I want to start off by saying thanks to you all for the info over the years. I have lurked around for several years never needing to post because I would almost always find an answer if I searched long enough. I want to know about booktyping, the pros and cons, the reason for using it and how to use it. The reason I am asking is because I have been backing up my dvds for some time now on my modest computer setup compared to most on this site. Well my Sony DRU 530A died on me. Man I liked that drive. Simple and fast enough for me. After digging around on the hardware pages, the Benq 1650 seems to be highly recomended. But everyone that used it brings up the booktyping phrase again. I was getting great results with my sony and Ty -R media using DVD decripter, Shrink, AnyDVD, and VOBlanker in my players, and from what I understand you booktype with +R media. I am not a real geek on a computer so simple is best for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated and feel free to give me your suggestions on a new drive. I'm sorry if this question sounds really newbie to alot of you.
First, the reason it is called booktyping.
When DVDs first appeared, the manufacturers all got together, created the DVD forum and created standards for DVD media and DVD hardware (Players).
http://www.dvdforum.org/forum.shtml
They wrote these standards down in a series of books. Each book covers a different type of DVD media or equipment.
-R format was written in one book, DVD ROM in another and so on.
One part of the standard for DVD players is the requirement to always be able to play DVD ROM discs. The commercial movies you buy or rent are DVD ROM.
A DVD ROM is the type of disc that is most likely to play in any given piece of playback equipment.
So by changing the "booktype" you are changing your +R media into a DVD ROM.
This is a simple process as far as the actual changes go.
All this does is write a few "Compatability Bits" at the beginning of the process (lead-in). These bits tell the player that the disc is a DVD ROM and to follow the instruction set for playback of a DVD-ROM.
The BenQ burner is a good burner and does allow booktyping. You must use +R media. If you do not have playback problems with your movies then booktyping is not really needed.
I like Pioneer drives which do not support booktyping. I also use the T-Y media with great success.
I'm a DVD+R "book typing" into DVD-ROM person and I can honestly confirmed that all of my backups played and still plays flawlessly on all of my DVD players; PHILIPS DVP642 (all-region), SAMSUNG DVD-P 241 and a 4 years old SHINCO (all-region DVD player).
Book typing is like you're changing the DVD+R format into DVD-ROM and or it's "fooling" your DVD player(s) to think that your backup(s) is/are original DVD-ROM movie(s). Yes, if you have any 2 plus or older DVD players, then it's best to "book type" DVD+R into DVD-ROM. It (DVD-ROM) is the one and only universal (perhaps the best) dvd format ever to play in all "functional" DVD players.
However, keep in mind that "not" all DVD burners are capable of changing the bitsetting or book type any DVD+R, DVD+RW or DVD+R DL into DVD-ROM. I'm pretty sure that the BenQ 1650 is supported with "book typing" capability.
Nero Burning Rom, Nero Express, DVD Decrypter and ImgBurn are capable of changing the "book type" into DVD-ROM when burning and using any DVD+R, DVD+RW or DVD+R DL disc, if your DVD burner is fully supported.
WARNING: Do not "update/upgrade" your SAMSUNG BD-D5XXX series (Bluray Player), or else you cant enjoy any of your movie files. How 2 downgrade Samsung BD-D5XXX Series Bluray playerhttp://forum.samygo.tv/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=4244
Commercial DVD's were DVD-ROM's.when pple speak of booktyping, they are speaking about changing a DVD+R into a DVD-ROM. There are still pple with older model standalone DVD Players. The extremely old players can recognize and play DVD-R and DVD-ROM discs . The newer players (a couple of years old) played DVD-R and allot of DVD+R's and of course DVD-ROM's. Newer DVD discs cannot be recognized by some of these older players as they weren't around when the players were made BUT if you "booktyped" a newer DVD+R disc to a DVD-ROM they could be seen and played n/p.
Many drives cannot booktype a DVD+RBUT BenQ drives can. Others that can booktype are NEC, Plextor, Lite-On, LG, Nu-Tech and RICOH.
More players will play a DVD-ROM than any other format. As more pple purchase newer players, booktyping is needed less and less. The "el cheapo" players of today can play all DVD's and can even play a cheese Pizza with no worries.
Because I'm old and stuck in my ways, I booktype all of my DVD's to DVD-ROM's. The Pioneer drives cannot booktype so they're kept for playing discs and burning data and music CD's. I use my BenQ and my NEC to do my DVD's.
Thanks everyone for your help. Frank, Alcohol, and Pete you all made it sound simple and cleared up my questions. I guess bookmarking isn't that big of a deal in my case since my DVD-R are working in my players. It was really bugging me though. Thanks again for all the info over the years.
