Question for those with DVD burners

[ColKurtz]

I'm considering getting a Sony DRU-500A DVD burner, since it's the first that supports all 4 current formats. We're getting it for general backup/storage/archive needs - my wife runs her business from home.

I have a couple questions for those in the know:

1) for DVD-R and/or DVD+R, can you leave the discs "open" when you burn them (i.e. - I can copy files to it, put it away, and add additional files to it later on... just like CDRs today)? Our generic CD-R allows us to append a CD 2 or 3 times, but then starts failing around the 4th or 5 try. Has anyone experienced a "numer of burns" limit to the DVD formats?

2) Similar question for DVD-RW or DVD+RW... have you been able to succesfully re-burn discs a dozen times or more?

Specific reviews of the DRU-500A burner would be great, but general advice on the overall formats would also be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ColKurtz]

*** bump - hoping someone might have some suggestions

 

[ozone13]

Well, I have a DRU500a, and I've run into a little DVD+RW problem with appending data after (If I remember correctly) the 6th session. Can't tell you about the DVD-RW because I prefer the +.

 

[Duvie]

search and find any post that Eug replies in and then hit his link in his sig....There are some answers for you...

I do now the dvd+r format can be left open and modified without reburning the disk. The +r/+rw format usually have no lead in and lead out time and thus are a bit quicker.

The dvd-r/-rw format are pretty standard and many can be played in newer dvd players from as fas back as 1-1/2 years that I have tested...