Nice DVD media for BenQ DW-1655

[Skybuck Flying]

Hello,

Skybuck's Dream PC has an BenQ DW-1655 cd/dvd reader/writer.

It can also write and read dual layer DVD recordables.

Since I have lot's of data to backup... using 8.5 GB discs sure sounds
attractive.

This media seems great for my drive:

http://www.cdr-zone.com/reviews/dvd_media_reviews/verbatim_8x__double_layer_media_review_page_1.html

( Verbatim 8x DVD+R Double layer )

The reviewer used an older BenQ drive to test this media. The newer drive
will probably work just as well ?!

Do you have experience with the BenQ DW-1655 drive and the Verbatim 8x speed
double layer DVD media discs ?

I am gonna give it a try... so I'll order some... but it is gonna take some
time before I get to try it all out

Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Skybuck Flying]

Wow these discs are pretty fricking expensive.

However I am running out of closet space...

For now I will buy a couple of these to make a backup of my system... and
then I'll also buy a few single layer dvd's to burn a copy of Windows Vista
and install System Commander and then I'll have multi boot with Vista and XP
64 bit.

Yeah.

Hopefully these dual layer dvd's will become much cheaper in the future

Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Skybuck Flying]

Well I just ordered 50 of these discs for 253 euro... pretty fricking
expensive.

That's about 8.5 * 50 = 425 GB

Should be enough to backup a 500 GB drive... however not all space is used


I also ordered 200 sony dvd discs of 4.7 GB for 93 euro

(50 in cake)

So that's about 4.7 * 200 = 940 GB

That should be enough to burn some stuff for a while

Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Citizen Bob]

Since I have lot's of data to backup... using 8.5 GB discs sure sounds
attractive.

A hard disk is even more attractive and a helluva lot less expensive
per GB - plus they are much faster. Get a removable bay

http://www.axiontech.com/prdt.php?item=36249

and you can swap drives as you need them. I would not recommend USB
for this application because despite the theoretical specs, it's too
slow albeit faster than DVDs.

One other advantage of HDDs is the data is there for life, whereas
dye-based DVDs have a limited shelf life. To get any longevity out of
them requires burning them at substandard speeds, and that adds
considerably to your overhead.

Pretty soon DVD recorders/players are all going to have USB ports and
DivX/XviD codecs installed so you can get an inexpensive USB converter


http://www.directron.com/usb2535.html
http://www.directron.com/satac35u.html

(get the one with the separate power supply because some USB ports do
not have enough power for a HDD)

and take the HDDs to friends for viewing. Don't waste your money on
external enclosures because they cause excess heat buildup which is
detrimental to HDDs.




--

"Yet the legislative being only a fiduciary power to act for certain
ends, there remains still in the people a supreme power to remove or
alter the legislative, when they find the legislative act contrary to
the trust reposed in them....And thus the community perpetually retains
a supreme power of saving themselves from the attempts and designs of
any body, even of their legislators, whenever they shall be so foolish
or so wicked as to lay and carry on designs against the liberties and
properties of the subject."
--John Locke

 

[Skybuck Flying]

Hardisk vs DVD (for backup).

+ DVD recordable is "forever".
- Harddisks can be overwritten.

+ DVD recordable survives DVD burner death/crash/problem
- Harddisks is expensive to recover from on death.

+ DVD's can be cheap
- Harddisk still expensive

+ DVD have no static electricity risks
- Harddisk chips can be damaged by touching them

+ DVD probably dont get hot while reading.
- Harddisks can overheat without proper cooling

+ IDE DVD drives can be attached to other computers
- SATA harddisks for newer computers only.

+ IDE DVD drivers probably supported in dos/ghost
- SATA harddisk not supported in dos ? (hmm good point... maybe ghost wont
work in dos havent tried yet)

- DVD writing slow
+ Harddisk writing fast

+/- DVD reading pretty fast.
+/- Harddisk reading pretty fast.

( Speed not important, Reliability very important. )

+ DVD can survive drop on floor.
- Harddisk might die after drop on floor.

+ DVD can absorb shockes pretty easy. (?!)
- Harddisk get bad sectors rather quickly.

+ IDE DVD probably easy supported from dos.
- Harddisk above X GB not supported in dos.

- DVD has to be multi-span
+ Single harddisk can be enough

- DVD requires more space on shelf
+ Harddisk doesnt require so much space.

- DVD might not have error recovery
+ Harddisk might have error recovery (?)

- DVD get easily damaged because of scratches
+ Harddisk doesnt get easily damaged because of scratches (?!)

-/+ DVD burned holes might bend back losing data.
-/+ Harddisk magnetics might reallign with north/southpole losing data.

+ DVD R is frozen and less attractive to fool around with etc. Too many disc
swaps needed.
- Harddisk psychologically unattractive... too attractive to keep using and
swap around and modify data.

