Anyone point me to DVD+R tests?

[bobatkins]

Searches haven't really dug up any sites that have conducted quality

testing on DVD+R disks. Does anyone know of such a site that rates

currently available brands and types of blank DVD+R in terms of

quality and projected longevity. I presume the "big name" brands are

better then the generic spindle packs, but is there an

acknowledged "leader" for archival quality DVD+Rs?

[oskar_ojala]

Can't really offer other advice than:

 

1. There are many companies selling discs, far fewer making them. Brand X of today might not be from the same factory, using the same chemical process as the brand X of tomorrow.

 

2. Writable DVD evolves very rapidly and there aren't really so many people with the capibility to make reliable tests and publish them. Given point 1., I wouldn't expect finding a reliable test would be easy.

 

Due to the relative novelty of DVD+R and the points above, I'd say buying good brand name is the safest bet (and making backups!). DVD+R is not as established as CD-R, so I'd expect the discs to have a greater variance (I've got far too little experience with DVD+R to make comments about different brands).

[mbeebee]

<p>Hi Bob,</p>

<p>Have you checked out <a href="www.cnet.com">www.cnet.com?</a> I'm not sure how detailed you're looking for, but they have basic reviews. Try this this link:</p>

 

<p><a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/Storage/2001-3185_7-0.html?tag=cnetfd.dir">http://reviews.cnet.com/Storage/2001-3185_7-0.html?tag=cnetfd.dir</a></p>

 

Martin

[ShunCheung]

Not a test, but my wife has been using Memorex DVD+R disks for a while and we are quite happy with them. We haven't run into any defective ones and she has been producing home-made DVDs and they play on all sorts of DVD players. (Now in September, 2003) We get them for about US$2 each (stack of 25 for $50 or 50 for $100). I am sure the price will continue to fall.

[cbender]

Look at www.tomshardware.com. I know they have reviewed some of the burners in the past, and possibly the disk brands as well.

[daniel_moore]

FLAAR is the first place I look for 'unbiased' reviews of cameras, printers, digital media, etc. There is an article/review index:

 

http://www.flaar.org/all_index.html#d

 

There are a few entries relating to DVD R, including their favorite source for buying. They recommend Maxell.

[john_kim2]

Try www.dvdrhelp.com. It doesn't test media, but has pretty extensive user reviews of various brands of media. Not as good as objective testing, but after a dozen user reviews it's pretty clear which brands are junk. It's got the best library section I've seen on the subject, so you may find a link to what you're looking for there. I can't say for sure though because their server is down right now...

[struan_gray]

Personally, I wouldn't use any of the dye based disks for a

passive archive..

 

I needed to upgrade our MO-based archive a couple of years ago

and found it *very* hard to get any real, unbiased data about

lifetimes or reliability of the various DVD media. However, the

overwhelming word-of-mouth recommendation was to use

DVD-RAM. It's a phase change media, like MO, and so less

prone to decaying on the shelf than the other dye-based formats

including DVD+R. Also, the cartridge protects the disk from

physical damage better than a simple jewel case.

 

The latest DVD-RAM drives will usually read and write the minus

consortium's other formats. Iomega have a drive that will do the

plus consortium's disks too, if burning movies is important to

you. That's the one I'll be buying for personal use: I'll use

DVD-RAM for the archive of last resort, and the cheaper DVD-/+R

disks for working backups.

[bobatkins]

Thanks for the info so far. While DVD-RAM may be superior, I have DVD+RW, so that's what I'll be using for a while!

 

It seems that there is some support for the idea that DVDs are more stable than CDs. Anyone else hear that or have supporting evidence - or is it just another internet urban myth with no real foundation?

[struan_gray]

The dyes are the same, but according to the semi-informed

rumour I tracked down they are better sealed from the

environment. They'll bleach just as fast in sunlight, but oxidants

will have a harder time getting to them. I wouldn't bet the farm on

this. For me, the only major advantage of DVD+/-R is that they

need fewer jewel cases than CD-R, and I juggle disks less often

during a backup.

[a long time ago]

"is L glass really worth the money"

[sergey_oboguev]

I have not seen any DVD+R reviews, but in the past I used various CDs and magnetic media from various makers and generally found Maxell more reliable than other brands (I had Memorex failures, for example, but no Maxell's), so for now I try to keep using Maxell for DVD+R.

 

I abstain from DVD+RW since I think they are more prone to failure and given the application, no point anyway.

[fast_primes]

Following up on Struan Gray's comments about oxidants, is oxidation the major culprit for CD or DVD disk failures? If so, would storing them in some sort of inert gas, greatly improve the reliability and longevity of ANY CD or DVD media? Or would lower tempature starage/refrigeration have any benefit?

[bobatkins]

I think there's very little doubt that storing CDs and DVDs in a freezer in the dark will slow down any possible degradation. This assumes degradation is a chemical or photochemical process, which I think it must be. All chemical and photochemical reactions slow down with temperature. The only caveat here is that I suppose it's possible that the contraction/expansion which results from temperature cycling could cause damage.

 

Still, keeping them cool and in the dark has to be better than putting them in the oven under a 1000W spotlight!

 

I doubt inert gas storge would help much, though it can't hurt.

 

Just make sure the package is hermetically sealed if you put them in the fridge or freezer. Condensing water/ice on them can't do them any good!

[struan_gray]

As Bob said, keeping things dark, cold and dry almost always

prolongs their life. Don't defrost in the microwave :-)

 

When I looked for information on CD/DVD longevity I couldn't find

any published work that met my standards to qualify as scientific

data. Lots of results and quoted figures, but the methodology

was either suspect or not explained. The general class of dyes

used in these disks will bleach very slowly in sunlight, and can

be oxidised or will react with various atmospheric pollutants.

 

I learned that DVD+R is also a phase change disk, although it is

not specced for the same number of re-writes as DVD-RAM, so

it's not clear if the on-the-shelf lifetime will be as long (the lower

usage spec may reflect the *drive* tracking ability, not the disk's

ability to keep its tracks unsullied).

 

FWIW, I have had lots of problems with Sony media (DVDs, DAT

tapes and CD-Rs) but none with Maxell. I'm not a big user, but I

am a paranoid one who checks my archives before it's too late.

[chris auman archivingdigi]

According to NIST (national institute of standards and technology) CD/DVD-/+RW is not

as archival as CD/DVD-/+R. The first lasting 25 years under ideal conditions and the other

100-200 years. Now, I know this is the most ideal conditions but the big difference

between the two means something to me. CD/DVD-/+R is he better choice. Plus they are

cheaper and if you are archiving you really have no reason to have a rewritable CD or

DVD. Regarding DVD-RAM I would not support this as a long term storage solution

because

the disks don't play on most burners and players. So you have no guarantee that the

format will even be around in a couple years. Standard CD and DVD is pretty much

guaranteed because of their massive acceptance.