New blanks not backward compatible.

[JH4]

It seems that earlier DVD recorders won't now be able to use the new higher speed rated blanks, (eg X4 and X6), and they can't be modified either, as I seem to be finding out. Any one have more on this ? , or are these earlier machines going to be stuck for blank media when everyone starts selling only the new high-speed rated blanks. Bad news if this is true.. Built in obsolescence springs to mind.. The packs have wording that states that firmware upgrades of earlier DVD recorders may be needed, but it does'nt seem that these upgrades are easily available - if at all.
Any comments - people in the know ?

[pjclark1]

Blank dvd-r and dvd+r (dead in approx 1 year) also degrade faster than burned dvdr (dead in approx 3 years, if you're lucky), so no point in stocking up on them either. Use dvdrw instead.
But as most dvd writers won't last much longer than 3 years, it's unlikely to be a problem.

[JH4]

Yeh, and people are archiving their old VHS tapes to DVD in the fond belief they will last longer than tapes - which still play fine after decades. Funny old world !
Bring back D-VHS I say - the best format of the lot...

[nwgarratt]

Originally Posted by pjclark1

Blank dvd-r and dvd+r (dead in approx 1 year) also degrade faster than burned dvdr (dead in approx 3 years, if you're lucky), so no point in stocking up on them either.

That cannot be be decent media if it only lasts a few years. I know poor discs such as Princo and Bilkpaq can only last two years. I have decent DVD's coming up to two and a half years and they still play perfect.

A decent make of discs (with decet dye) wil last a lot longer than 3 years if they are treated right.

[pjclark1]

Originally Posted by nwgarratt

A decent make of discs (with decet dye) wil last a lot longer than 3 years if they are treated right.

And you're betting all your data on that, good luck!

[JohnG]

So how many DVDs have you lost with this problem ?

[nwgarratt]

Originally Posted by pjclark1

And you're betting all your data on that, good luck!

Why not?

Anyway, if data is that important then DVD RAM is much more robust. I would be perfectly happy if my data lasts just another five years or so.

If the discs are quality there is no reason why the data shouldn't last 10 or 20 years easily.

[johnsteed]

Originally Posted by JH4

Yeh, and people are archiving their old VHS tapes to DVD in the fond belief they will last longer than tapes - which still play fine after decades. Funny old world !

The main reason I was looking to purchade a DVD Recorder with HD was to transfer my VHS tapes to discs and get rid of the tapes.

If the lifetime of discs is approximately 3 years then I would be foolish to junk the tapes. Some of my tapes are over 20 years old and still play good.

Surely dvdr have a longer life span than that?

Which media brand names should I be looking for to offer the longest life span?

[JohnG]

Go for good brands (Verbatim in my case) and keep them away from sunlight, I use black plastic cases to keep mine in and I've had no problems so far. I notice we haven't had an answer from PJClarke to the question of how many DVDs he's had problems with !

[nwgarratt]

It's not necessarily the make but the dye used.

The best DVD-R/DVD+R is Taiyo Yuden (but it costs about 3 times as much of other discs).

For dye quality have a look at this link.

http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm

I use Ritek Ridisc G04 -R's and have had 100% success with them. My most important data are on these discs.

I have also ordered some TDK G02 dye discs for TV Recordings.

It is also important to match DVD writer with DVD disc. What burns excellent on one writer may not on another make of writer.

[JohnG]

Sorry, yes I should have said that the Verbatim ones I use have the TY02 dye and work very well in both my Panasonic DVD recorders.

[pjclark1]

sorry, been on the beach all day

Originally Posted by JohnG

So how many DVDs have you lost with this problem ?

I have lost 60+ dvds in the last year (unreadable data lost mostly ritek g04 dye), approx 6 months to 18 months after burn, and have rewritten about 100 more that were starting to look a bit iffy (jagged speed scans mostly ritek g05 dye approx 3 months after burn).

Verbatim have been pretty good, about 10% of the 4x (MCC) failing to scan after the burns usually due to visable defects in the dye, but now Verbatim have switched production to a Moser Baer plant in India, I am told the quality is very variable. Those Verbatim from the CMC factories seem to be very good.

[Alan A]

Any idea what the Phillips discs are dye-wise and the quality?
TIA

[JohnG]

So I think we can say that if you pick the right DVDs you don't have much to worry about if you store them correctly. I have taken the advice of Rasczak and have created 2 copies of any tapes that are really important and also some of them I've created one copy on DVD-R and another on DVD-RAM, just to be on the safe side.

[nwgarratt]

Originally Posted by pjclark1

sorry, been on the beach all day



I have lost 60+ dvds in the last year (unreadable data lost mostly ritek g04 dye), approx 6 months to 18 months after burn, and have rewritten about 100 more that were starting to look a bit iffy (jagged speed scans mostly ritek g05 dye approx 3 months after burn).

Verbatim have been pretty good, about 10% of the 4x (MCC) failing to scan after the burns usually due to visable defects in the dye, but now Verbatim have switched production to a Moser Baer plant in India, I am told the quality is very variable. Those Verbatim from the CMC factories seem to be very good.

There was a period where G04 and G05 were rubbish. It is not the fault of DVD-R technology but poorly manufactured discs in the first place. There were fake G04 and G05 discs going around. It made Ritek introduce Ridisc Extreme G05 discs and they are superb. They are the best 8x discs that are cheaper than TY discs.

CMC discs are very very poor (4th class media by going by the link I supplied). I have had poor results with CMC dye +RW's. I wouldn't use Verbatims with CMC dye.

However, some writers are fine with them.