Thrush

iTrader: (1)

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

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

Someones gotta know this! Kinda need to know if I need to get to PC world before 6pm lol....

Dan B

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).

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

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....

BM08

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

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

Maybe I should put them up for sale on ebay? Buy £50 worth of vouchers for £40 (plus £12 p+p)

collierm

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

BM08

My new rig came with a philips dvd re-writer drive with Lightscribe and its great

Dan B

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]

collierm

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

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)

collierm

OK, I give up, you win.