I'm Considering Buying a DVD Burner, but I need to learn about them first

I'm considering buying an EXTERNAL DVD Burner for my eMachines computer. However, I'm extremely uneducated on the topic, so I was wondering if you could enlighten me on the subject. I want to use the burner to burn a rented/borrowed DVD (preferably in its entirety).

First of all: What's the difference between DVD+R and DVD-R

Secondly: What other features should I consider

What's a decent DVD writing speed that I should expect?

Can the average blank DVD store the entire contents of a store-bought DVD, extras and all?

Is there any reason why my DVD player wouldn't play a burned DVD? I have a Sony DVP-NS715P DVD player. It plays KVCDs, so I figure it should probably play DVD-Rs, but still....

I don't want to spend too much money; I'm not looking for a top-of-the-line product, just something that'll suit my needs that's pretty good; not a piece of crap.

Thanks,
DSF

why external, they are more prone to break and burn coasters, maybe not so much anymore but you will still pay at least twice as much for a external.

This may help
DVD Info

The reason I want an external drive is because I have an eMachines computer (T2682 if you want specifics), and looking at the front of the computer, there doesn't appear to be another slot for a drive.

I currently have a DVD drive and a CD-RW burner drive. Could a DVD burner replace the CD burner and burn plain CD-R(W)s as well?

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...152-032&depa=0
Now stfu and have a good day. :)

yea just replace your cd buner

Thanks. I'm gonna still keep my eyes open for others though... I've got $50 in gift cards to Best Buy so I might do one there.

But just to confirm: Can ALL DVD burners burn regular CD-Rs and CD-RWs also?

And what's the difference between +R and -R?

You could take out the 2 drives and just have a DVD burner. It does all.

Alright thanks.

Get a drive that can burn both +R and -R.

Better yet, get one that can do Dual Layer too.

As for fitting a whole DVD to a disk? You can only do that if you compress it to fit. Use http://www.dvdshrink.org/ (freeware) for that.