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Ugly New Verbatim DVD-R (and +R?) Branding
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cyclist
Newbie
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6. November 2007 @ 23:21 |
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Verbatim has changed their DVD-R 16x discs with new branding that I find offensively overboard, interfering with my ability to write on the discs as I like to (see link to image below). I want to share this information to forewarn you all.
Ironically, I found out about the new branding because of Verbatim's generous warranty replacement policy. I bought a spindle of 100 Verbatim DVD-R 16x discs in July of this year after having gone through several 50 packs in the last year and an half. A couple of weeks ago (October), after many discs in a row had failed verification (read errors after burning a completely full disc), I finally came to the conclusion that it was not my burner (Sony DRU-700A), as I had been fearing, but that it was the last thing I suspected, ... the discs. I verified this by successfully burning the same compilations (in Nero) to some Sony DVD-RWs and some Taiyo Yuden 8x DVD-Rs I had bought over a year ago.
I called Verbatim support (there's an 800 number on the packaging) and explained what I suspected. They asked how many discs I had left. I said about 60, but added that I'd also tossed quite a few. Without hesitation the customer rep said he would send me 75 discs.
"Cool beans."
I got them in the mail a week later (with a pre-paid shipping label so I could return the defective ones). They even sent me a whole new sealed package of 100 discs (not just 75). I was bummed, though, when I saw the new branding they are silk screening onto the discs. I like a fairly plain disc so that I can write above the hub and below and they do not have a cluttered look. Unfortunately, the new branding does not allow that, and actually looks very cheesy to me, as though they've let their popularity as a well-known brand inflate their ego.
Click here to see for yourself. Note the new style packaging.
The old style discs were so much less cluttered, with lots of room to write above and below the hub. I find the new ones offensively bold with Verbatim embossed in large letters across the top, making it impossible to write on the upper half. It makes the discs appear cheap and ugly.
I even called customer support again, but they said they had no more of the old style, or else they would have been glad to exchange with me. They said the only old style discs left are in the "distribution" channels. The change was to make the packaging the same in all countries (the part numbers are the same - #95102 for the 100 pack of 16x DVD-Rs - and the manufacturing ID is still MCC 03RG20). I told him this cosmetic change made a real difference to me and that I would be shopping around for better looking discs. He said that all he could do was forward that feedback to marketing.
The end result is that I now have 100 discs I don't really want. I suppose I'll have to keep an eye out for Taiyo Yudens going on sale online.
Just a heads up for you all.
Chuck
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Senior Member
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6. November 2007 @ 23:33 |
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So the current -Rs look more or less like current +Rs... no biggie. Can't you just write over the Verbatim logo with a black marker? I mean it just a silver opaque disc with silver lettering, its still silver just a different texture. Thanks for the update though, I like to know when my trusted brands change. Little change or big change, its still good to know. :P
X360 - iXtreme1.4 ||| Xbox - EvoX Dash ||| PS2 - CC 2.0 PRO SLE ||| Dreamcast ...lol ||| NDS - Acekard 2/M3 Simply/EZ Flash 3-1 ||| Rooted HTC Hero with Ic3rom
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6. November 2007 @ 23:34
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cyclist
Newbie
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6. November 2007 @ 23:48 |
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Originally posted by Joshewah:
.... Can't you just write over the Verbatim logo with a black marker?
Well .... yes, but it is 3D embossing, which does make it difficult to do a neat job of writing over it.
Speaking of that. What's the consensus on markers these days. (I haven't read anything on this topic in a few years.) Can I use a nice bold Sharpie, or should I keep using the oil based ink pen I have been using for years (a TDK CD Marker). Is there still the same unresolved debate over whether Sharpies will ultimately damage the top layer of the disc?
Chuck
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Senior Member
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7. November 2007 @ 00:54 |
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Its safe to use a sharpie on your DVDs. Check this thread and read my post about 6 or 7 posts down you'll see why. http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/10/312307
I have backups that are 3 or 4 years old with sharpie text and they still look and play like new.
