DVD writers: Panasonic RAM vs Sony +/- R/RW

[Topha]

NEC announced one of those too...

[Taliska]

One of these... what?

[Indiana]

Originally posted by Topha
NEC announced one of those too...

I guess you mean NECs +/- DVD writer ND-1300A.
It's not only announced, but already available - I have got one of these and so far, I'm very happy with it.
-R and +R seem the same to me compatibility-wise: both play fine on my Onkyo and a cheap Cyberhome DVD standalone player.
The -R discs are quite a bit cheaper here, so I'll go with these...

As for +/-RW, up to now I've only bought ONE disc (a -RW), just to test if it would play back on the standalone players: it does.

When I use the DVD-writer for archiving, I'm using the -R discs.

[Taliska]

Alas and alack, the ND-1300A does not support DVD-RAM.

Taliska

[Indiana]

No, But so doesn't the Sony DRU500A, and neither do the common DVD read-only drives for computers, not even to speak about standalone DVD players...

DVD-RAM, while technically superior in some ways, is of no use for the "general user" because it's very sparely spread, thus only having a niche use in specific setups.

[Taliska]

The opening question was whether RAM and minus from Panasonic was better / more useful than Sony (and others) plus and minus format.

There's no doubting that DVD-RAM is better for data, as in backing up files or saving libraries of pictures etc, than any plus or minus RW format.

Granted there are not as many DVD-RAM drives out there as other formats, but can you read a plus disk on a minus drive (and vice versa) - looking around, it appears not (for why escapes me).

I gather that DVD-RAM is more popular in Japan and that DVD Recorders (for TV) are available too.

All in all, I don't think that it's a niche market - it's just an unfulfilled market. DVD-RAM is a sensible backup solution - now how many people backup their files - most don't!

Quite frankly I don't think I'd want to swap DVD-RAM disks with friends, I'd keep them for myself - if I did, I'd blow off a -R disk (or +R if with Sony etc).

What it looks like is that the new LG drive due in June will satisfy all - it caters for DVD-RAM as well as plus and minus. However I would reckon that the LG drive is still unlikely to improve the fortune of DVD-RAM.

I've had too many scratched DVDs and I don't want to loose data - sticking it in hard plastic case seems a damned good idea to me. I'd still blow home video off onto DVD-R (or +R), but would make two copies and squirrel the other away out of reach (DR site at brother in law's)

Taliska

[Peter B]

I am not sure but I would guess the new LG drive would only support the caddyless DVD-RAM (as used in Doc Mordrid's drive that he describes) as it would require a differnet mechanism for the caddy so you could still scratch them

I have a Sony DRU500 and am very happy with it so far, some problems with a couple of DVD players that do not like some cheap 90 cent DVD-R I have bought from Meritline, but overall it is excellent. One interesting thing is if you place a SVCD or VCD in the drive it says it is not a Windows format and refuses to recognise it at all! Still my CD drive has no issues, but strange...

[Taliska]

I'd hope that the LG GSA-4040B would take the caddied media - you'd lose a lot of advantage if it couldn't - the Panasonic drives (maybe not the older ones) take both caddied and non-caddied media - insofar as you can stick a CD in the drive without using a caddy - it's quite a neat mechanism.

Now Dr. Mordrid would probably know about the history and current direction of caddyless media - I wonder if he's still reading this thread!

Taliska

[Taliska]

It looks as if you may well be right...

I've found 1 review that said the it didn't support cartridge-type DVD-RAM disks...

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.asp?RelatedID=3644

Bummer - have to put my thinking cap on again...

Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!

Taliska

[Taliska]

Looks like the steam has run out of this thread...

<<<<< -- Anyone like my new avatar - scanned it in last night, well after midnight - doctored it (no pun intended) - then uploaded it.

It's a cat - just like what Taliska was afore she went.

Goodnight, and thanks for all the thoughts - I'm going to buy the Panasonic RAM drive (as it does cartridged RAM disks) and will forget the plus formats. Unless anyone knows anything else...

[Ted222]

Its what I would do if I were adding another drive right now.

Ted

[capt. marvel]

"Doc, is your SW 9571 an OEM version? "

yes the AVlogic $152.00 deal is a "white box" although it comes in a brown cardboard box , just got my SW-9571-CYY yesterday after reading certain peoples advice..... so far so good.....

The only caveat is ...it says "with software" ... and that software is the DVD-RAM driver. thats all.

[Laurie]

I plan to buy the retail version of that drive as it seems to be the only one available locally. That is, as soon as I get back the money I'm lending my oldest daughter for her first month's rent. Sigh. Dads are easy marks.........

[Topha]

Originally posted by Taliska
One of these... what?

Sorry, I was a little vague

I think I remember reading somewhere that NEC will make a +/- R/RW and RAM burner, but that it wont come out before fall. Can't find the article at the moment though

[Taliska]

Sounds ideal...

May sound a little odd, but I've mulled over my system for so long that now I just can't wait until the autumn for that piece to appear as I'm just about to buy it.

Taliska