Multi Format Double Layer DVD Burners: Tom's Hardware Guide Reviews

[Welly Wu]

See here: http://www6.tomshardware.com/storage...707/index.html

This article is just outstanding! It provides a lot of basic information and it addresses some critical questions regarding the rash of new Double Layer multi-format DVD burners (which are also CD-RW burners too). The single most important lesson that I learned from speed reading through this article is that Double Layer multi-format DVD burners are still a work in progress: firmware updates are on a rolling basis while the questions about media compatibility and prices are still looming concerns for consumers.

My approach is to keep waiting until these questions and concerns are addressed. I got a question from reading the article: does the DVD18 format represent High Definition DVD in any way shape or form? It seems that the DVD18 format has the target capacity of the HD-DVD format. I don't know much about it or the audio / video codecs that have just been recently approved yet. I got a lot to learn about the upcoming HD-DVD vs. SONY Blu-Ray formats.

 

[raymondlin]

Well, you can get a dual layer writer for £50, i've been holding out for a while, but I paid £30 for a Plextor CD-RW last year, £20 more for a dual layer DVD that can hold 10 CDs capacity sounds like a good deal to me.

 

[Welly Wu]

This is true but I'm concerned about write speed for the Double Layer discs and hardware compatibility for DVD players. The latter concern is paramount because if it won't work outside of the PC and specific DVD DL burner, then it becomes rather useless for me.