DVD+ / DVD-RAM Together

[Jerry Jones]

http://tinyurl.com/ou7lz

HP and Panasonic join to make consumer DVD easier - in spite of the various formats.

I wish they would have done so a long time ago.

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Nowhere]

Hmmm...when some time ago I was buying DVD writer I had a choice of buying slightly more expensive Benq that can write DVD-RAM also, apart from every other fotmat.

[Dr Mordrid]

As regards PC's this is belated on Panasonics part IMO. I've been purchasing nothing but "DVD-everything" burners for ages, mostly LG's etc. for <$100 USD at warehouse discounters (SAMS, Costco) and dept. stores. A local computer shop is selling Lite On's for $59 USD.

That DVD-RAM will be moving into more consumer devices is great. I use nothing but in our Panasonic DVD recorders and the advantages are tremendous. No formatting needed as with RW's etc.

Dr. Mordrid

[Nowhere]

Anything other than "no need for formatting"? (yeah, I've read Wikipedia about it...but how do the advantages feel in practise?)

[Dr Mordrid]

Behaves more like a removable HDD than a DVD blank, which makes them better for things that you'd normally use packet writing software (ICK!!) for. I do most downloads directly to them (named/labeld according to content) to save HDD space. Also a great place to store images, particularly those that may be updated.

Dr. Mordrid

[Jerry Jones]

I love the inherent functionality of DVD-RAM... the features that Doc correctly described.

I use the DVD-RAM discs - as Doc mentioned - as mini hard disks.

You can simply "drag-and-drop" any file to a DVD-RAM disc for storage.

They're very reliable.

I also have a Toshiba stand alone DVD-RAM/RW/R recorder and it is nice to use DVD-RAM's various time-shifting advantages for recording digital broadcasts.

However, I do have two complaints.

1. Speed

For data storage, the transfer to DVD-RAM discs - for large video files - is quite slow, but that's going to change very soon when they release the hot new 16X DVD-RAM later this year.

2. Cost

The DVD-RAM blank media prices have not dropped as fast as I had hoped. Perhaps this too will change later this year.

A third complaint is AVAILABILITY OF BLANK MEDIA.

Here in Boise, I can go to virtually any electronics store and find DVD-R/+R... DVD-RW/DVD+RW... but rarely can I find any DVD-RAM blanks.

By joining with HP in this manner, I think Panasonic is finally "getting it."

I hope they realize that - while certain aspects of their recording technology are superior - they also need to do more to "popularize" DVD-RAM for the consumer.

Strangely, they've already done this in Japan... where DVD-RAM is universally accepted by Japanese consumers.

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Dr Mordrid]

I can get DVD-RAM media at most any appliance/department store around here (Best Buy, Walmart, Meijers etc.) as well as at computer stores. 'tis cheaper online though. As for speed, the upcoming 16x media & drives should handle that.

Dr. Mordrid

[VJ]

I have started using DVD-RAMs for temporary backups.

After taking a number of pictures, I burn the unprocessed raw files to DVD. Then I start editing them, and make backups on DVD-RAM. Only when all are finished, I write them to normal DVDs, and the RAMs are available for reuse.

But availability really is a problem here...

Jörg