I need to buy a cheap DVD drive, anyone have an opinions on "double layer" drives?

[Corey]

I need to buy a cheap DVD drive, I noticed these new "double layer" drives are pretty cheap and the double layer DVDs claim to hold 8.5GB, does anyone have any thoughts on them? Here's what I'm looking at:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&dept=0&MSCSProfile=3C79F0C7EA3162B2D7ADAC57314A0E6AD65356 E969E220810B119B79D14A1147C5CC21CD0917834821A9F4A9 7C940F7B1353E36A453836131E9BA789A71A38E01ACC8E21B9 0040140C1C0599959898152BD4130377B10A22F0E35E9A5C46 23A1AE92E1AA984715DBF6EADE47D4508FD59C3CE59B29BD91 4A&sku_id=0665000FS10057805&catid=&newdeptid=18

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&dept=18&MSCSProfile=3C79F0C7EA3162B2D7ADAC57314A0E6AD65356 E969E220810B119B79D14A1147C5CC21CD0917834821A9F4A9 7C940F7B1353E36A453836131E9BA789A71A38E01ACC8E21B9 0040140C1C0599959898152BD4130377B10A22F0E35E9A5C46 23A1AE92E1AA984715DBF6EADE47D4508FD59C3CE59B29BD91 4A&sku_id=0665000FS10056773&catid=12501

I'm anti-Pioneer now that my existing DVR-105 drive has died after less than 100 burns. Supposedly some intrepid users have had luck just disassembling them and cleaning the laser lens but I don't know from lasers. Sounds cheaper to just go buy one and hand this old one off to one of my electronics buddies for parts/resurrection. :o

[eric_darling]

Buying the drive is a no-brainer. You want to have the capability, and the price is similar for a burner limited to single layer.

The media isn't cheap or easy to find, however. There are only a couple of manufacturers selling it in North America, including Verbatim (who were first to market) and Ritek (I think). Last time I looked, single pieces sold for around $9.95 USD. You don't want to burn too many coasters with prices like that.

Building a dual-layer DVD is pretty easy with a variety of authoring tools, but don't count on being able to play your finished discs in many players. And since the spec came out after most DVD players were manufactured, the only way to tell if it will work with your player is to try it.

[eric_darling]

Incidentally, Pioneer makes the best drives. You got a bum one. We own over 20. Yes, not a typo - over 20. We have yet to lose one, and you can imagine how many burns we do - thousands per month.

[Corey]

Wow, I didn't realize you put out that many DVDs each month. That's a staggering amount of work! :yes

[eric_darling]

It's not all original projects. We do a fair amount of those, but I'd say at least 70 percent come from external sources - print houses looking for fulfillment, other production companies, advertising agencies, etc. It has been less lucrative since DVD duplication has become more commoditized, but in all, it's still a decent side business.

The bottleneck has been in printing, but we're considering upgrading that side of the production chain in the next month or so.

[Corey]

High quality printers have sure come down in price this year, and the ink costs lately are not too bad when viewed "per DVD" all things considered... :yes

[Derek]

I was gonna recommend Pioneer too, til i saw your 'anti' comment, Corey. I would still go with Pioneer, tho. I dont know of anyone who has had a problem with Pioneer drives and as Eric said, they make the best drives - as is widely acknowledged.

I have been holding back on getting a dual-layer drive (I currently have the 106 - which can actually burn dual-layer discs, but Pioneer wont release the firmware to do it!) because of the impending Blu-ray discs. I am tempted to wait and see what happens with that.

[Corey]

but Pioneer wont release the firmware to do it!
The cads! If only I hadn't misplaced my duelling glove... :o

[Eagle]

Yep, been using Pioneer since the DVR 104 ..

Got the latest 108 (dual layer) several months back
as long you use the 80 pin IDE cable as suggested,
one of the quickest and reliable, high quality burns
around, I've done over 500 burns and she's honky dory :yes

PS the 109 may be out..

[Corey]

Love the new profile Eric, I mean I knew you were the King of Spain, that's a given, but I had *no idea* you could cook a pizza. You da man! :yes

[eric_darling]

A quote from an old Moxy Fruvous song. They are one of only a handful of bands I'm aware of who mention toques in their lyrics (Huge On The Luge), so in my book, they're A-OK.

[Corey]

Gian Ghomeshi is my least favorite person in Canada. Toques however are amongst my top ten all time favorite headwear items. :yes

[eric_darling]

The band itself did some interesting things. They actually offered to write a personal song for anyone who attended 18 shows back in the mid-nineties. I think they ended up doing like 41 or something like that. I don't think they're worth 18 tickets, but I would have liked to have seen them once.

Ryan Seacrest has talent? (cue spit-take)