Shoud I Return?

[bachviet]

I bought the Cendyne 4x DVD-R/RW from www.staples.com and my friend said that I can't copy (as my backups) new movies because of the protection. If this is true, should I return the drive?

[NuTs62]

i'm not too familiar with DVD writers.. but I'd try and see if there were ways to get around it first. And also, if you were set on getting a DVD writer, I'd try and find one that has both the + and the -, which I believe only Sony offers still

[seqiro]

Does your friend mean that you can't backup movies with this particular drive? I don't see why it would be different than any other drive, the Cendyne is (I believe) just a rebadged Pioneer DVR-A05. I'm not aware of any additional limitations that this drive has over other drives.

So if you want to go the easiest route, you buy a copy of this (http://www.dvdxcopy.com/) program and make your backups hassle free.

Of course you can also find free software packages that'll let you make backups as well, you just have to take the time to figure them out. :)

[bachviet]

I don't mean ripping it to SVCD but making straight DVD copies. My friend said that new DVDs have protection thus prevents copying but I don't know how true is that!

[seqiro]

I don't know if you followed the link, but DVDXCOPY is only used to backup your DVDs to DVD intact. It in fact cannot make anything else, including SVCDs. So this does what you want. You're probably thinking of DVDx, which is a different program.

AFAIK, DVDs are still just using CSS protection.

:confused:

[modena]

I just ordered a dvd+r/+rw drive....everyone that I spoke with told me the + drive was the one to chose over the - drive.

[bachviet]

Originally posted by modena
I just ordered a dvd+r/+rw drive....everyone that I spoke with told me the + drive was the one to chose over the - drive.
I thought there are more DVD players play DVD-R. :confused:

[seqiro]

I've been using the Apple Superdrive which is DVD-R/RW and so far haven't come across a single player the discs wouldn't play in.

[NuTs62]

my friend told me today that he tried DVDXCOPY, and it does make a complete copy of the DVD. It copies it all to the HD first though, and then to the DVD writer (from what I've been told). It also adds a few second intro to the copy stating that it shouldn't be copied, and pirating is illegal or some crap like that :P

[seqiro]

I plan to try this out too, I got in on the Cendyne deal today while I still had the chance. $159.00 (a/r) for a 5th gen Pioneer DVR-A05 clone? Too good to pass up.

[gear02]

Originally posted by bachviet

I thought there are more DVD players play DVD-R. :confused:

From what people tell me, DVD-R has more compatibility with DVD players, while DVD+R is the more technologically superior format.

I believe that all PS2/XBox backups use DVD-R.

If you're unsure, you should get the Sony writer which can do both +R and -R.

[seqiro]

Originally posted by gear02


From what people tell me, DVD-R has more compatibility with DVD players, while DVD+R is the more technologically superior format.



It seems sort of strange that something that is considered to have less compatibility with respect to its intended purpose is considered technologically superior. So perhaps the rule of thumb should be if you are authoring video (or backing up DVDs) then you should go with DVD-R and if you are using it for data storage you should go with DVD+R.

It seems to me like we need a standardized format that combines whatever it is that makes DVD+R a technologically better format with the compatibility of DVD-R and not have to worry about buying overpriced drives (Sony DRU-500).

This would lead to cheaper drives and cheaper media.

Meanwhile, since I didn't find that there was anything I couldn't do on the Apple SuperDrive in the machine we were borrowing, a DVD-R burner is the economically sound choice for me. YMMV. :)

[LPMiller]

DVD-R was never intended as a video format. +r was. That's the main difference, other than speed. However, dvd-r works fine for video, and is handled by more set top players.

[bachviet]

I decided to keep the drive and copied a DVD (LOTR: TFOTR) using 1x Khypermedia DVD-R. I tested the DVD-R and it played in the Panasonic RV-32K (???). Everything is working okay now but I need a DVD player and cheaper media. Thanks for everyone's help. :D