|
I'm going crazy trying to find media that can be counted on to interchange reliably with at least a few different players. Here is my story...
For authoring I am using two devices, a Philips DVDR-615 DVD+R recorder and an I/O Magic 8X DVD+/- drive. Both these devices work perfectly and will play any format and any brand media recorded by either device, and when I burn copies I have had 100% success (defined as doing a verify of the burned DVD to the disk image and getting zero errors). My problem comes when trying to play disks in other older non-RW devices and I'm trying to determine whether I am having problems with media or the playback devices themselves. My results have been inconsistent to say the least and I don't know what to think at thgis point. Following are the devices and what will play in each:
1. Philips DVDR-615 - plays everything.
2. I/O Magic 8X DVD drive - plays everything.
3. Older Panasonic unit - plays nothing (except commercial DVDs)... I've written this unit off.
4. Older Koss unit - plays Maxell DVD+RW and Khypermedia DVD+R, will not play Maxell DVD-R.
5. Dell Lattitude laptop - Will play only Maxell DVD+RW (usually).
6. IBM T20 laptop - Will play only Maxell DVD-R.
7. Cyberhome DVD-CH-300 - Will play Maxell DVD+RW, Kyhypermedia DVD+R.
I realize that the dedicated DVD players above are cheapies, just using them as an acid test for compatibility (assuming that if something plays in the junk then it should play in higher-quality units... but I'm learning this is not necessarily the case!)
I also know that the Khypermedia and Maxell media can provide variable results, but oddly enough each of these play perfectly in some units and not at all in others. For example, at first it seemed that the Maxell DVD-R had the worst compatibility but then I found that it is the only type that will play in the IBM laptop, which it does with perfect reliability.
So, all very confusing... It is completely impractical to be choosing media brands and formats based on the intended player. Since I have a unit that plays everything perfectly (the Philips) and I'm guessing that I can find other modern players that will also do the same it seems that I will be OK for personal use, but should I give up on the idea of
counting on any home-recorded DVD to play on most home players and just assume that any player more than a year old will always be hit or miss? Would using 'better' media solve all of my problems (that seems doubtful, but possible I guess) or am I better off just
forgetting about any real hope for universal compatibility with existing units and just go for better player hardware?
Thanks for any input from those who have been there before...
|
