Good questions Andrew. I want to see the answers, too. I have done some research and found I'm stuck with one that burns DVD RAM only - basically useless. It appears we want R+ and R- and DVD -/+ (if I remember correctly). Some handle video DVDs and can be played on a video DVD player, others can't.Hello all,
From: Andrew Gaffney <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: 2004/02/05 Thu AM 03:49:14 GMT To: Gentoo User <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [gentoo-user] DVD burner and Linux
I'm thinking of buying a DVD burner (for data backup, of course). I'm looking for one that is compatible with Linux, although, I assume they are just like CD-RW drives in that respect.
I'm confused about which one of the umpteen different types of DVD recordable/rewritable media/drives are the most compatible with existing drives and DVD players. I think its something like DVD-++--+--+R++-W+ ;)
Can anyone recommend a decent drive that would retail for <=$150 and is compatible with everything else? IDE interface is a must as I don't have SCSI.
Also, has anyone heard anything about when those nifty new dual-layer burners that can burn both layers of a DVD up to 9GB will be commercially available and how much they will run for?
I got some time now to answer some of the questions.
1. Compatibility:
DVD-ROMs should be able to read DVD-R(W) and DVD+R(W) quite well
Most DVD-Players should be able to read -R (~60%) and +R (~50) the RW medias are a bit harder.
DVD-Recorders noramly use -RW or RAM and should read these without problems.
It is possible to change the booktype of a DVD so that your player might read medias it normally doesn't , so not all drives support this, I think you will find something about it on the dvd-rw-tools homepage.
2. Computer-use
Not really asked above but here is my 0.02$
I will use +R(W) for backups as these are fastest on my drive (LG GSA-4081) and the way +RWs are written sounds better to me than -RWs. I would use RAM medias but they are simply to expensive.
3. 9GB medias
Some companies are working on drives for these. Perhaps you will find it end of this years. +R will be there first again. Drives that are able to write +R with 8x are technically able to write 9GB media with 2x but will need a firmware update. None knows if this will be provided.
4. drive recomendations
I think the LG drives are fine I got no problems (only that my medias do not support speeds over 2x/2,4x). The 4040 should be in your price range. They write all types of media.
Plextors are very good but simply too expensive.
If you do not plan to use RAM have a look at the NEC 1300 (4x) or the follow-up model (8x) they have an exellent price/performance and are told to be very good, too.
So I hope to have helped more than confused.
Christian
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