Reviews of DVD-RW drives! What about the Sony DRU-120A, is it any good?

[Shagga]

I'm considering buying the Sony DRU-120A DVD-RW Drive tonight. Can anyone point me in the direction of reputable sites that have reviewed DVD-RW Drives. Can anyone recommend an alternative?

Cheers,

 

[Workin']

Isn't that a DVD+RW drive? You probably already know that DVD-RW and DVD+RW are incompatible with each other.

I read a review somewhere when I was shopping for a DVD+RW drive and they said the HP DVD200i was better. Since then I have purchased a HP DVD200i and it works fine. The software that comes with it is marginally useful, from what I have read the software that comes with the Sony is horrible. YMMV.

 

[Shagga]

I'm not up to speed with the difference of DVD-RW and DVD+RW but was aware that the two are not compatible with each other. VHS v's Betamax springs to mind. If you don't mind what is the difference? Thanx.

 

[ledzepp98]

there is a topic in the faq here that might help explain the difference

 

[Shagga]

Isn't that a DVD+RW drive?

You are indeed correct. My apologies.

there is a topic in the faq here that might help explain the difference

Thank you for that, it did help, but now it's even harder to choose. I think I will go for the drive with the later technology.

 

[Eug]

Some random comments:

If you get a +RW drive, make sure it's +R compatible. The first generation ones aren't.

DVD-R/W and +R/W discs can't be burned in the other format's drives, but often the discs are readable by them. It's NOT beta vs. VHS, since for instance +R and -R work in the majority of all DVD-ROM drives and set top players out there.

It's impossible to know what to recommend unless one knows what you're going to be doing. For data people who want drag and drop on a limited number of computers, DVD-RAM is probably the best. For others, either DVD-R/W or +R/W might be the best.

 

[Shagga]

Thanx Eug.

I read your other post in NFS4's thread and found it informative. I guess the main reason I want a DVD writer is to backup Ghost Images which seem to have grown to 900MB lately (no, it doesn't include the swap file and system restore files...lol ). However, I want to get into Digital photography more and indeed video. DVD is probably the best media for this as VCD and SVCD from what I have seen is good, but getting CDR media and some CDRW media to work in stand alone DVD players is a bit of a pain and there is the added capacity. I have bought the Sony DRU-120A to give it a go. I'm aware the media is more expensive but I feel this is worth it to get "better" compatibility. If this statement is not true I will soon find out!

DVD writer technology seems to be advancing very slowly, I would guess that this is being hampered by the absence of an agreed standard. once this is agreed I suppose things should liven up a little. In the meantime I can't wait cos I'm too impatient.

For some unknown reason I thought "Nero" supported DVD burning but on investigation it doesn't AFAIA. I wonder if having another 3rd party writing software as well as Nero will cause WInXP to choke? We'll see hopefully tonight if the drive arrives that is!

Again, thanx for your input. It is appreciated.

 

[fishingeek]

Nero works great with my Pioneer A03 DVD-R drive!

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: Shagga
Thanx Eug.

I read your other post in NFS4's thread and found it informative. I guess the main reason I want a DVD writer is to backup Ghost Images which seem to have grown to 900MB lately (no, it doesn't include the swap file and system restore files...lol ). However, I want to get into Digital photography more and indeed video. DVD is probably the best media for this as VCD and SVCD from what I have seen is good, but getting CDR media and some CDRW media to work in stand alone DVD players is a bit of a pain and there is the added capacity. I have bought the Sony DRU-120A to give it a go. I'm aware the media is more expensive but I feel this is worth it to get "better" compatibility. If this statement is not true I will soon find out!

DVD writer technology seems to be advancing very slowly, I would guess that this is being hampered by the absence of an agreed standard. once this is agreed I suppose things should liven up a little. In the meantime I can't wait cos I'm too impatient.

For some unknown reason I thought "Nero" supported DVD burning but on investigation it doesn't AFAIA. I wonder if having another 3rd party writing software as well as Nero will cause WInXP to choke? We'll see hopefully tonight if the drive arrives that is!

Again, thanx for your input. It is appreciated.

Nero works fine for DVD burning. Just make sure you don't have some limited version. It does not cause WinXP to choke (unless you're running some other packetwriting software at the same time as ahead's).

The +R media is about the same as DVD-R for compatibility. Check vcdhelp.com for compatibility info about your specific drives and DVD players.

 

[Workin']

Nero works great with my HP 200i under WinXP Pro. I have a full version of Nero, not a bundled or OEM version. I don't know if that makes a difference.

 

[Shagga]

Thanx. I fired Nero up 2nite when I got home and it does support DVD burning....I completely missed the combo box. My bad!

Right it's installed.....lets see what it can do...