X360 - iXtreme1.4 ||| Xbox - EvoX Dash ||| PS2 - CC 2.0 PRO SLE ||| Dreamcast ...lol ||| NDS - Acekard 2/M3 Simply/EZ Flash 3-1 ||| Rooted HTC Hero with Ic3rom
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AfterDawn Addict
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7. November 2007 @ 05:15 |
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yes i second that Sharpies are fine
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Member
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7. November 2007 @ 11:18 |
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Cyclist,
What country are the replacement DVDs manufactured in? Also, what are the hub markings (i.e. MAPA, MAPI)?
I still have a bunch of the older stock but was wondering how this new stuff matched up to the older ones?
BTW, most folks here prefer the +Rs over -Rs.
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cyclist
Newbie
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7. November 2007 @ 13:08 |
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Originally posted by Playr:
What country are the replacement DVDs manufactured in? Also, what are the hub markings (i.e. MAPA, MAPI)?
Manufactured in Taiwan, Hub markings - MAPA.
Originally posted by Playr:
BTW, most folks here prefer the +Rs over -Rs.
Well .... yes, but my Panasonic DMR EH50 prefers -Rs. It can not record on +Rs, so I use -Rs for everything. They have always worked great for me (except that last batch of the older Verbs, which were definitely bad).
Oh, and the embossed Verbatim really is a problem. In low light it appears so much darker than the matte silver that I can not even read what I've written over it. In daylight they are okay, .... except that they are butt ugly. Hopefully I'll catch another sale of the old style (Office Max is where I get them on sale), although I'll be a little concerned about the quality. The problem only shows up when I have to use the entire disc.
Chuck
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Senior Member
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7. November 2007 @ 15:49 |
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Originally posted by cyclist:
Originally posted by Playr:
What country are the replacement DVDs manufactured in? Also, what are the hub markings (i.e. MAPA, MAPI)?
Manufactured in Taiwan, Hub markings - MAPA.
Originally posted by Playr:
BTW, most folks here prefer the +Rs over -Rs.
Well .... yes, but my Panasonic DMR EH50 prefers -Rs. It can not record on +Rs, so I use -Rs for everything. They have always worked great for me (except that last batch of the older Verbs, which were definitely bad).
Oh, and the embossed Verbatim really is a problem. In low light it appears so much darker than the matte silver that I can not even read what I've written over it. In daylight they are okay, .... except that they are butt ugly. Hopefully I'll catch another sale of the old style (Office Max is where I get them on sale), although I'll be a little concerned about the quality. The problem only shows up when I have to use the entire disc.
Chuck
Yeah if they are a media that you like you should stock up. Also how do you feel about Shiny surfaced discs? Like these.
Or white surface pritables like these?
I've gotten the white full-hub printables in the +R variety before and they look really nice. I just write on the surface with markers rather than print them. The price is a little higher but the discs look high quality and perform flawlessly. You get what you pay for.
X360 - iXtreme1.4 ||| Xbox - EvoX Dash ||| PS2 - CC 2.0 PRO SLE ||| Dreamcast ...lol ||| NDS - Acekard 2/M3 Simply/EZ Flash 3-1 ||| Rooted HTC Hero with Ic3rom
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Senior Member
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7. November 2007 @ 17:06 |
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cyclist- I understand your Angst !!!!!!!!!!! You like the old style Verbatims because they work and fit your needs ! I would'nt worry though with a little dilligent shopping and looking around you probably will be able to find some somewhere ? alternatively you could use some of the Silver Shiny or White printable Verbatims that Joshewah mentioned or perhaps even Some Taiyo yudens ?But the point I was trying to make is that even though Verbatim is switching their label design there should still be a decent amount of the old stuff in the pipeline ( Distribution Channels ) = Stores & Online retailers for sometime to come !Unless you live in an area with a lot of Afterdawn.com members in it LOL! ( sad but probably true!!!) In any case I wish you luck and happy Burning Ciao!
