Pioneer DVD-RAM $497.00

[allmed2]

This is a Brand new unit at compgeeks but it is the geek special so I dont Think you can use the 10% off.

 

[RDMustang1]

Nice, you should be able to create movie dvds on this thing

 

[GetReal]

Just for reference this is a DVD-R/RW and not a DVD-RAM drive. Here is a link

 

[GetReal]

you can write dvd movies using a dvd-r, you can't on a dvd-ram

This is not true, most DVD-RAM drives can write single sided cartless DVD-RAM media that will play in most consumer set top DVD players as well as DVD drives found in desktops and laptops. We have 6 DVD-RAM drives in our office and I copy DVD movies all the time onto single-sided 4.7GB DVD-RAM media and play them in my ThinkPad T21 DVD drive.

 

[RDMustang1]

<< you can write dvd movies using a dvd-r, you can't on a dvd-ram

This is not true, most DVD-RAM drives can write single sided cartless DVD-RAM media that will play in most consumer set top DVD players as well as DVD drives found in desktops and laptops. We have 6 DVD-RAM drives in our office and I copy DVD movies all the time onto single-sided 4.7GB DVD-RAM media and play them in my ThinkPad T21 DVD drive. >>



So what exactly is the advantage of a dvd-r over a dvd-ram (since the dvd-ram is less than 1/2 the price)?

 

[GetReal]

So what exactly is the advantage of a dvd-r over a dvd-ram (since the dvd-ram is less than 1/2 the price)?

DVD-R/RW wite speeds will quickly surpass DVD-RAM write speeds just as CD-R/RW writers surpassed mago-optical drives of the early 90s . DVD-R also uses a more efficient writing process. Even though DVD-RAM will be replaced soon, it is still a low cost and efficient way to store large amount of data. We did not use our DVD-RAM drives for anything other that clinet file archiving until the introduction of cartless single-sided media.

 

[WebDude]

Here's a good review of this drive:

http://www.cdrinfo.com/hardware/pioneerdvr103/index.shtml

WebDude

 

[novon]

this is the best drive available right now

 

[dimwit]

Don't forget the $2.99 media for the DVD-R drive here orginally posted by MichaelJ.

 

[kombatmud]

<< you can write dvd movies using a dvd-r, you can't on a dvd-ram

This is not true, most DVD-RAM drives can write single sided cartless DVD-RAM media that will play in most consumer set top DVD players as well as DVD drives found in desktops and laptops. We have 6 DVD-RAM drives in our office and I copy DVD movies all the time onto single-sided 4.7GB DVD-RAM media and play them in my ThinkPad T21 DVD drive. >>



I think it's very likely that you have one of the Panasonic LF-D311 RAMBO drives, which writes to both DVD-R/RW and DVD-RAM. DVD-R media is 4.7GB and cartless, DVD-RAM media is slightly larger, and is not available without a cartridge, nor could a settop player ever read the file format on DVD-RAM due to the drastically different way in which data is stored on it.

 

[esoteric0]

<< DVD-RAM media is slightly larger, and is not available without a cartridge, nor could a settop player ever read the file format on DVD-RAM due to the drastically different way in which data is stored on it. >>



that's entirely untrue. i have 2 hitachi dvd ram drives sitting right in front of me. they're cartless, and the media is the exact same size as a normal dvd.

 

[amnesiac]

DVD-RAM Type 2 comes with a removable cartridge but there's no way to read DVD-RAM in settop players.

 

[GetReal]

<<

<< you can write dvd movies using a dvd-r, you can't on a dvd-ram

This is not true, most DVD-RAM drives can write single sided cartless DVD-RAM media that will play in most consumer set top DVD players as well as DVD drives found in desktops and laptops. We have 6 DVD-RAM drives in our office and I copy DVD movies all the time onto single-sided 4.7GB DVD-RAM media and play them in my ThinkPad T21 DVD drive. >>



I think it's very likely that you have one of the Panasonic LF-D311 RAMBO drives, which writes to both DVD-R/RW and DVD-RAM. DVD-R media is 4.7GB and cartless, DVD-RAM media is slightly larger, and is not available without a cartridge, nor could a settop player ever read the file format on DVD-RAM due to the drastically different way in which data is stored on it. >>



