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General discussion

DVD recorders

Sep 4, 2005 8:44PM PDT

I am just about to purchase a DVD Recorder and I'm confused about which one to go for!!!!!!!!

DVD ram Which uses DVD-R or

DVD which uses DVD+R

Please can someone help!!!!!!!!
Thanks

Discussion is locked

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I went cheap.
Sep 4, 2005 9:50PM PDT

I didn't overanalyze and picked up a $119 buck Artec unit that records on DVD+R or DVD+RW. After living with it awhile I can offer 2 issues.

1. Some owners will not like how it can take some 20 seconds to perform certain operations and the onscreen display does not tell you to either wait or display a progress bar. But it works.

2. I ran into a few instance where it could not erase a DVD+RW disc and found I could pop the media into my PC and erase it there. I've heard similar stories about other models. Not a big issue for me since I have a fix.

As to DVD-RAM, DVD+ and all that, that's media. You can fret over media if you wish, I don't.

Bob

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I do have a recorder
Sep 5, 2005 5:21AM PDT

But unfortunatly it has gone wrong and has had to be returned and I will be replaceing it. This one uses DVD+R was very dissapointed that it went wrong and was wondering is this common in this type. and are the DVD ram ones any different, with regards to relyability? Or are they identical in the way they work?

Sorry really don't understand the difference in the 2

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Sorry, I'll write...
Sep 5, 2005 6:22AM PDT

The media that the recorder uses has not been any sign of reliability.

My Artec has been in use for some time now, and it seems to work the same as when I got it. However that issue with erasing DVD+RW could have most returning the unit. For me, it's a sign of not-ready-for the masses.

Bob

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Mine is a goodmans
Sep 5, 2005 6:40AM PDT

The problem with the broken was nearly everything! very slow to start up if it did at all, failed to read most disc's, failed to record on several occaisions, the buttons on the front wouldn't work every time you pressed them and made lots of strange noises! may be i'll choose a different make and hope for the best.

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Slow startup may be a common issue. Here's a bit about..
Sep 5, 2005 8:40AM PDT

The slow startup can be the unit sorting out the media. In my case, a new disc can take up to a minute before you can use it. While this is noted in the slim manual I can see how others will think this odd compared to VHS recorders. The odd noises are also in mine. The head moves around, the drive spins up and down but outside of the erase issue, it does work.

And yes, when it's preparing the disk, the buttons are non-responsive.

Bob

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Thanks for your help
Sep 5, 2005 10:39PM PDT

Unfortunatly mine had a slow start up when there was no media in it!!!! After a few minites watching it started makeing screaming noises and was unwatchable!

Have opted to buy a Toshiba DR-150 DVD RAM Recorder Hopfully will have better luck.