DVD-R, The Plot Sickens

[BrianP]

Spruce

I think J-kun is right... it's pretty much Garbage In Garbage Out... a different DVD-R/RW recorder is likely to have the same problems if the encoding is wonked.

Wally is right too though about what Pioneer is bundling with its drive. It advertises compatibility yet the software <i>clearly</i> is not up to the task. That means spending more $$ on software after already spending several hundred on hardware.

And what about those expensive alternatives?

You certainly won't be able to tell much about Spruce products from their website... it's <b>horrible</b>. (http://www.spruce-tech.com/)

The links to the product pages are broken...all of them! The link on the homepage to the "REPLItech" industry event is outdated ... I should know because I designed the REPLItech website.

This sure makes it hard to inspire much confidence in their products. I'm not saying their software doesn't work--it just makes you wonder: What have they been doing with Apple's money?

I downloaded a demo of SpruceUp several months ago to test Mini-DVDs. I never really did much with it, but maybe I should give it another look.

[wkulecz]

OK so perhaps we can agree.

MSP6.5 DVD plugin and mpeg2 encoder produces garbage.

The software bundled with the A03 is garbage.

Other than that, the A03 is a great buy.


The claims of compatability are hitting the mainstream in a big way, see Nov 2001 "Computer Shopper" page 124-127 article titled "Do-It-Yourself DVDs".

--wally.


PS
J-kun please explain how the "zoom" feature is supposed to "be in the TV"? I'm not demanding the zoom feature be part of any player, I'm just not intrested in buying one without it. YMMV. I am demanding conformance to standards so disks interchange, and a definition of compatability that doesn't include visible glitches on playback! At $7+ a blank, I've permuted more than enough possibilities to decide the A03 is not for me.