- DVD each disc needs label.
+ Harddisk would need one label

+ DVD has watermarker pen.
- Harddisk harder to label (?) would need special label stuff.

+ DVD has jewelcase.
- Harddisk chips have no protective housing.

-/+ DVD damagable by DVD laser surge (???).
- Harddisk could be damaged by power surge.

- DVD easy to snap.
+ Harddisk less easy to snap.

- Intense sunlight could damage DVD.
+ Harddisk probably ok for sunlight.

- DVD can get dirty
+ Harddisk won't get dirty that fast (?)

+ DVD should/could be readable by any operating system.
- Harddisk might have operating system specific file system.

Not sure which technology can survive higher temperatures or pressures.

+ DVD pretty easy to use as long as placed up correctly.
- Harddisk might require connection knowledge or master/slave knowledge.

+ DVD can be used with no or frozen fingers.
- Harddisk needs fingers to install.

+ DVD harmless
- Harddisk might create blood staines from cutting on sharp case edges if
present.

+ DVD easy to install
- Harddisk requires case to be opened or special case thingy, might need
screw driver.

+ DVD protected from dust thanks to jewelcase.
- Harddisk chips and such have no protection, might get rusty or eaten by
bactery/acid etc.

+ DVD fits in jacket pocket, a bit risky, it could snap.
-/+ Harddisk probably does not fit in jacket. <- pretty dangerous too... I
wouldn't risk it. dirt might get in nasty places, transportation shock as
well
already mentioned.

I think I have been pretty thorough.. needless to say I will probably like
DVD much better.. but for the record let's see the totals:

23 plus points for DVD
11 negative points for DVD

12 plus points for harddisk.
23 negative points for harddisk.

For me DVD is the clear winner and Harddisk is the clear loser...

Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Mike T.]

I think I have been pretty thorough.. needless to say I will probably like

DVD much better.. but for the record let's see the totals:

23 plus points for DVD
11 negative points for DVD

12 plus points for harddisk.
23 negative points for harddisk.

For me DVD is the clear winner and Harddisk is the clear loser...

Bye,
Skybuck.

Why choose one or the other? I routinely image one hard drive to another
one (a different disk, not just another partition). I also frequently back
up important data to DVD. Before any major OS or hardware change, I will
dump a full image of drive C: to DVD, also. My imaging software allows me
to split this image into pieces that will fit on DVD, automatically.

I think the best backup solution is actually external hard drive (only
connected when backup is running) or internal hard drive with hidden
partition (Acronis True Image "Secure Zone", for example). But the odds of
two hard drives failing simultaneously is something greater than zero. So
you should frequently back up important data to DVD, regardless. -Dave

 

[Geoff]

HD the winner?

There are many who get a computer with one large HD. Why not 2 HD's, one
large, one ide (cheap for backup), or 2 with one being smaller for backup.

The risk of both disks failing at the same time is pretty small and it makes
backup easy.

For archived stuff, put it on cd or dvd.

-g

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Hardisk vs DVD (for backup).

+ DVD recordable is "forever".
- Harddisks can be overwritten.

[Much more like this clipped]

If you believe your arguments, then I have to say that you deserve what
you choose.

Good luck - I think you'll need it.

 

[Citizen Bob]

[Much more like this clipped]

If you believe your arguments, then I have to say that you deserve what
you choose.

Good luck - I think you'll need it.

The OP deserves this week's Chicken Little Award.


--

"Yet the legislative being only a fiduciary power to act for certain
ends, there remains still in the people a supreme power to remove or
alter the legislative, when they find the legislative act contrary to
the trust reposed in them....And thus the community perpetually retains
a supreme power of saving themselves from the attempts and designs of
any body, even of their legislators, whenever they shall be so foolish
or so wicked as to lay and carry on designs against the liberties and
properties of the subject."
--John Locke

 

[Ed Medlin]

Why choose one or the other? I routinely image one hard drive to another

one (a different disk, not just another partition). I also frequently
back up important data to DVD. Before any major OS or hardware change, I
will dump a full image of drive C: to DVD, also. My imaging software
allows me to split this image into pieces that will fit on DVD,
automatically.

I think the best backup solution is actually external hard drive (only
connected when backup is running) or internal hard drive with hidden
partition (Acronis True Image "Secure Zone", for example). But the odds
of two hard drives failing simultaneously is something greater than zero.
So you should frequently back up important data to DVD, regardless. -Dave

Which is what is necessary for a good backup routine. I back up over my
network and to external HDD. Pick two and run with it. I could add DVD in
there too since I always backup my very critical data to them too.

Ed

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

[Much more like this clipped]

If you believe your arguments, then I have to say that you deserve what
you choose.

Good luck - I think you'll need it.

The OP deserves this week's Chicken Little Award.