You do not know what the fu@k you are talking about. Cartless DVD-RAM Media has been available for about six montsh now and will work in most DVD-RAM drives and will play in virtuall every consumer set top DVD players as well as most laptop/desktop DVD drives. The only DVD-RAM drive that we have been able to find that does not work is the Creative labs DVD-RAM drive which was one of the first introduced two years ago. Our DVD-RAM drives are about a year old and we simply needed a firmware upgrade to use the cartless media. I travel extensively and have copied over a 100 movies to watch on my ThinkPad T21 while in flight. In addition, I have played these copied movies in all three of my set top DVD players at home without any problems. Here is a link to the media that we use, but there are all the major manufacturers now have cartless DVD-RAM media.

Panasonic Single Sided Cartless 4.7GB DVD-RAM Media

 

[ERJ]

Wahoo.....this stuff is finally getting into the realm of resonable in terms of pricing. I play around with video a bunch so this would be a great thing to have. Think I will wait until the media falls to ~$1 though.

ERJ

 

[dimwit]

That DVD-RAM media is expensive! Our Price: $23.49 Cheaper to just buy the movie unless you just want to watch it a few times then re-record over it. So you can just go to Blockbuster, rent a DVD, and copy it to DVD-RAM? Would that also work with DVD-R?

 

[Booyah]

Hold off on purchasing this! These drives are going to drop radically in price and soon. Within 6 moths you'll be able to get this for less than half the price.

 

[GetReal]

<< That DVD-RAM media is expensive! Our Price: $23.49 Cheaper to just buy the movie unless you just want to watch it a few times then re-record over it. So you can just go to Blockbuster, rent a DVD, and copy it to DVD-RAM? Would that also work with DVD-R? >>



DVD-R is just like CD-R , you can only write it once (if your lucky and don't make a coaster) DVD-R/W is the re-writeable version of DVD-R and is basically cartless DVD_RAM media that has been reformatted to the DVD-R format.


DVD-RAM unlike DVD-R/W is quickly erasable (you can quick format it just like your hard drive). Once I view a movie, I have no need for it and simply erase the DVD-RAM disc once I return to the office and record another. I also record television programs that have previously recorded with myTivo, although I have done this with limited sucess as some of the recorded programs has some sort of copy protections that results in a poor picture quality.

BTW - The last batch of cartless DVD-RAM discs that we pruchaed fwere from eGay. We picked up a to pack for $80.00 shipped.

 

[dstaff]

Pioneer DVR-A03 DVD-R/RW Writer is on for $490 at NewEgg

Pioneer DVR-A03 DVD-R/RW Writer 1X / 2X DVD-record (general use), 1X DVD-rewrite, 4X / 8X CD-record, 4X CD-rewrite, 2MB write 512KB read buffer, RETAIL, One Year Warranty Fedex Saver Shipping $5.00

Dave

 

[volfan]

I just want to thank you, GetReal, for your very helpful post of personal experience (since no on else has). This is a very interesting technology for me. But I think I still may wait it out until prices of drives and media comes down and the standard becomes a little clearer. Your information has helped me understand a little better.

 

[ThePanda]

This is cool, and that $2.95 media deal is sweet, it's great that the media is finally starting to come down in price. But I plan on holding off too for at least a few months to see if prices come down or new models come out, but everyone else go ahead and buy it, drive down the price for me .
Does anyone know if there are any other models of DVD-R drives coming out anytime soon? Are there any improvements that could be made over the A03 besides a speed increase? For example could they make it to support larger DVD-R media, or is that not possible?

 

[GetReal]

<< Hold off on purchasing this! These drives are going to drop radically in price and soon. Within 6 moths you'll be able to get this for less than half the price. >>



I totally agree. I think that within three months that this particular DVD-R/RW drive will be well under $300.00 and DVD-RAM drives will be under $150.00. Panasonic sold an @ss load of new Panasonic (Compaq OEM) 4.7/9.4GB DVD drives on uBid last weeked for around $190.00.

If you really want a DVD-R drive, then use your AMEX Blue

 

[dimwit]

want to thank you, GetReal

Ditto. What do you know about the + versions of DVD-RW?