I hope I don't offend anyone who buys cheap, off-brands of DVD media, but from my experience, it's not worth it. It takes me over an hour to record one DVD using DVDXCopy so waste of time is a factor too. I also don't check for errors regularly, so I'd hate to find out what I thought was copied...isn't. DVD player compatibility also isn't a problem with most major brands. In addition, I'd like to know that my valuable data will not start flaking off my DVD in a year or so. If you're not in any hurry and don't mind sending in rebate forms, you can now buy name-brand DVD media for less than $1.50 a piece. In addition, if there are problems with the media, you can return or exchange them at your local store or mail them back to the manufacturer. Verbatim, Fuji, Memorex have lifetime warranties. In the long run, you'll save both time and money.
I couldn't agree more. I've been using TDK that I get for $1.25-$1.50 each if you catch the sales and they work great. 2-2.4X I've tried Comp USA house brand and had MAJOR inconsistencies. The ones with the white top burn at 1X if they don't fail but usually do. The silver top in the 25 pack worked well and burned at 2X but the silver top in the 10 pack burn at 1X. All are labeled the same. Awesome quality control huh. I will stick with name brands from now on. How much is your backup worth to you? Most of us aren't rich but a buck or two for a dependable backup or data file is well worth it not to mention what dogbomb points out about your time invested.
There is such a thing as good generic media, and not having to wait for rebates is a plus. When you burn in huge quantities, it does make a big price difference! You can get Ritek G03s from US$0.80, and they're CERTAINLY better than Memorex, at least, and on par with most good media. When buying 500 discs, for example, you pay US$400, as opposed to US$750 if going one of the most expensive brands, and are going to get the same performance out of it.
No rebates! http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat01163&type=category Philips - 100-Pack 2.4x DVD+R Disc Spindle DVDR02/711 Our Price: $189.99 You Save: $60.00 Sale: $129.99
For 80 cents a piece, it might be worthwhile. For CDRs, I usually buy the cheapest ones I can find, and they pretty much perform the same. But DVDs are a different animal. They have to pack more data physically on one disc so there really isn't much room for error in manufacturing. There also is a built-in insurance premium for buying name-brand media. I know it's more expensive for DVDs outside of the U.S., so I'm not saying generics are a bad idea. Just that when I read posts about people burning a dozen coasters out of 50, with no way of getting a refund, I say forget it.
I might be wrong here, but isn't Philips DVD+R made by CMC? If so, then they are HUGE LOADS OF CRAP... And those people with 12 coasters out of 50 are buying WAY TOO cheap media... I bought a spindle of good-quality Princo discs, and got a single coaster out of 25. (Disc wouldn't be recognized as writable by burner, then again, might not be the disc's fault since my sister was messing around with the discs trying to record one...)
Don't get me wrong, I meant no offense, I have used several, don't laugh, Comp Usa house brand VERY successfully. I just have to be careful about which ones I pick up. I'd love to try Ritek as I've read much good about them but am shy of buying a spindle and then not being able to use them. I usually try to pick up name brand on sale. This week Comp USA has TDK $20.99 for 15 and Circuit City knocks 10% off of that. Still certainly a big chunk of change for someone making 100's of backups.
I don't mean to double post but here it is..Has anyone else noticed dvd media prices falling? Seems like it been in the last few days..
For an Australian perspective, I have used the cheapest media I can find here, about $2 per disc, all generic brands (no-name) I have not had one failure in 150 discs, the reason I use these - The cheapest name brand I can buy is $5 - $7 per disc (Verbatim, TDK, Pioneer etc). So I don't know what this means, does Aust get better generic media? Have I lucked upon a perfect combo of Computer & procedure? I don't know, but until I start burning coasters or win the lotto, I will continue to use cheap media...
My point is that most people just blame coasters on their generic media which is not always the case. There is such a thing as good generic media, but most people just don't know how to make a decent DVD! Thats the point!
Sorry I missed your comment. You are a 100% correct. I'm learning more and more every day. I found that most of my problems were related to my player and bad info...
As long as you use media that wasn't supposed to be thrown away at the factory OR that doesn't seem to be hand made, you should be fine
The mitsui and taiyo yuden 'silver' dvd-r's are supposed to last in excess of 75/70 years respectively. The mitsui gold dvd-r's last over 100 years but they max out at 2X. Generics may only last a few years before you get errors especially ones made by princo & cmc. I've seen at least a few people with more than a few ritek cd-r's with unreadable files after a few years. They may have improved their dye technology but I'd still be wary of using ritek for backing up important stuff. Check out the cdmediaworld article on longevity. Ritek's were at the bottom of the list along with cmc, princo, as well as other generics. _X_X_X_X_X_[small]http://files.chatnfiles.com/Best%20Games%20for%20Windows/SAT/RUNNER.ZIP - the best game you've never played! http://www.mam-a.com - the best cdr / dvd-r media on the planet http://www.t-yuden.com/recordablemedia/index.cfm - the second best media bra[/small]
Ritek has since changed, those tests are more than 5 years old, if I so remember... Also, you might call me lucky or something, but I've never had a single dead CD, and DVDs are theorically more resistant than CDs. I've used tons os Princos, Prodiscs, SKCs and Riteks, and none have died on me in years. If my generics last 10 years, they'll have lived their usefulness, in 10 years we'll be probably using TB-level storage... Actually, the only CDs that really died on me were two Prodiscs, but they were physically defective, it was not the dye. One developed cracks (but I could calmly copy whatever was on it before tossing it) and another one was killed by a faulty box that chipped it.
I use 90 cent elcheapo Optimums and have yet to have a coaster. I have burned well over a hundred with them so far. Now as for named brand.... I can't tell you how many TDK's I have had that were coasters.. Not too mention TDK CDR's that have seperated on me. It don't matter on the brand they all have the chance of being a coaster. and do you really think they are going to honor their warranty... Lets be honest here a minute... 25 years down the road your dvd decides to crap out on you what do you think they are going to do give you a dollar and say there you go. just my .02
I had a guy send me several generics and a couple Ritek +R's. All the generics did't great. Excepy for the +R Ritek. Now my defination of great is it works on my standalone player. Which was a Daewoo 5800. I have since sold that and have a Apex 500W that I got from Jim in Reno and that thing plays any disk that gets close to it. I also ordered 50 of the no name 4X -R's at a real good price. I'll report as I get them. While I'm on the subject I bought 100 double DVD cases for .31 each delivered...