FeetZ Up ! Head Down !
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Negritude
Member
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7. November 2007 @ 19:03 |
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Out of curiosity, did they send you a newly designed 100-pack, or two newly designed 50-packs? I've only seen the 50-packs in-store, but want to know if new 100-packs are coming.
Personally, I prefer the new design, and hated the old one. To each their own.
Also, for many people, the new disks seem to burn better, and it's confirmed by CD/DVD Speed scans.
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cyclist
Newbie
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7. November 2007 @ 19:10 |
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My guess is that Office Max will have a sale again soon (or Best Buy) and then I will definitely buy some of the old style. As it was, I was so pleased to have gotten 100 for $24 (after tax), making them 24˘ a piece. Especially since I realized that I've been saving way too much stuff I record off the TV (science documentaries - History channel - Discovery) and will not be burning as many discs as I did last year. One hundred discs could last me a long time.
And when you can get 50 discs for $14 (typical Office Max sale), there's not really much to be upset about (hopefully they've plenty of old stock).
As to white printable and shiny silver discs; I've had both and really prefer the matte silver finish, but would prefer the white ones over the new branded ones, so that's a good option to have.
Oh yeah, ... and I guess I can give my Sharpies a try now, too.
Chuck
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cyclist
Newbie
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8. November 2007 @ 14:13 |
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Originally posted by Negritude:
Out of curiosity, did they send you a newly designed 100-pack, or two newly designed 50-packs?
It was a single 100 pack.
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Member
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8. November 2007 @ 16:34 |
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Originally posted by Negritude:
Also, for many people, the new disks seem to burn better, and it's confirmed by CD/DVD Speed scans.
Really? Is the MID code still the same? If so, makes me wonder, why the new ones would burn better if change is cosmetic?
I may have to sale my old stock in favor of the new design.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8. November 2007 @ 16:37
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Member
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18. January 2008 @ 16:18 |
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Does this really matter though?
All you will have to do is write smaller, if it's that much of a problem you can write at the bottom. My main question is, do these new Verbatims have a different in quality and performance?
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bratcher
Senior Member
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18. January 2008 @ 19:10 |
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I don't like the new look of these discs either. Will wait for a leftover sale at either Officemax or perhaps Best Buy if one of these puts them on sale. Hopefully there will be some leftover stock left.
I picked up two 50 packs at Microcenter a few days ago at $13.99 each. The new pack was MIT & the one (remaining on the shelf) old pack was MII meaning India.
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AfterDawn Addict
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19. January 2008 @ 04:43 |
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Originally posted by Playr:
Cyclist,
What country are the replacement DVDs manufactured in? Also, what are the hub markings (i.e. MAPA, MAPI)?
I still have a bunch of the older stock but was wondering how this new stuff matched up to the older ones?
BTW, most folks here prefer the +Rs over -Rs.
There are many folks who will only use -R. A player that can't handle -R's ain't worth having.
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Amir89
Senior Member
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19. January 2008 @ 09:28 |
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Here in Australia, most stores still haven't sold out of the "old style" Verbs, although I have noticed the newer packaged versions coming in.
Looks like this is a prime opportunity :)
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bratcher
Senior Member
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19. January 2008 @ 12:04 |
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Originally posted by MysticE:
Originally posted by Playr:
Cyclist,
What country are the replacement DVDs manufactured in? Also, what are the hub markings (i.e. MAPA, MAPI)?
I still have a bunch of the older stock but was wondering how this new stuff matched up to the older ones?
BTW, most folks here prefer the +Rs over -Rs.
There are many folks who will only use -R. A player that can't handle -R's ain't worth having.
Normally I buy -R since my DVD recorder (which I also use as a DVD player) will handle + & - R. However I've always bought 16x Verbs in +r since that format was what I recieved in a few burned (by someone else) discs. They burn (in both my PC & the DVD recorder) & playback fine.
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