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Rogue 5 · Jan 29, 2002, 06:01 PM

Both me and a coworker have been trying to gather information on these 2 technologies to figure out which one is better and why. He uses PC, I use Mac. Which is nearly irrelevant except that Macs come with Superdrives which are DVD-R/RW and therefore that *may* be the best solution for a Mac regardless of which technology is better.

I have found some information on the net about this. This article DVD-RAM/R FAQ (discusses both) is heavily biased towards the DVD-RAM but also provides a lot of technical reasoning behind it. This article DVD Faq seems to be a little less biased but overlaps a lot of the same information. Apple also sells a DVD-RAM (external firewire in the apple store) so this solution can still all be purchased from apple. At 499 including case it even seems cheaper than an external superdrive.

As a mac user looking to burn data (backups) and video dvds, which solution is better with the technological superiority of DVD-RAM taken into account? Is apples preconfigured superdrive just easier or is it worth getting the external drive for the benefits of DVD-RAM? Is there some hidden advantage of RW that I am missing? It is likely that I will use iMovie and iDvd for a bit but purchasing dvd studio pro is already being considered as an option and Final Cut Pro is already a definite for the future. Are DVDSP and iDVD even compatible with DVD-RAM? How does DVD-RAM vs. DVD-RW support stack up on consumer dvd players and DVD-ROM drives?

I know this is a long and complicated question but I have done my reasearch and now I want the opinions of Mac users who have experience with the different options availible. Thanks!

[ 01-29-2002: Message edited by: Rogue 5 ]

Paul S · Jan 30, 2002, 08:17 AM

I can't answer your questions regarding which technology is better, but I can tell you that iDVD won't work with any external device. Apple wrote it to look for internal devices only. If you want to use iDVD, you are stuck with an internal SuperDrive.

tr · Jan 30, 2002, 04:55 PM

personally, i like DVD-RAM for backups. have you seen the Panasonic LF-D311? it's a combo DVD-R/DVD-RAM. it may be what you are looking for. you can check out users' experience with these drives here: http://forums.xlr8yourmac.com/drived....drivedb.lasso

just pick 'DVD-R +DVD-RAM' as the drive type.

i was going to get one of these drives when they came out, but i went with a DVR-A03 instead. i didn't want to be the guinea pig to see if it worked in my G4, and i figured i would use the CD-R/RW function of the superdrive more than i would use the DVD-RAM. and if i ever needed to backup, i could do it to DVD-R/RW.

as for external or internal, i guess it would depend on what computer you are using. if you are using a G4, then you could go for an IDE (replacing your existing drive); it would be a lot cheaper than getting an external unit.

tr

Rogue 5 · Jan 30, 2002, 05:05 PM

Originally posted by tr:
<STRONG>personally, i like DVD-RAM for backups. have you seen the Panasonic LF-D311? it's a combo DVD-R/DVD-RAM. it may be what you are looking for. you can check out users' experience with these drives here: http://forums.xlr8yourmac.com/drived....drivedb.lasso

just pick 'DVD-R +DVD-RAM' as the drive type.

i was going to get one of these drives when they came out, but i went with a DVR-A03 instead. i didn't want to be the guinea pig to see if it worked in my G4, and i figured i would use the CD-R/RW function of the superdrive more than i would use the DVD-RAM. and if i ever needed to backup, i could do it to DVD-R/RW.

as for external or internal, i guess it would depend on what computer you are using. if you are using a G4, then you could go for an IDE (replacing your existing drive); it would be a lot cheaper than getting an external unit.

tr</STRONG>

Yeah, I have seem the panasonic and it would likely be the drive I would get if I went the R/RAM route. Will this drive work with iDVD and DVDSP if it is installed internally? I had also heard that DVD-RAMs can also be used as master DVDs where the DVD-R general discs cannot. Can anyone verify this?

nana2 · Feb 1, 2002, 06:42 AM

DVD+RW is the best for storage of computer data. DVD-RAM is on it's way out. DVD-RW is fine for video but lacking in features for data.

tr · Feb 1, 2002, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by nana2:
<STRONG>DVD+RW is the best for storage of computer data. DVD-RAM is on it's way out. DVD-RW is fine for video but lacking in features for data.</STRONG>

yeah, too bad there is no mac software to support DVD+RW drives. you can't use toast with +RW. on an aside, note that DVD+RW does not comply with the DVD forum's standards, and thus cannot use the 'DVD' logo (it uses the 'RW' logo instead) There are only three DVD forum specified standards: DVD-RAM, DVD-R, and DVD-RW.

DVD-RAM isn't going anywhere. if you think about it, DVD-RAM has been around the longest, it's a proven technology, and it complies with the DVD forum's standards. plus, with the introduction of consumer DVD-RAM recording devices (video recorders/camcorders) by panasonic and hitachi, i believe DVD-RAM will be around for a while.

I had also heard that DVD-RAMs can also be used as master DVDs where the DVD-R general discs cannot. Can anyone verify this?

you can save DVDSP projects to DVD-RAM, but i don't think you can use them to master. i think you either still have to go with DLT, or hook-up a Pioneer S201 burner. alhough i think i've read that some replicators have had success replicating from DVD-R general media, guess you'd have to search to see if this is true.

tr

[ 02-01-2002: Message edited by: tr ]