ToiletDuck

So ive been holding back the past year or so into dropping cash on a burner that may be obsolete with all the aruguing going on with what format will be used and what not. But lately im getting an itch to get one, along with a copy of DVD XCOPY. Ive been reading and reading but have yet to come to a conclusion on wich burner will work the best with the money i plan to spend($250.00 $300.00). Also anyone with experience using xcpoy please speak up and tell me if it's all that it promises. Thanks

Jesus Pimp

Pick up a TDK DVD+/-R. Don't buy DVD Xcopy, instead you can download freeware programs like DVD Shrink, IMG Tool, and DVD Decrypter to rip and burn your dvds. For more help on dvd burning, check out http://www.dvdrhelp.com .

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Mr.Deflok

Have they standardised the DVD burning format yet so that all players can read 'em?

Achernar

It's starting to even out, and I've been following it for some time, but I'm still not quite sure if ALL players can read the current writable software.

Media prices are just now becoming affordable, though - so I'd say get one.

Anyone know if Plextor makes 'em?

docbungle

I have the Sony DRU-500A DVD burner. It plays and records to DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW. Don't have to worry about which format to use.

I also have X-Copy and it rules except that most movies won't fit on one DVD. There is a new X-Copy Express that can fit it all on one disc, similar to Pinnacle Instant Copy, but with better and less noticeable compression.

I haven't had a problem with the drive and I use it for playback and recording all the time.


It was on the expensive end when I bought it about 6 months ago, but might have gone down by now.

heyal256

Here is an article that came out last month that reviews some of the dual format dvd drives

http://www.hardwarezoom.com/viewcont...p?ReviewID=153

The short version is that the TDK drive won the roundup. I would also look for reviews about the new pioneer a06 (not sure of the prices, since I haven't had a chance to read up on it yet).

If you don't mind getting an OEM dual format dvd burner, for under $200 you can get the NEC drive (they make the drive that the tdk uses (see review link above), Newegg.com sells it and you can get it with or without software

http://www.newegg.com/app/Viewproduc...&srchFor=1300a

docbungle

DDK is bs. DRU SONY is the way to go. Take it from someone who actually has it and uses it. It is the best.

yaycr

Pioneer A0* is very popular with the fanatics @ www.doom9.org

Before you buy DVDXCOPY read some of that above site..might save you some cash

thecow

I would also suggest the Sony or the higher end TDK because they read/write all formats. I saw them both at Best Buy yesterday for about $260. Of course you can probably get them cheaper at newegg or someplace like it. If you go TDK, be careful. They had one for $200 that only did a few formats. I would go up the higher end one to be safe.

oozy85

i have the dvr a05 and its worked perfectly for me so far, only problem is it doesnt read dvdrw+/dvdr+, however, the new a06 supports both media's. considering how well the a05 has treated me, i would highly recomend the a06.

egorey

All of the R/RW +/- multi formats are good. I like the Sony and haven't had any media related problems with it (External Firewire/USB2.0 drive). Plextor has their 8X multiformat coming out soon. This should cause the current prices to drop a bit.

I have to agree that better copy software is available for free on the web...

cartmen34

I personally have the Sony DRU 510a, and am loving it. Have burned with all formats, (DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CR-R/RW) and have not made a coaster yet.

I highly recommend getting a burner that supports both - and + media. This way you will be able to use the drive after the media standardization fight is over and only one media is "standard".

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nash

I don't think anyone's mentioned this yet, but media quality is very important as well. Cheap media won't read in some drives and standalone players. Cheap media also degrades quickly. I backed up some of my movies onto cheap DVD media and it wouldn't read on even the DVD recorder. Took a while to figure out what was wrong. I bought some high quality media and everything was fine after that.

I go to http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=60 to see people's feedback on different media. I'm sure other sites have similar forums so just check around. Verbatim used (still does? I dunno) to have excellent quality, but is/was expensive (haven't bought media in a while). Ritek has good quality for not-too-expensive prices. Do some research first though. Some people say that cheap media works fine for them, but for me it didn't. So I'm just giving you a heads up in case cheap media doesn't work for you...

LNCPapa

I personally have a +RW and two -RWs (A04 and A05) and I would have to say either go with one that reads both + and - or get one that does + . One bad thing I have noticed is that all the +R/RW DVDs I burn will not read in ANY Pioneer PC DVD drive I've tried. I find that certain brands of DVD drives will stick to reading one format or another. Those that can burn both, or course, can read both. I've tried this with a couple of other brands than Pioneer and it seems to be holding true - except in the case of set top boxes. They don't seem to have any problems reading + or - R/RWs that I burn. In all honesty - I use mainly my +RW now and only -R/RW when I'm using my Mac.

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TwoToTango

I have the LiteOn multimode burner -- I
think the model # is 400D, something like
that. It handles the same formats as the
Sony drive, but it's cheaper.

No compatibility problems in many months
of use.

Exodus

IMHO I would stick with Pioneer or Sony. Have heard nothing but praise about those DVD Recorders. Just be sure that the model you get has the ability to do both + and - formats.