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General discussion

Best DVD to buy

Apr 20, 2012 10:37AM PDT

New computer, and I have never used DVDs. I was talking to HP about making Recovery Disks and was told not to use Memorex.
Didn't ask why, DUH. Any preferences out there? I bought some Verbatim. OK or not? I'm not into movies, etc. Just save stuff like pictures

Thanks in advance.

HP Pavilion
Windows 7 Home Premium
Service Pack: 1.0

Memory (RAM)
Capacity: 6.0 GB

Hard DISK 931 GB

Processor
Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2130 CPU @ 3.4 GHz

Internet Explorer 9

Discussion is locked

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Cheap and bulk
Apr 20, 2012 11:22PM PDT

I like to advise my clients that they use "brand name DVD's" and refrain from so-called bulk bundles. In general, those bulk purchases do OK, but if you plan to really store the media, the cost is minor difference. Day-to-day use as in repeated usage could best explain using better DVDs as well. The idea is that less than capable discs tend to become unreliable over time either from handling or improper storage. I rarely find bad discs but those found usually came from bulk bundles from some unknown XYZ label and degrade quickly.

HP and Philips were the major leaders in disc use prior to the home front and generally rely on DVD+R for best overall use because it simply falls into all the needs a DVD drives may better support. Next, a brand name does make a difference as in the longevity of the dies used to make them are more crisp and dramatic pressing as well material make-up. Basically, it boils down that cheap is cheap. Die use(pressing) is considerably less per die and then that die maybe sold to other disc makers that use that die until its useless, which may also suggest discs made from such dies aren't as pristine as can be generating flaws.

My favorites are Philips, Toshiba, Sony and TDK, possibility Kodak too. However, some manufacturers maybe supplying the same discs to various labels, so stick with one that seems to work well with your setup.

tada -----Willy Happy

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Willy....DVD-R
Apr 22, 2012 7:16AM PDT

You say you rely on DVD+R because it fills all the needs a DVD drive may support. what are the short comings of the DVD-R disks?
I ask because I have always used the +R disks, but a local company went out of business and I bought a 100 DVD-R disks for a very low price. I also do wedding photography both still and video which I put on DVD for the clients.
I picked up some Delkin Archival Gold disks for just that purpose, which also are -R.
Is it mostly the type of player that will play them or are there other problems with the -R disks?
I would really hate to charge for something that can be played of some units, but, not others.

Thanks
Wayne

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Formats and stuff
Apr 22, 2012 12:00PM PDT

Once you get into the format and/or recording type, you'll find what each best used for. However, your DVD drive may in general simply support both +/- discs, so it's a moot point at times. Reviewing the specs of the drive itself(model#) will provide the blank discs it needs. Then you shop for the required discs. They're not trying to hide this info and can be found as explained above.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Which-CD-or-DVD-format-should-I-use

tada -----Willy Happy

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DVD-R
Apr 22, 2012 11:33PM PDT

Thanks Willy for the explanation and that link.
Most of the DVDs I do will be shown on a DVD player at a persons house or taken to Wally world or a place like that for them to make prints of their choice so these DVD-R should be OK overall.

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DVD'S
Apr 20, 2012 11:58PM PDT

Over the years I have used many different brands of CD'S and DVD'S. The only time I can recall a major issue, which was aggravating, was with HP brand CD's, over 50% failure(s) from a 100 pack. I have used Memorex as well and can recall no problems. Once in a while you will find a bad disk but it is fairly rare. TDK, as a prior poster mentioned, seem to work well, as do some of the others. Also, before I scrap a disk I will try it on more than one system using the same burning software. As far as format is concerned, + or - with newer burners should not matter. On some and many of the old stand alone and combination units (VHS to DVD) format can be an issue.

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Best DVD to buy
Apr 21, 2012 2:10AM PDT

Thanks folks for the Info.

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Storage? Nod to...
Apr 21, 2012 3:03AM PDT

"My favorites are Philips, Toshiba, Sony and TDK"

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Best DVD to buy
Apr 21, 2012 5:18AM PDT

Thanks.

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Might depend on your other units
Apr 27, 2012 12:03PM PDT

If you have a standalone DVD player you use with your TV you should check the manual to see if it has a preference for + or - disks. Sony and TDK have been most reliable for me. I gave up on Memorex years ago when they started making garbage quality audiocassettes in Canada. The French make some great products but if I see French (Canadian) language on a blank media package I run.

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Longevity
Apr 27, 2012 8:18PM PDT
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The Consensus
Apr 27, 2012 11:20PM PDT

It is generally thought among professionals that JVC Taiyo Yuden disks are the highest-quality, most reliable and durable media for both CD and DVD. They cost a little more and can be a little hard to find in stores (but can be purchased easily on-line and they are often discounted). Verbatim is probably next-best.

It's hard to tell, though. The media itself has existed for too short a time for any significant failure rates to show up yet for any brand. DVD-R (whether plus or minus) will certainly be more reliable and durable than DVD-RW media, however, and this is true for all brands and across brands.

I have had more failures with Memorex than with any other brand, including off-label brands.

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Best DVD to buy
Apr 28, 2012 1:09AM PDT

Thanks everyone. I ended up with Sony.

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Made in Japan Taiyo-Yuden is the best
Apr 28, 2012 7:34AM PDT

I realize that I came here late, still responding for someone who will read this thread later.

I have used loads of brands and from my experience, it varies from batch to batch (and place of manufacturing). I have made coasters out of Sony, TDK while I have some best burns on Memorex. But from my experience, Taiyo-Yuden is the best brand . Have hardly any coaster. I admit that I burn rather slowly, like 8X or 16X max.

Since you are making recovery disks, once they are made, make a DVD image and store it on multiple drives. Trust me, these burns WILL give you troubles when you desperately want them to work, so having DVD images are best so that you can quickly burn and get your job done.
At the same time, HP has one of the best recovery modules (unlike Toshiba) to recovery from HDD itself, so you should be good without using these disks.

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Best DVD to buy
Apr 28, 2012 1:03PM PDT

Thanks, for the additional info.