 

[OSbandito]

Mike T. defied the gods with:

Why choose one or the other? I routinely image one hard drive to another
one (a different disk, not just another partition). I also frequently back
up important data to DVD. Before any major OS or hardware change, I will
dump a full image of drive C: to DVD, also. My imaging software allows me
to split this image into pieces that will fit on DVD, automatically.

I think the best backup solution is actually external hard drive (only
connected when backup is running) or internal hard drive with hidden
partition (Acronis True Image "Secure Zone", for example). But the odds of
two hard drives failing simultaneously is something greater than zero. So
you should frequently back up important data to DVD, regardless. -Dave

D's answer seems sensible. I'm curious, though, what you are backing up.
If it's long-term storage of a family photo-album, optical storage beats
magnetic
and you can make redundant copies to store in fallout shelters for
posterity.
The harddrive is great for a full partition backup, working files,etc.
While you're at it, be sure and create a couple of partitions on each
HD. I even create a small added "emergency-start" partition containing a
minimal install of a small OS like WinME (or on the mac, MacOS 7.6) and
a full repair utility. If you want to hide something from your wife, of
course use Mike's approach above or simply fill one partition with a
PGPdisk. Easy as pie and no one will know about those saucy livestock
candids.

 

[Skybuck Flying]

I backup the most important stuff on multiple mediums.

However for full system backup, multiple same copies would become to
expensive so one has to choose.

Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Skybuck Flying]

Hardisk vs DVD (for backup).

+ DVD recordable is "forever".
- Harddisks can be overwritten.

[Much more like this clipped]

If you believe your arguments, then I have to say that you deserve what
you choose.

Good luck - I think you'll need it.

Where are your arguments ?

Good luck finding them - I think you'll need it.



Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Skybuck Flying]

[Much more like this clipped]

If you believe your arguments, then I have to say that you deserve what
you choose.

Good luck - I think you'll need it.

The OP deserves this week's Chicken Little Award.

You deserve a nasty computer infection

Bye,
Skybuck =D

 

[Citizen Bob]

You deserve a nasty computer infection

Not gonna happen. I run Kerio Personal Firewall, Avast AntiVirus,
MailWatcher Pro, AdSubtract, Ad-Aware, Spybot, RegMon - just to name
the main ones. I watch the process table closely for any signs of
rogue background processes. Plus I have enough sense not to download
or open suspicious content.


--

"Yet the legislative being only a fiduciary power to act for certain
ends, there remains still in the people a supreme power to remove or
alter the legislative, when they find the legislative act contrary to
the trust reposed in them....And thus the community perpetually retains
a supreme power of saving themselves from the attempts and designs of
any body, even of their legislators, whenever they shall be so foolish
or so wicked as to lay and carry on designs against the liberties and
properties of the subject."
--John Locke

 

[Skybuck Flying]

Not gonna happen. I run Kerio Personal Firewall, Avast AntiVirus,
MailWatcher Pro, AdSubtract, Ad-Aware, Spybot, RegMon - just to name
the main ones. I watch the process table closely for any signs of
rogue background processes. Plus I have enough sense not to download
or open suspicious content.

That makes it extra funny when you run my specially written program for you
LOL.

It will look like it came from your very very best friend LOL.

Bye,
Skybuck.

 

[Citizen Bob]

That makes it extra funny when you run my specially written program for you
LOL.

It will look like it came from your very very best friend LOL.

I have multiple backups so even if you managed to penetrate my
defenses, I could easily recover.

LOL


--

"Yet the legislative being only a fiduciary power to act for certain
ends, there remains still in the people a supreme power to remove or
alter the legislative, when they find the legislative act contrary to
the trust reposed in them....And thus the community perpetually retains
a supreme power of saving themselves from the attempts and designs of
any body, even of their legislators, whenever they shall be so foolish
or so wicked as to lay and carry on designs against the liberties and
properties of the subject."
--John Locke

 

[OSbandito]

Citizen Bob defended his honor with:

Not gonna happen. I run Kerio Personal Firewall, Avast AntiVirus,
MailWatcher Pro, AdSubtract, Ad-Aware, Spybot, RegMon - just to name
the main ones. I watch the process table closely for any signs of
rogue background processes. Plus I have enough sense not to download
or open suspicious content.

Yes, but have you noticed the guy in the next cubicle peeping
through that little hole while you are typing your passphrase..



"baby; it's the other, other white meat."

-Fat Bastard

 

[Citizen Bob]

Yes, but have you noticed the guy in the next cubicle

I do not have any cubicles.

peeping through that little hole

There is no little hole.

while you are typing your passphrase..

I use Mozilla's password manager. It fills in with asterics. I don't
even know what the passphrase is unless I look it up.

I forgot to mention the NAT router. No one gets in to my computer
without my computer letting them get in.

However there is Tempest.


--

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a
few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving,
regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
--Ronald Reagan