CD burners

[Port1978]

Just wondering if someone could explain the diferences between CD burners, CD writers & CD re-writers? I'm be getting a new computer in the next few months & I want to be able to write on & copy CDs.
Thanks....

 

[M29]

Most nowadays are all write/re-write.

Burners = CD-Write / CD-ReWrite.

CD-Write drives are the older drives that only Write data once to a disk and that's it. But, these are gone now and arent worth ****.

CD-ReWrite drives are the standard. You'll see them advertised as 24x12x18 speeds etc. They allow you to write normal final cd's, or rewritable cd's. Where the disk can be reformatted again. Using the right disks, ie: CD-RW disks.

 

[Desredandwhite]

m29 pretty much summed it up.

Nowadays, you will see the 3 terms being used interchangably (much like laptop/notebook).

Strictly speaking, a CD-RW (re-writer) should be able to use re-writable and write-once media.

as m29 said, you'll see speeds expressed a bit like 40x12x48x - where it means 40x write, 12x re-write and 48x read. Normally writing on re-usable media is a bit slower than the write-once stuff.

So basically chances are you will see all 3 of those terms - burner, writer, rewriter - being used to describe a re-writer, as that is the most common type (burner and writer and pretty much synonymous anyway)

 

[Blue'n'Gold]

Of course now a days there is always the DVD burners available..

just thought I'd add a little more confusion for you

 

[Port1978]

Thanks for making that a bit clearer people!

 

[Port1978]

Originally posted by Blue'n'Gold
Of course now a days there is always the DVD burners available..

just thought I'd add a little more confusion for you

don't think I'll be getting one of those.....I don't have a DVD player, so don't think I'd have much use for it.....

 

[Desredandwhite]

on the contrary. I just got a DVD-R and the most common use I have for it is backing up 4.7GB of data in one hit

 

[KingyOrTheKing]

Combo drives are coming down in price at the moment. Combo drives are just cd burners which can also be used to play DVD's. I have one. The only problem is that cd burning speeds are a bit lower. You can get them for <$200....Another thing to consider....

 

[Pornstar]

Ok, now can anyone explain the difference between DVD-R and DVD+R?

 

[Desredandwhite]

ahhh... now you're talking (or not, depending )

DVD-RW and DVD+RW are two different DVD burning standards. Think of it as VHS vs Beta. As far as I know, there's not a huge difference in the standards apart from being basically incompatible with each other (there is a third one - DVD-RAM). I think DVD-R burnt DVD videos might have a wider compatibility range with standalone DVD-players? You are beginning to see a couple of drives come out now that support both DVD-RW and DVD+RW.

 

[Dave]

Yes Des, DVD- is more widespread than DVD+. DVD- and DVD-RAM have also joined forces as DVD-Multi.

Why so many formats? Money from the royalties!

 

[M29]

DVD-R was developed by Pioneer in 1997 and they released RW a few years later. RW discs are compatible with approximately 88% of DVD drives. RW discs approximately 69%.
These discs/drives are supported by the DVDForum

DVD+R was introduced by the DVD alliance (Phillips/sony) etc around 97. +RW infact was available before +R, but it could only hold 2.8gb of stuff, so it was ditched. Later the more standard 4.7gb. +R compatible approx 87% of drives and +RW approx 70% of drives.
The DVDAlliance like these drives.

Microshaft likes this standard, as data can be written to the disc at will, like a floppy disc and will support these drives in future releases of windows.

DVD-RAM has the best recording features, but has poor compatability. The discs are in caddy's. These drives are also supported by the DVDForum.

And for those after a drive that writes/reads both -RW and +RW look no further than the Sony DRU-500A which retails for about $899 or so.
http://www.sony.com.au/product_detail_content.asp?CCod=0&CCod2=0&ProdCod=DRU500A

 

[Kick_a_hole!]

i have a 48x burner which i stole off some house