DVD Burner (should I get one?)

[Chicken]

OK, I have had this 4x CD burner for quite some time now (as indicated by the fact that it is a 4x burner). The new laptop has a 24x burner, and honestly, I don't burn all that much stuff that it is an issue. I get along fine with the 4x one really.

But I have been getting into DVD's recently (I'm late but I just got a home DVD player, heh). And I have a DV camcorder now, and I've made some little movies and burned them as VCDs to play on my and my parent's home DVD players. This seems to work out OK, quality is good enough for home movies I suppose.

But...

I've always wanted a DVD burner, though this was before I figured out that I could burn VCDs. I imagine the quality is better (one would think), and the other obvious use is backup (larger capacity of 4.7GB over the 650-ishMB discs).

I suppose the question is (for those who have them), do you find it worth it. Now I should mention that I'm just looking at getting a 2.4x burner, and the price is right (at $150.00 after rebate).

Those who have them, what say you?

[interactive]

I've thought about getting one, but I really don't have much use for burning dvds. KEep in my dvd media is rationally speaking more expensive. Goto pricewatch.com and you can pick a dvd burner up for around $199 which isn't a bad price at all. Stick with major brans (sony, plextor makes awesome stuff). I'd stay away from Philips though, bad experience with one of their burners

[Homeiss]

I have wanted one since they came out and I would use it a lot since I make a lot of independant films it wuld be very handy.

However, you know you can get 90minute disks, but your burner has to have overburn I think.

I think it would be worth it if you can afford it.

[Chicken]

Originally posted by interactive
I've thought about getting one, but I really don't have much use for burning dvds.
I'm not sure I do either to tell you the truth. Before my discovery of the VCDs (burned with the old CD burner I have), I was really into getting a DVD burner, but now I don't know.

I like burning little DVDs for my parents and for home use (much better than trying to navigate through even a DV camcorder tape). But I'm not sure I really need DVD quality.

As far as for backups... I'd almost think a third hdd would be better (I currently have a 1/2 full 9GB SCSI and a 3/4 full 20GB IDE). I need some more hdd capacity for capturing video as is, so maybe just getting a 120GB hdd would fit the bill for both capture and backup (something which I don't do often enough).

Wouldn't a hdd be better for backing up data (over 4.7GB DVD media), and aside from home movies, what the heck would I use the DVD burner for?

I want to buy one, but I have to have a few reasons to justify it. Better image quality home burned DVDs from the camcorder seems to be the only one I can think of. It was easier before I discovered VCDs really. i just wanted it to burn DVDs and that was that.

[multipleimage]

I have a dvd burner(came with my laptop) and I have only used it once. But I suspect once our new addition is born we will be using it a lot more.

[interactive]

Originally posted by Chicken
I'm not sure I do either to tell you the truth. Before my discovery of the VCDs (burned with the old CD burner I have), I was really into getting a DVD burner, but now I don't know.

I like burning little DVDs for my parents and for home use (much better than trying to navigate through even a DV camcorder tape). But I'm not sure I really need DVD quality.

As far as for backups... I'd almost think a third hdd would be better (I currently have a 1/2 full 9GB SCSI and a 3/4 full 20GB IDE). I need some more hdd capacity for capturing video as is, so maybe just getting a 120GB hdd would fit the bill for both capture and backup (something which I don't do often enough).

Wouldn't a hdd be better for backing up data (over 4.7GB DVD media), and aside from home movies, what the heck would I use the DVD burner for?

I want to buy one, but I have to have a few reasons to justify it. Better image quality home burned DVDs from the camcorder seems to be the only one I can think of. It was easier before I discovered VCDs really. i just wanted it to burn DVDs and that was that.
Exactly. If you're good you can get your VCD's to come out pretty close to DVD's (my dad's been doing it for a while he has some videos that look just like DVD quality). I think rihgt now it wouldn't be a wise thing to buy a dvd burner, as the technology for them hasn't been fine tuned to the point were they become affordable to make. I'd just go get a 80gb hd for around $100 it would be much more useful.

