Don Labriola

Dual-layer DVD recorders are finally here, but the DL format is still a work in progress. Media remain scarce and expensive, and the first generation of DL recorders and application software currently produces discs that many DVD set-top boxes and computer drives cant read. We expect most of these issues to be resolved before the […]

ZIFFPAGE TITLEAt a Glance Company:Sony Electronics Inc., www.sony.com/prodataPrice:$3,299 list Pros:Blue-laser rewriter can store 23GB on a single disc. Inexpensive rewriteable and write-once media now shipping. Good throughput.Cons:Pricier than many magneto-optical drives. Intended only for data (not video) applications.Bottom Line:This first Sony blue-laser drive is pricey, but it provides a solid growth path for data-heavy users […]

ZIFFPAGE TITLEAt a Glance Company:Sony Electronics Inc., www.sony.com/dvdburnersPrice:$199 listSpec Data:ATAPI (EIDE) interface; analog audio out, digital audio out controls; 8X DVD-R record speed; 4X DVD-RW record speed; 8X DVD+R record speed; 2.4X DVD+R DL record speed; 4X DVD+RW record speed; 40X CD-R speed; 24X CD-RW speed; 1.6 by 5.7 by 6.5 (inches, HWD). Pros:Dual-layer recording; […]

Buying a DVD drive doesnt have to be complicated. Wading through the jargon, the compatibility issues, and the multitude of disc formats can certainly seem intimidating. But its nothing that cant be sorted out with a bit of background information and a dose of common sense. Read on for all the information youll need. Read […]

The recent Associated Press story about insidious, disc-devouring “rot” wasnt the first to hit the mainstream press. Major news outlets Worldwide have for years been publishing sensational reports that up to 20 percent of all mass-produced CDs and DVD-Video discs were slowly destroying themselves. But when an alarmed DVD industry investigated whether the problem was […]

The rewritable DVD—and the different recipes for baking one—has been troubled from the start by battles among powerful corporations, culminating in a schism that has split the industry. Consumers are now faced with five recording technologies: the DVD Forums DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM (the “dash” formats), and the DVD+RW Alliances DVD+R and DVD+ RW (the […]

As the originator of DVD-R technology, Pioneer has been that formats staunchest proponent. But in a nod to the competition, the new Pioneer DVR-A06 adds support for the rival DVD+R and DVD+RW formats. In most other ways, the DVR-A06 is similar to its DVR-A05 predecessor. Both boast robust construction, 4X DVD-R and 2X DVD-RW recording, […]