Is it the right time to buy a DVD burner yet?

[Cainxinth]

I have a lot of data I want to backup (150gb). This is what I had in mind: Sony DVD±RW DRU500A

At 4X, how long will it take to burn a 4.7 gb DVD-R? Also, how far off are affordable (~$300) blueray DVD burners and media?

 

[MattTheTech]

I personally don't think its the right time yet. There are still some standardization issues they need to resolve. as far as speed, i dont think its gonna jump up too high that soon (well soon in computer terms). The 4X means 4*150KB/s (im assuming each X is 150KB/s as in CD-RW's), so burning 4.7 gigs at 4X would mean :

4700000 Kb / (150Kb/s * 4) = about 7833 seconds, or about 2.2 hours

the values are not exact of course since 1K is 1024 bytes... and a gig is not 1000 megs..
but you get the idea.

 

[leinadM]

I was thinking about getting one, but I've decided to wait for awhile. Unless you really need one, it's best to just wait; the prices will go down and the speed will go up.

 

[TheWart]

While you can always say to wait because eventually things will get cheaper and faster, that will always be true. The reason I would say to hold off a little bit is to let a standard emerge, so there will not be any compatibility problems.

 

[zodder]

Standardization is the only thing keeping me from getting one, too. I'd love to be able to backup all my MP3s and important info, but there still seems to be too many questions about where DVD burning is going for me to make that kind of finacial commitment yet.

 

[Workin']

It takes about 25 minutes to burn a 4.7GB DVD at 2x, so maybe 13 minutes or so at 4x. NOT 2.2 hours!

 

[JOSEPHLB]

The DVD-R world is in the same situation now back when 2X and 4X CD-R's were out.. It took a while for manufacturers to get it right.. and once they did, it seemed like drives were popping up all over the place.. Speeds were jumping vastly..

Give DVD-R another year... and we'll see sub $200.00 DVD-R drives by more manufacturers than today

 

[leinadM]

Originally posted by: JOSEPHLB
The DVD-R world is in the same situation now back when 2X and 4X CD-R's were out.. It took a while for manufacturers to get it right.. and once they did, it seemed like drives were popping up all over the place.. Speeds were jumping vastly..

Give DVD-R another year... and we'll see sub $200.00 DVD-R drives by more manufacturers than today

Exactly!

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: MattTheTech
I personally don't think its the right time yet. There are still some standardization issues they need to resolve. as far as speed, i dont think its gonna jump up too high that soon (well soon in computer terms). The 4X means 4*150KB/s (im assuming each X is 150KB/s as in CD-RW's), so burning 4.7 gigs at 4X would mean :

4700000 Kb / (150Kb/s * 4) = about 7833 seconds, or about 2.2 hours

the values are not exact of course since 1K is 1024 bytes... and a gig is not 1000 megs..
but you get the idea.

The 150KB/sec is only for CD's; 1x means something entirely different with DVD's, though I don't know exactly how much.

 

[amdskip]

I have a client who wants a burner for burning backups of his home movies he has on his computer. Is there a standard that seems to be prevailing right now or which standard is the most popular?

 

[Dre]

Originally posted by: amdskip
I have a client who wants a burner for burning backups of his home movies he has on his computer. Is there a standard that seems to be prevailing right now or which standard is the most popular?

I'm using DVD+R/RW and I've backed up lots of movies. It's worked great. The discs have worked on every DVD player I've tried, including palystation2.

 

[fr]

Originally posted by: MattTheTech
I personally don't think its the right time yet. There are still some standardization issues they need to resolve. as far as speed, i dont think its gonna jump up too high that soon (well soon in computer terms). The 4X means 4*150KB/s (im assuming each X is 150KB/s as in CD-RW's), so burning 4.7 gigs at 4X would mean :

4700000 Kb / (150Kb/s * 4) = about 7833 seconds, or about 2.2 hours

the values are not exact of course since 1K is 1024 bytes... and a gig is not 1000 megs..
but you get the idea.

1X for DVD is over 1500KB/s d00d.

 

[conehead433]

Well at least Sony has made a DVD burner that supposedly supports all the different formats. While you occaisonally see deals now on some burners selling under $200 you rarely see deals on the Sony DRU500. Every now and then Dell might have a 15% off deal, but until Sony has more competition we're not likely to see much in price reduction. NEC was supposed to come out with their own multi-format burner but I haven't seen it advertised yet. It's only a matter of time before DVD burners will be cheaply available just like the current situation with deals on CD burners. The popularity of the new Sony model is probably what has driven the other mfr's to reduce their prices. As soon as competition exists for the DRU500 I would expect to see it's price fall. That could be as early as two or three months. JMHO .
The DRU500 can be found for around $350.

 

[Dreadogg]

In my opinion it is not the formatt that is the problem, Just buy a DVD player or the burner that is compadible together. The problem with burning DVD's is that most will not fit on on single DVD R + or - same with RW + or -, you have to either split the disk to two DVD's or tear lots of stuff out and them downgrade the quality which equals lots of time, and time is money! So really guys who cares which formatt these things have because that is the least of your worries!

 

[Gonx]

Originally posted by: MattTheTech
I personally don't think its the right time yet. There are still some standardization issues they need to resolve. as far as speed, i dont think its gonna jump up too high that soon (well soon in computer terms). The 4X means 4*150KB/s (im assuming each X is 150KB/s as in CD-RW's), so burning 4.7 gigs at 4X would mean :

4700000 Kb / (150Kb/s * 4) = about 7833 seconds, or about 2.2 hours

the values are not exact of course since 1K is 1024 bytes... and a gig is not 1000 megs..
but you get the idea.

