Verbatim 95014 DVD+R DOUBLE LAYER 8.5GB 2.4X Jewel Case (3 pack)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent media quality
Review: Quick Summary: Burns at 2.4x or 4x on Plextor 716A burner; Verbatim DVD+R DL burned with the Plextor 716A is PLAYABLE in EVERY DVD Player (at least 20 and counting) I have tried!!! Awesome.

Full article:
I recently used the Verbatim DVD+R DL media to back up a couple of my most popular DVD's. The original was 8.1GB in size and contained about 50 music videos. I couldn't get it to squeeze down to fit on a single layer disc. Verbatim DVD+R DL to the rescue!

Using my new Plextor PX-716A burner (an excellent DVD Burner!), I used the included PlexTools program to make a copy of my DVD. Note, the original DVD is not protected in any way.

I burned the DVD+R DL at 4x speed (approx. 28 min. to burn). There is a selection in the Plextor's software to "overwrite" the book type of the DVD+R DL so that it looks like a pressed dual-layer DVD to settop DVD players (to avoid a confusing older DVD players). I used this setting (it is by default) to burn the DVD.

When it comes to DVD burning, there is no better test than the compatiblilty and quality test of the burned disc. The test is simple, put the burned DVD in as many players as you can and see how many can and cannot read it. Well, I have to say that I have tested this DVD+R DL in over 20 DVD players so far, and ALL have played it with NO COMPATIBILITY issues whatsoever. This finding is as good as or better than all DVD+R and DVD-R (single layer) I have ever used.

After having read all the reviews on the web about how incompatible burned DVD+R DL discs are, I have to say, the Plextor 716A and Verbatim DVD+R DL combination blows everything else away.

Yes, the discs are kinda expensive, but if you have valuable or irreplaceable DVDs to back up, they will work for you. As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.

Rating:
Summary: Tradeoff speed vs capacity
Review: This dvd works/records great. It acts like a regular dvd but holds about 8 gig instead of 4. Fyi, you dont have to flip it over to access all the data like a double sided dvd. The 2 tradeoffs is speed and price. It takes between 45-60min to burn the full 8gig because the speed is only 2.5x. A regular 4.7 gig dvd+r takes about 10-20 min to burn. The other tradeoff is price. This disk cost about $10 ea. vs about $1 ea for a regular dvd. (Im guessing the price will come down next year). If you are new at this or just want to experiment first, you might try the verbatum combo pack that has 1-dvd+r double layer, 1-dvd+rw 4x single layer and 8-dvd+r 4x single layer.

Rating:
Summary: these are great!
Review: Verbatium is known for its media all around the world, and it should shock anyone that their dual-layer DVD+Rs are great!

I have burned things with them with no problems!

Yes, there is a 2.4 burn speed, but most dual-layer drives out right now can't burn past that anyways, so anyone complaining about that, well, get over it until something newer and better comes out.

Now - if for some reason you are trying to burn movies, be very cautious. Most older DVD players (anything made before 2004) might have some issues playing these discs. Also, if you use a PlayStation 2 to view your movies, a lot of the older models will not play them or will have little compatability. This is due to the new media not being supported, but the majority of new dvd players and newer models of the PS2 should play movies with ease.

These are the best dual-layer DVD+Rs.

My only gripe, as I'm sure it is with everyone else - the price. $20 seems like a decent price for the three-pack - paying close to $10 a disc - a little steep for many, especially since dual-layer drives seem to be in a lot of stores, but you can't find the media anywhere...

...I can only hope this changes.

Overall - a great product. A little pricy, but, somewhat worth it for now.