[alpha]

I am also interested in getting a DVD burner but I am confused by all the extra compatibility mumbo-jumbo and I don't want to know what those do...

like there are DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD/RW, etc... now, the question is, regardless of the minus and plus signs and etc, would any DVD burner burn to a DVDRW disc and it would work on all DVD players out there or is there really a big difference between the -,+,/... ?

The 700mb limit on CDRs are really getting to me though, although CDRs are definitely cheap now a days (speaking of which, I should go find myself a good deal on another spindle).

But I definitely like the idea of burning more data onto one DVDRW disc and not having 300 CDRs to have to plounge through when I am looking for something.

What brand are you looking at :chicken: ?

I know that Gary (AlaskanWolf) bought a DVDRW few months back and told me he loves it and glad he bought it... I've been looking for a good deal on one ever since.

[Chicken]

Originally posted by alpha
I am also interested in getting a DVD burner but I am confused by all the extra compatibility mumbo-jumbo and I don't want to know what those do...

like there are DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD/RW, etc... now, the question is, regardless of the minus and plus signs and etc, would any DVD burner burn to a DVDRW disc and it would work on all DVD players out there or is there really a big difference between the -,+,/... ?
Far as I've been able to find out:

Some DVD media is either less compatible or non-compatible, even if it says it is compatible. This may be more of a software issue than a hardware issue though.

There is a difference between DVD-R/W, DVD+R/W (R/W standing for R & RW). They are similar technologies, but not the same and some burners burn DVD-R/W, some burn DVD+R/W. Some DVD home players only play DVD-R/W, some only play DVD+R/W.

My Sony DVD player only says it plays DVD+RW (no mention of DVD+R), but I think it plays both. I can't find the manual to see the other formats it can handle. This is a seemingly decent list of DVD+R/W home players compatibility: http://www.dvdplusrw.org/resources/compatibilitylist_dvdvideo.html

Some other info: http://www.dvdplusrw.org/video/comparison.html

From what I can tell, stick with a DVD+R/W burner and most of the DVD players will handle it fine. I think the home DVD recorders use the DVD-R/W format, and I believe I've see burners (for computer) also in this format. I personally wouldn't get one.

The brand I am looking at is a Verbatim (mostly because it is cheap @ $150). I doubt it is the best, but that's about what I'd like to pay (up to $200 I suppose).

[Chicken]

Here is a home DVD recorder that records DVDs in either DVD-RAM or DVD-R format: http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11166712&m=1&cat=32&scat=244

According to CircuitCity, my DVD player (Sony DVP NS-315) supports the following formats: DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3. It doesn't say anything about DVD+R/W but according to this: http://www.dvdplusrw.org/resources/compatibilitylist_dvdvideo.html it supports it.

It is confusing, but all computer DVD burners seem to be the same: BestBuy comparison of the four they sell (http://www.bestbuy.com/compare.asp?tp=R&m=488&cat=511&scat=0&b=0&0=11121212&1=11173760&2=11178892&3=11186078&txtCount=4&x=64&y=7)

The home ones seem to be the ones that use the DVD-R media.


Edit: I'm reading this now (seems helpful): http://www.bestbuy.com/ComputersPeripherals/DrivesStorage/hr/hr5DVDRWdrive.asp

[CompCity]

I'd personally wait it out until compatability is standardized. Since DVD RW is still relatively a new technology (to a consumer anyhow) the standards may take a complete turnabout and the ISO may decide to develop their own standard.

I'm waiting it out for awhile, just to see what happens, and by then they will be down to $100 anyway which won't hurt to bad.

[Chicken]

Originally posted by multipleimage
I have a dvd burner(came with my laptop) and I have only used it once.
Standardized compatability won't solve this problem though (hee hee), and this is what I'm probably most worried about. I use my burner sparingly (a music CD here, backup somethign there, give a disc to someone, burn a VCD, etc.), just not all that often. Maybe once a month, sometimes twice, sometimes no times a month.

[jbiz718]

No you should not get one.

[Chicken]

*BEEEEEEEEEEP* that was the wrong answer! ;) :D

You're supposed to be convincing me to get one, not unconvincing me!