Wrong --- 1x cd = 150 Kb
1x dvd = 1350 Kb

 

[Fitch]

Go to VCD HELP it will give you all the information you would ever need about DVD burners. I have the Sony DRU-500A and I love it. It takes me 29 mins to burn a DVD-R at 2X and 22 mins to burn a DVD+R. I use it for everything. If you have any questions let me know.

Thanks,
Fitch

 

[Dreadogg]

Originally posted by: Fitch
Go to VCD HELP it will give you all the information you would ever need about DVD burners. I have the Sony DRU-500A and I love it. It takes me 29 mins to burn a DVD-R at 2X and 22 mins to burn a DVD+R. I use it for everything. If you have any questions let me know.

Thanks,
Fitch

Why must you make it sound so simple, you know that almost every DVd that is released now is way to big to fit on to either on of those formated DVD's you either have to downgrade the quality or burn to two different DVD's! In my opinion do not buy one unless you plan on doing other stuff with it or are getting a hotdeal on it like the recent one, that sony drive is way over priced in my opinion.

 

[Dre]

Originally posted by: Dreadogg

Originally posted by: Fitch
Go to VCD HELP it will give you all the information you would ever need about DVD burners. I have the Sony DRU-500A and I love it. It takes me 29 mins to burn a DVD-R at 2X and 22 mins to burn a DVD+R. I use it for everything. If you have any questions let me know.

Thanks,
Fitch

Why must you make it sound so simple, you know that almost every DVd that is released now is way to big to fit on to either on of those formated DVD's you either have to downgrade the quality or burn to two different DVD's! In my opinion do not buy one unless you plan on doing other stuff with it or are getting a hotdeal on it like the recent one, that sony drive is way over priced in my opinion.

It's not that difficult to copy just the movie though. I've copied the following movies onto 1 DVDR by stripping extras: monster's ball, Men in Black 2, Scary Movie 2, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Rush Hour 2, Shrek, many others...

Here is a website that lists if a DVD will fit on a DVDR. It's not a complete list though:
SolidVOB

 

[Cat13]

Originally posted by: DreDay

Originally posted by: Dreadogg

Originally posted by: Fitch
Go to VCD HELP it will give you all the information you would ever need about DVD burners. I have the Sony DRU-500A and I love it. It takes me 29 mins to burn a DVD-R at 2X and 22 mins to burn a DVD+R. I use it for everything. If you have any questions let me know.

Thanks,
Fitch

Why must you make it sound so simple, you know that almost every DVd that is released now is way to big to fit on to either on of those formated DVD's you either have to downgrade the quality or burn to two different DVD's! In my opinion do not buy one unless you plan on doing other stuff with it or are getting a hotdeal on it like the recent one, that sony drive is way over priced in my opinion.

It's not that difficult to copy just the movie though. I've copied the following movies onto 1 DVDR by stripping extras: monster's ball, Men in Black 2, Scary Movie 2, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Rush Hour 2, Shrek, many others...

Here is a website that lists if a DVD will fit on a DVDR. It's not a complete list though:
SolidVOB

Cool! That site helped me out so much! I recently got one of the DVR-105's and I really like it so far. We have alot of dvd's for the kids and with the purchase of a mobile video system for our suv, I wanted to let the kids keep their movies in the suv so they can just pop one in and watch it whenever they want when we go out. This way the originals stay in the house where they won't get ruined. I have been editing out the extra languages, menus, trailers, etc..., so when they pop it in it plays the movie, in english, fullscreen if available, from the start, no need to press anything! That site just made it so I don't have to manually go through each vob!

 

[Dreadogg]

yea I guess your right in the sense that you can accually edit the film to be user friendly, I just would hate to see someone go out and buy one without knowing that they will need to have some skillz to pull these of, most people think that it is just a one click method! Like I said originally if you are getting a good deal then go for it, personally i dont think that sony drive is worth the money to get that extra formatts. By the way i am using the pioneer DVR- 105 and I just burned XXX with DVDXCOPY and it took about 25 mins. each, I used fugi-film disk, I do not know the speed, it all fit on one disk, had to rip the menus, trailers etc..

 

[Dre]

Originally posted by: Dreadogg
yea I guess your right in the sense that you can accually edit the film to be user friendly, I just would hate to see someone go out and buy one without knowing that they will need to have some skillz to pull these of, most people think that it is just a one click method! Like I said originally if you are getting a good deal then go for it, personally i dont think that sony drive is worth the money to get that extra formatts. By the way i am using the pioneer DVR- 105 and I just burned XXX with DVDXCOPY and it took about 25 mins. each, I used fugi-film disk, I do not know the speed, it all fit on one disk, had to rip the menus, trailers etc..

Yes, you are right. DVD Copying is not as easy as CD Copying. DVD copying is not dificult to learn though. Just follow the guides at:

Doom9

 

[14k]

Hi,

I too can't wait much longer for a DVD writer. I've done a little research and most people seem to be suggesting the
Sony Internal DVD±RW Drive DRU500A

This drive supports both formats and appears to be pretty good. I'm just worried that by the end of the month a new faster or more reliable drive might be released. Does anyone know if this is the case? If not, i'm going to go out and get this drive tomorrow, I just need a little reassurance.

I'm sure there will be further developments in DVD writing technology later in the year but i can't wait that long. Is everything looking all clear for the rest of this month? This drive has been out since October you see, so I just got a gut feeling I'll be buying this drive too late.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Skypix7]

I just picked up a Pioneer DVD-R 4X (DVR 105 (DVR A05) on Ebay, it'll burn a full 4.7Gig disk in about 15 minutes.

 

[Jojo1971]

nice site for dvd/cdr here