can that DVD+R/+RW drive at dell copy DVD movies?

[hapoo]

Originally posted by chosenfool
and will those coopies play in regular DVD players? people have mentioned the -R/-RW are better, bot for under $160, that DVD+R/+RW is hard to beat.


The drive may be cheaper, but you'll pay out the waazoo in media.

[Frostbyte]

It can copy DVD movies, and they will play in many DVD players, but it can only write 4.7 GB. Most dvd movies (good ones anyway) are larger than this. You can usually copy them to 2 DVD+R's though, but who wants to switch discs in the middle of a movie.

[bachviet]

I got my 4X DVD-RW drive in January (Staples deal) for $165.xx after MIR and tax.

[seqiro]

Originally posted by Frostbyte
It can copy DVD movies, and they will play in many DVD players, but it can only write 4.7 GB. Most dvd movies (good ones anyway) are larger than this. You can usually copy them to 2 DVD+R's though, but who wants to switch discs in the middle of a movie.

Sometimes if you strip out the special features you can get it down to one disc. You can also resample it with a program like DVD2ONE which will cause a small loss in quality but it still beats a VCR tape.

Anyone who had laserdisc has probably already dealt flipping discs in the middle of the movie though. Or anyone with the Extended LOTR:FOTR superbit discs. :)

[raimin]

just make sure your home dvd can read dvd+r not just dvd-r

[seqiro]

I've only made one coaster with my DVD-RW drive, and that had nothing to do with the drive or the media, it was a problem with the authoring of the disc I was working on. I've probably burned 50-60 DVDs since I got the drive (I also have a miniDV digital video recorder, so I've been playing with the two together).

So I for one don't really know why the media costs more. They both seem to do the intended job, and my friend with a DVD+RW drive has no complaints, just like I don't.

Frankly, if the industry would start working together more and create STANDARDS like in the old days, we wouldn't have to keep worrying about this crap, only one type of media would be available, and prices for everything would go down.

Having multiple formats doesn't create competition, it creates confusion, and I think that's why recordable DVD is not taking off as quickly as it otherwise would.

edit: ps, enjoy your drive! I've loved mine since I got it.

[jasondery]

I have the same NEC drive as you which came with my Dell. I have been able to purchase new quality media (verbatim, fujifilm, HP) on eBay for about 1.50 per disk. I use DVDXCOPY when I want to keep all the extras when backing up my dvds. When I only want the movie, I use DVD Decrypter (ripper), DVD2ONE (encoder), and NERO(burning software). This method creates a DVD that may be slightly compressed depending upon the length of the movie and what audio and other options you elect to keep. I backed up THE PATRIOT which is a 160 minute movie and did not notice ANY visible degradation in quality. While using this 3 step method may sound like a complicated process, it is quite simple and in my opinion well worth taking a few extra steps. DVD Decrypter is freeware, DVD2ONE costs $35, and you can use one of many burning programs but NERO is IMHO the very best and costs about $70. Go to Afterdawn.com if you wish to find a good guide on burning DVDs using the DVD2ONE method. Try cdcovers.cc to get printable covers for your DVD backups.

:)

[cheapchinese]

thanks jason.. i learned so much...i have the drive... but never know how to copy a movie.....
what additions.. do i need if its a tape.. that i wanted to record...
caues i want to record like 3 movies in one dvd...
-----cartoons....ok.....don't go the wrong way..

[DaNewbie]

I just got a hp dvd+rw, now i just need to find dvd+ media deals :(

[ceeka]

This is the best deal that I know of for dvd+rw discs.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0155304

[bachviet]

With DVD2One, it asks me to copy the files onto the hard drive first because the DVDs are copy right protected. That sucks because it takes longer to do it.

[DaNewbie]

yup, there aren't any double-sided DVD blank discs out yet. don't they'll be out for a while either, seeing that even dvd-r's don't have them yet :(

where can i get this DVDXCOPY that you speak of?

[DaNewbie]

watch what? I had assumed that it was shareware/demoware...:o all I know of is dvd2one; I havn't exactly researched too much about dvd burners :(

[M_A_C]

So I got one of these in my new Dell, and I remember them saying on the deals page that it can burn -r and -rw also. Do you have to do anything special to be able to do this?

[M_A_C]

Here's what Apex was saying in his deal post :
4x DVD+R/RW Burner (they can burn CD-R & CD-RW disks as well, FYI)

So does he know something we don't or???

[Apex]

Read a bit more carefully. Can burn CD-R & CD-RW, not DVD-R and DVD-RW. :)

[M_A_C]

Wow, I retarded too!