I am currently using the trial versions of AnyDVD/CloneDVD2 with great success and ease with my curent *single layer* internal DVD burner (Plextor 708A.)
However, I am considering replacing my current burner with a new Plextor PX-716A *dual-layer* burner.
Will CloneDVD2 burn to a *dual layer* DVD-9 disc or is it only set up to compress the original source to a *single layer* DVD-5 disc?
As much as I like CloneDVD2, it would be senseless to purchase it if it didn't have *dual layer* burning capabilities.
As far as I know CloneDVD supports dual layer burning, a program I have. I have a 716A Plextor and like it very much, have burned several dual layers with it but I have used DVD Decrypter to burn mine, it handles the layer break really well and I have had no playback problems.
Since posting my initial question to Afterdawn, I visited the hardware forum at CDFreaks.com where Ollie, the creator of CloneDVD2, posted notice that his program only supports DVD+R dual layer media due to the lack of DVD-R dual layer media. I'm assuming this will be rectified once dual layer burners in general become more popular. So, it is with foresight that I'm considering the Plextor PX-716A.
However, the hardware forums also had some very negative things to say about the 716A such as quality control, multiple defective units and wierd installation requirements. I hope I'm correct in assuming your installation was trouble-free... right?
Actually, I have the USB 716A so it has been burning fine, however I did do a firmware upgrade and noticed a difference in burning dual layer so I flashed back to the old and found no problem. I decided I will wait until the next update to flash again. But on the whole the burner has been working fine. The Plex booktypes +R to -R so my disks all play on all my players even the one that will only play -R format. The +R dual layers quality is excellent.
You wrote:
"The Plex booktypes +R to -R so my disks all play on all my players even the one that will only play -R format."
This is great to know and solves the problem of -R's not being available! Is this booktyping something that is done automatically or a tweak in the settings?
There is a setting in PlexTools that you check and it automatically will do it. This is the first drive I have had that does it and it works out very well.
