be copy
protected, and you'll need to get hold of the right software to strip
it away. Legally companies can't outright sell you DVD copying
software that does this (A judge just shut down a company that did
this). But there is old freeware that will do it. And I saw today
that a company is selling their easy to use software without the
decoding/stripping stuff in it, then you just go to a site on the
Internet, supposedly not associated with them, and download the
"update". The program is sold at Wal-Mart & CompUSA, as well as
downloadable off of their site (and a link to the site for the
"upgrade" off of this site ($19.95 American for the software):

http://www.123copydvd.com/?source=GOTO&keyword=123+copy+dvd

I downloaded 123 Copy DVD last week, and it's been working great. It's
the cheapest option I've found for universal copying. If you get it,
don't forget to upgrade with the patch from their site before you attempt
to copy anything. The patch is free and you don't have to register for
it, so it's not a big deal.
-Lefty

 

[Walmsley]

Big Mac

You're a star. That's exactly what I needed to know, no techie stuff, just
plain old English! I now have a good understanding of what it all means.

I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my query. Thanks mate.

Nik.

--
_____________________________________________________
*** Remove SPAMKILL from my Email Address to reply via Email ***
_____________________________________________________

I hope some of what you wanted to know was answered above. And if you
get interested in copying regular factory made DVDs, they'll be copy
protected, and you'll need to get hold of the right software to strip
it away. Legally companies can't outright sell you DVD copying
software that does this (A judge just shut down a company that did
this). But there is old freeware that will do it. And I saw today
that a company is selling their easy to use software without the
decoding/stripping stuff in it, then you just go to a site on the
Internet, supposedly not associated with them, and download the
"update". The program is sold at Wal-Mart & CompUSA, as well as
downloadable off of their site (and a link to the site for the
"upgrade" off of this site ($19.95 American for the software):

http://www.123copydvd.com/?source=GOTO&keyword=123+copy+dvd

I downloaded 123 Copy DVD last week, and it's been working great. It's
the cheapest option I've found for universal copying. If you get it,
don't forget to upgrade with the patch from their site before you attempt
to copy anything. The patch is free and you don't have to register for
it, so it's not a big deal.
-Lefty

 

[Big Mac]

I downloaded 123 Copy DVD last week, and it's been working great. It's
the cheapest option I've found for universal copying. If you get it,
don't forget to upgrade with the patch from their site before you attempt
to copy anything. The patch is free and you don't have to register for
it, so it's not a big deal.
-Lefty

That's good to hear that it works well. I have already downloaded the
patch in anticipation of purchasing the product (I'd like to get a
hard copy on a CD rather than D-load, but not completely necessary).
I got the patch already in case some judge moves to shut down the site
with it...

 

[jazzcraze]

I also have 123 and have copied 4 dvds successfully. Its allot easier
than juggling with 2 programs to do the same thing. Doubt they'll be
shut down anytime soon. btw, I saw it on the shelf at Wal-Mart, so
you *can* get it on a cd if you want.

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