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Very quick PC question...

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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 02:49 PM
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Default Very quick PC question...

I have an NEC 2500 something or other DVD writer drive in my PC.... Uptill now I have only needed to use single layer, 4.7gb discs, but wanna try a dual layer disc (8.5gb)

Stupid Question : do you need a dual layer specific drive to write to these discs or will a "normal" drive do it?

Lastly, where's good to get DL discs from, without spending bucks (I usually get single layer DVD-R's from Tesco for about £5 (20pack I think)

Thanking you please
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 03:17 PM
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Someones gotta know this! Kinda need to know if I need to get to PC world before 6pm lol....
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 03:23 PM
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To write to a dual-layer disc, yes, you'll need a dual-layer DVD-writer. Most wholesale places (ie. not a high-street store) will sell them for £20-25, including the new lightscribe kind (burns the DVD-surface with a label/image/etc).

The discs, however, aren't cheap, and you'll be lucky to find many places that do them for under £1/disc or the equivalent of. Single-layer, however, I picked up a 100-pack the other day for £20 (Datawrite Titaniums - very good brand of disc, in my opinion).
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 03:33 PM
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I can only go to PC World as I have £50 worth of their vouchers burning hole in my pocket

But I am wondering if I get one, how much I will use it?

Basically I have a music DVD that I've ripped to VTS/VOB files, and it's nearly 8gb. Thing is, thanks to the huge LPCM 2.0 stereo audio track I can't get it to shrink to the required 4.5gb. I can remove the 2.0 track and leave just the 5.1 track, but the 2.0 sounds better - richer, fuller, clearer, etc....

So I would be buying this drive and some discs mainly to do this one DVD, which seems a bit pointless considering I could go buy the DVD for £15

I'm sure there would be more discs I could do in the future, but how often I would use it I don't know, and it might be kinda pointless buying it....
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 03:38 PM
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Just buy the dvd like you said then, they may even sell dvd films in pcworld? they seem to sell everything else anyway

Failing that, demand you have £50 cash in exchange for your gift vouchers
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 04:50 PM
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Maybe I should put them up for sale on ebay? Buy £50 worth of vouchers for £40 (plus £12 p+p)
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 07:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Thrush
Maybe I should put them up for sale on ebay? Buy £50 worth of vouchers for £40 (plus £12 p+p)
Some dozy bugger will think thats a good deal. Buy the Lightscribe DL drive. I've seen them for £38. Then you've got it and can burn more onto a single disk. They may cost a bit more, but you'll use less, saving money in the long term and the environment with less waste packaging ............cannot believe i just said that last bit

Cheers

Matt
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 08:27 PM
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My new rig came with a philips dvd re-writer drive with Lightscribe and its great
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 08:29 PM
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Errrm, have a read up on what "Lightscribe" technology allows you to do......it certainly doesn't let you overburn discs to pack more content onto them!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightscribe

[edit - I really should use the "quote" button rather than just fast-replying - was meant to be in reply to collierm]
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Old Sep 16, 2006 | 07:49 AM
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LOL @ Dan. I didn't mean to imply that you can overburn the discs. I know what Lightscribe is. I meant that for £38, he can get a Lightscribe Dl drive. I meant he could burn more with the DL drive i.e twice as much as a normal DVD. Lightscribe is just a neat feature for creating text onto discs as labels etc.

Cheers

Matt
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Old Sep 16, 2006 | 10:07 AM
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Sorry, was just the way I read your post!

However, for £38, I could almost buy two of those Lightscribe dual-layer drives! (link)
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Old Sep 16, 2006 | 08:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan B
Sorry, was just the way I read your post!

However, for £38, I could almost buy two of those Lightscribe dual-layer drives! (link)
OK, I give up, you win.
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