DVD+-R /RW Drives

[Earwax]

I know there are a lot of other threads out there on this topic, and I've looked around. I was just wondering what the general experience has been with the el cheapo DVD-R discs that supposedly run about $.80. I was wondering if these discs worked at 4x on say a sony 500AX burner?

I'm looking to purchase a burner soon, and I would like to get a drive that I can use for the next 3 or 4 years at least. But I don't want to pay more than the $350 price tag of the 500AX. Is this drive for real? Obviously, I don't want to purchase a drive that's going to force me to purchase $8 discs for it as well. And, should I really consider DVD+R compatability? Is it going to matter in the long run? I'll basically be using this drive for backup, and transferring both miniDV and analog video to DVD, so I can view it on my standalone player. If I can get away with using DVD-R, and not worry about it becoming obsolete for awhile, that would be fine by me.

Thanks in advance.

[EDIT] I was also wondering what the difference between the DRU500AX and the DRU510A is [\EDIT]

 

[DaveSimmons]

www.dvdrhelp.com -- user comments
www.rima.com -- reliable disc supplies

Buy a Pioneer DVD-R burner from newegg or mwave and you can afford a spindle of DVD-R blanks with it for the same price as the Sony.

In 2-3 years a replacement burner will be under $100 so don't worry about it lasting 4 years.

DVD-R media will be plentiful for at least the next 5 years and DVD boxes and DVD-ROM drives will still play DVD-R media just fine for the next 20 years even if DVD+R wins the format wars, so paying an extra $50-75 for dual format is somewhat of a waste.

 

[Earwax]

Thanks for the advice, I'll probably try to pick up a 105. Anyone know where I can get a good deal on the A05/105?

I noticed directron.com has the 105 going for $217. But I read somewhere else that there was a hot deal not too long ago with a rebate, the drive was $150 with that apprantly...

 

[Chobits]

costco has a Cendyne 4x +/- RW Burner for 229 for the Internal...there was a debate in Hotdeals over what it is since Cendyne Rebadges and the idea right now is that they are Necs...