Please help with the answer to a bet: Can you copy DVD's now, or not?

[amheck]

A friend and myself were discussing the possiblity to copy DVD's. He thinks with the DVD-RAM drives out here now, you can make a DVD copy of a DVD movie that you have.

I say it's possible to copy the DVD into a VCD or MPEG format, or something similar, but I really don't think that you can make a DVD-to-DVD copy yet.

Who's right?

Thanks, Aaron

 

[Muadib]

Your pal is correct. I'll find some links for you in the morning.

 

[jcmkk]

Remember though, the DVD-R media is very expensive right now so you wont be saving any money by copying a DVD. I think the last time I checked they were like $20 a disk.

 

[Duvie]

< I think the last time I checked they were like $20 a disk.>

NOPE!!!!
I just saw in the paper this weekend dvd-r disks starting at 7.99 and dvd-rw disks starting at 14.99...I think circuit city even has 3 pack of the dvd-ram disk to go with that 1000 dollar dvd recorder they have out at 40.00 bucks...So far under the 20.00 dollars.

Worth it compared to finding deals at fyres and best buy? Maybe a bit better, but not enough to worry about since you get priginal disk and box with boxart and booklets.

 

[DaLurker28]

Have they isolated DVD writing technology to one strand or one major method that will be used widely so it's like CD-RW's? A while back i read an article indicating dif methods, one called DVD-RAM, DVD Writer's, and etc. Each was different and propreitary.

 

[Muadib]

Have they isolated DVD writing technology to one strand or one major method that will be used widely so it's like CD-RW's
No, there are still too many formats. This site explains them.

amheck,

Here's one drive that will do it, but you need a hack to get around the copy protection. Checkout the DVR-AO3.

 

[LostHiWay]

I highly doubt we'll ever be able to make a dual layered DVD. And since most DVD's are dual layered it makes copying more difficult. You would have to put a copy on 2 discs or on 1 double sided disc which would suck.

 

[amheck]

Thanks for all of the replies, guys. So I guess hacking that Pioneer drive gets around the copy-protection and macrovision on the DVD's today?

Aaron