|
|
|
Memorex - Great Deal Worth It?
|
|
|
backup42
Newbie
|
17. October 2010 @ 23:58 |
Link to this message
|
Staples has a deal on Memorex 100 Disc Packs of both DVD-R and DVD+R for only $10. I recently bought a 50 pack of DVD-R (without knowing much about them) and I found out their MID was CMC MAG AM3 which people at club.myce.com say (just read posts there, didn't ask) say are surprisingly "okay" for being such a crap brand (that's what I took away from posts there). Anyway, I have a lot of stuff to back up (games, documents, music, videos, everything) and I'm wondering if I should buy a 2-3 packs of those discs. It seems to me that if I get DVD+R (which I want to), they'll probably be something better than CMC, but I read somewhere that DVD+R is more complex and more can go wrong with who makes it or something. Anyway, at 10 cents per disc, is this worth it? It sounds to me like they'd be fine. If it matters, I'm using some OEM Dell LG burner at the moment (though that'll change eventually) and I have been using ImgBurn but I might switch to Nero.
Any help is appreciated. I've seen posts on here and the other site I mentioned, but a lot of the ones that say "Memorex sucks" are kind of old and since things change, I thought I should ask now.
|
|
Advertisement
|
  |
|
|
|
backup42
Newbie
|
18. October 2010 @ 14:29 |
Link to this message
|
Actually, since Newegg has a 100 pack of Verbatim DVD+R for $20, I should get those right? They have the Advanced AZO Dye which sounds like it's very high quality. These I could completely trust right? Just burn at x16, verify, forget? That sounds nice...
They are these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...skim4051X642410
BTW, DVD+R is better than DVD-R right? (Drive compatibility aside since that is no issue)
I want to backup some ISOs from retail discs and possible backup some videos and either -R or +R should work fine, right?
|
|
JoeRyan
Senior Member
|
19. October 2010 @ 10:20 |
Link to this message
|
1) CMC is one of the largest manufacturers of optical discs. They make Verbatim DVD discs (except DL media) as well as many other brands. They were not well supported by Japanese drive manufacturers in the early days (A Japanese drive manufacturer once sent a rejection letter to CMC even before CMC had submitted samples!), and that caused a lot of image problems for CMC. However, almost all Japanese suppliers have now turned to Taiwanese factories for some or most of their production; and the drive manufacturers have improved support. Most of the people how have made judgments on particular brands appear to have little to no technical knowledge.
2) Imation controls Imation, HP, Memorex, and TDK disc production and distribution. I have seen examples of users condemning one brand while praising another when, in fact, all that differs is the graphics on the disc and package.
3) DVD+R requires fewer production steps and a simpler moulding technique than DVD-R. In all other practical matters, there is no difference between the two formats. What matters most is how well the drive you intend to use is set up for the particular disc you intend to use and how uniform that disc's performance is from batch to batch.
4) "Advanced AZO" is a dye formulation developed by Mitsubishi chemical company for the Verbatim brand. It is an excellent dye, but not significantly better than any other azocyanine dye used by other manufacturers. In regards, Oxonol dye may be superior in terms of longer life; but "advanced AZO" is no magic formulation.
|
|
backup42
Newbie
|
19. October 2010 @ 16:25 |
Link to this message
|
So get the Memorex or the Verbatim? You didn't really have a conclusion to your post on which kind I should buy. Aren't the Verbatim superior? Also, Wikipedia says DVD+R discs are more reliable actually.
|
|
JoeRyan
Senior Member
|
19. October 2010 @ 17:09 |
Link to this message
|
Verbatim are certainly going to be compatible with your drive if it is a relatively new model; Memorex are probably going to just as compatible. If the price difference is not significant to you, buy the Verbatim. If money is tight and you go for Memorex, I doubt you will notice any difference, even over time. It all depends on how compatible you drive is with either type, and these days that is less of an issue than it was 3 or 4 years ago.
Anyone can say anything on Wikipedia, so that may not be the most reliable source of information. The Imation environmental testing was based on DVD+R rather than DVD-R because earlier tests indicated more stability with the +R discs that use a modulated groove for addressing rather than land pre-pits used in the DVD-R. Those pre-pits require two lasers to produce a stamper for discs; the DVD+R requires a single laser in the mastering equipment. In practical terms, few people, if any, will notice a difference.
|
Senior Member
28 product reviews
|
13. November 2010 @ 19:28 |
Link to this message
|
Hell NO, stay away from Memorex, these things are cheap for a reason. Very poor quality discs. Verbatim are a bit more expensive, but you get what you pay for, they are well worth the money. You can even smell the crappy dye they use on Memorex's, yes it sound silly, but you can really tell the difference between Memorex and Verbatim.
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
14. November 2010 @ 00:45 |
Link to this message
|
I'll take the middle ground. I just bought 200 of the old AZO dye Verbatim +Rs from the egg @$19/100. I use nothing but +Rs because the can be bit set to dvd-rom discs and will play in almost any dvd player.Those old packaging for Verbs were purple and maroon. The Newer Verbs in the mostly white cake boxes are not made by MCC but by CMC as J Ryan states. I have bought some of them and have not used them much. They will be used for give aways. I'll keep my Verbs (AZOs) and TYs (now masquerading as JVCs) for myself both+R. I don't hesitate for a moment to use the newer CMC Mags to give to family and friends. At present the best stuff I have is SonyX8 brand TYs,JVC brand TYs X16,and the 16XVerbatim Azos. Then some of all the so so new Verbs(CMCs), TDKs ,Ritek f-16s,and a few Ricohjapan.
A friend just asked me to burn 4 copies of 12dvd-total of 48 discs. He unknowingly brought me Memorex -Rs X16. Of the 50, 2 were bad but had no trouble making the 48 copies with my Optiarc 7240S and even some burning with the Litey 20A1S, They all said they burned but I haven't check them other than skimming thru the chapters.
So even if half the 100Memrex @$10 don't burn,(50burns for$10) you have made $10 over the 100Verbatims @ $20if half them don't burn(50 burns for $20).
I'd for sure buy the Memorex if money were tight and I'd buy the verbs(old AZO) anyway to keep around if I could afford them.Memorexs are quickly becoming equal competition for TY and Sony!
jm2c
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
Senior Member
|
15. November 2010 @ 00:14 |
Link to this message
|
In the last couple of days I picked up a box of Staples 100 pack of dvd-r.
My burner, 5 years old NEC 3540a had problems with them and a burn I set
@ 12x actually dropped speed to 4x towards the end. The dye was CMC AM3.
I returned them and exchanged for a box of dvd+r, dye CMC M01, and these burned
just fine.
However, the latest firmware for my drive is from 2006; it seems possible that
the firmware may not have the latest strategies for dealing with this media
and that assuming that CMC M01 is "better" than CMC AM3 is suspect.
Matching the media to *your* burner seems to be the wisest choice.
|
|
