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

[david622]

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

[muchspl2]

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.

[whiterook-2]

This may help
DVD Info (http://www.videohelp.com/)

[david622]

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?

[silent h3ro]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-152-032&depa=0
Now stfu and have a good day. :)

[muchspl2]

yea just replace your cd buner

[david622]

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?

[Virtualbody1234]

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

[david622]

Alright thanks.

[Virtualbody1234]

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.

[david622]

Alright, thanks. I'm looking at one on Bestbuy.com

Is it any good? It's really cheap. It'll be like 40 bucks after the 30 dollar rebate and my gift cards:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1083714106539&skuId=6714521&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01041&cmp=++

[Virtualbody1234]

I wouldn't buy the Pioneer.

Look for the NEC Model ND-3500A as posted on the previous page or the LG: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-136-044&depa=0

I'm not saying that the Pioneer isn't good but I would choose another. (Personal choice).

[dsa16]

You could wait after christmas, there will be really good deals on burners
Right now I feel that DVD burners are too slow and produce too many coasters

[muchspl2]

thats BS
I've burned about 250 dvd's since a few months ago when I got my nec2510 and have only had one coaster & that was because I lost power during a storm
you don't know what you're talking about.

[Skiz]

If you need a DVD player, may I recommend the Philips DVP642. It's about 60 bucks at Best Buy and its the best, ask anyone who owns one.

Its been posted already but www.videohelp.com (http://www.videohelp.com) is an excellent starting place in order to figure out compatibility issues since DVD's arent like CD's in the sense that they burn and play in about anything. I bought a dual-layer burner at Best Buy thats made by Digital Technologies and writes at 8X for 59 bucks and I use Memorex DVD+R's to record on and have yet to have a single coaster.

And follow Virtualbody's advice about not getting an external. You'll spend more, it'll take up more room, etc. Just replace your DVD drive with the new DVD writer. It's easy

[david622]

Thanks, but I'm looking for a DVD burner, not a DVD player. Thanks for helping anyway ^_^

[Skiz]

Thats why I posted this as well...;)



Its been posted already but www.videohelp.com (http://www.videohelp.com/) is an excellent starting place in order to figure out compatibility issues since DVD's arent like CD's in the sense that they burn and play in about anything. I bought a dual-layer burner at Best Buy thats made by Digital Technologies and writes at 8X for 59 bucks and I use Memorex DVD+R's to record on and have yet to have a single coaster.

And follow Virtualbody's advice about not getting an external. You'll spend more, it'll take up more room, etc. Just replace your DVD drive with the new DVD writer. It's easy

[david622]

About the getting an external thing.... like I said before, My computer doesn't have a slot for another drive. Obviously, replacing an existing one solves that problem though.

Also, it kinda stinks because my computer's cd drives match so well with the faceplate ^_^

But I'll still get an internal, because it seems it'll be cheaper and do what (and more than) what I need.

Which drive should I replace if I buy the DVD burner? My DVD drive or my CD-Burner?

[Samurai]

Your burner. Also, I highly recommend an internal Plextor, NEC or Sony. They're the best at present, although Plextor are slightly more expensive, NEC is a sure bet. I'll be purchasing a new one after Christmas, which is when i'll advise you to get one too.

Also, get dual-layer. You'll look at paying 5% more (if that) than a regualr DVD burner.

Also, get one which will burn both + / - format.

Samurai :)

[david622]

What do Dual Layer drives do that others don't? Can they burn more data to a disk?

[Samurai]

In a nutshell...

DVDR 5 - Single Layer
DVDR 9 - Dual Layer

Single layer is around 4.7GB capacity, whereas dual layer is around 9GB.

Most films on DVD are dual layer. Pick up a DVD you own and look on the back. Some of them tell you if it's single or dual layer. If they don't DVD Decrypter will.

Most DVD Recordable discs are single layer only, as dual layer have only recently been released and are still quite expensive in comparison. If you purchase a dual layer burner your burner should be future proof for at least a couple of years.

Check here for further info:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&client=google&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-48,GGLD:en&q=Dual+Layer

[Samurai]

And here: http://www.doom9.org/

[david622]

Thanks

[Hanz™]

What do Dual Layer drives do that others don't? Can they burn more data to a disk?
They can burn more to a disk.
Standard DVD's are 4.7GB (single Layer).
Dual Layer Disks are approximately 8GB, and are what the film industry uses for all of their disks.

If you don't get a dual layer burner then the films you burn will have to be compressed and will not be as good as the originals.

However to burn Dual Layers you have to use Dual layer disks.
BTW you can also burn single layer DVD disks in a dual layer writer.

I personaly recommend that you get a Dual layer 16x DVD writer...

With DVD writing the media you use is quite important as some DVD burners only use the expensive stuff (and produce coasters with the rest - ie. mine), so make sure you buy Ritek G04 DVD-R's...

[Samurai]

so make sure you buy Ritek G04 DVD-R's...

You're actually referring to the dye used on the DVD's themselves. Technology has actually advanced to the stage that the majority of DVD media will work fine, not just Ritek.

For example, DataSafe, Infiniti, Sony, Verbatim, BulkPaq and so forth.

[muchspl2]

I also recommend Ritek media, all have been 100% compatible so far.