Dual Layer Burners

[Bottled]

I'm thinking about getting a dual layer burner, but I'd like to know a few things:
Can they still burn single layer discs?
Do they support multiple formats? (CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW), even if it only does single layer writing on some of them?Thanks!

[Doom9]

I have posted the specs of the upcoming Sony burner in the news.. I think that answers your question. A quick repetition: DVD+R DL (dual layer) @ 2.4x, DVD±R @ 8x, DVD±RW at 4x, CD-R at 40x and CD-RW at 24x. Those are all burning speeds. I think DVD-ROM reading is 12x and CD(-R) reading is 40x.

[Bottled]

Aaah, thanks muchly :)

Now I'm just wondering if I should buy the Sony, or wait for the second generation dual layer burners.

[Doom9]

2nd gen burners will do 4x DVD+R DL and should be released around Christmas 04. At the same timeframe DVD-R DL should be available, at 1x speeds. I'd presume that as usual drives will support both formats. I guess it depends mostly on your single layer needs... initially dual layer DVDs (for both formats) will be hard to get, similar to each speed increase, and be more expensive. If you still have a 2x burner, upgrading to 8x with dual layer capabilities might not be such a bad move. On the other hand, if you currently own a dual format 8x burner and don't have an immediate need for dual layer, you might be able to snatch a later mode that not only does dual layer, but also offers faster single layer speeds. But hey, PC components are all outdated after 3 months anyways. Samsung even released a 16:10 24" TFT screen just to make me jealous and I do have a really sweet 21.3" TFT as it is but ever since I saw the new one, I'm not so happy with my current one anymore (and it's only my wallet that has stopped me from buying the new one, so far...)

[alexnoe]

The release of the drives is one thing. The availability of blank discs is another! Maybe we only see CMC, MBI and Princo DVD9 for months...

[Bottled]

I may just wait then; also I've been hearing of companies releasing 'faster' DVD writers that actually just yield more errors at the higher burning speeds. I bought a CD-RW for £120 a few years ago, a while before things like SmartBurn came out, and so high speeds = unreadable CDs, and me having to always set it to slow speeds just to get a readable CD.

Something I don't really want to go through again; it may be the wisest thing to wait this one out till the companies quit trying to outrun each other in terms of speed and work on making their burners more reliable :)

At the moment, I have no DVD burner, just a Lite-On CD-RW; a DVD burner would be nice for backing up data and the like, but it's not neccessary, thus, I can wait :)

[Doom9]

The availability of blank discs is another!From past experience I'd say it takes at least 2 months for disc manufacturers to catch up with a new speed increase. Even Princo (do they even make DVD+ discs? I think we've been spared from that crap so far) is usually not the first to the market. Verbatim will start shipping dual layer blanks in June, that's 2 months after the first dual layer burners are on the market.

[alexnoe]

Even Princo (do they even make DVD+ discs? I think we've been spared from that crap so far) is usually not the first to the market.They do not yet make DVD+ discs, but this might be a good time for them to start :-)

For example, their 2x wannabe-DVD-RWs were on the market before Verbatim :-(