Should I buy the LF-D311 DVD R/RAM?

[Colby]

Hello,
I've been successfully burning movie only a RIPS
to DVD-R using a borrowed A03. I am happy with the results using various types of cheap
media but they only burn at 1X speed, which is just fine by me.

I have no use for DVD-RW or DVD-RAM for that matter.
The Panasonic LF-D311 runs a $100 less and appears to meet my limited needs. What are some thoughts regarding the LF-D311 in this particular case?

[Scuba]

The best use for the DVD-RW is that you can make a test run of your DVD before burning the final media.
Saves lot's of coasters.
Apart from this the Panasonic uses the same DVD-R as the Pioneer.

[Colby]

I went through the coaster-phase already because both of my DVD players do not support the RW format.

Is there any reason to believe that the the LF-D311 is inferior in quality to the A03?

I see that the A04/104 has Buffer underrun protection, but the rest of the improvements seem like overkill for my needs.

[Nomadic1]

Colby,

I just bought the LF-D311 and one advantage is that the drive can write many times to DVD-RAM. This allows you to create your DVD and then to view it prior to making a bunch of $4 coasters. The DVD-RAM can only be viewed on your PC but it still let's you view your project prior to burning it onto a DVD-R.

I'm fairly new so I'll be learing (making mistakes) along the way !!

Nomad

[Scuba]

the panasonic uses the same DVD-R as the Pioneer, with same player compatebility and such.

But the Pioneer can burn to DVD-RW as well that can be played and tested on normal players while the Panasonic burn also to DVD-RAM that is not compatible with DVD Players.
So using the Panasonic you can't test your DVD prior to the final burning stage.

[lucindrea]

Originally posted by Nomadic1
Colby,

I just bought the LF-D311 and one advantage is that the drive can write many times to DVD-RAM. This allows you to create your DVD and then to view it prior to making a bunch of $4 coasters. The DVD-RAM can only be viewed on your PC but it still let's you view your project prior to burning it onto a DVD-R.

I'm fairly new so I'll be learing (making mistakes) along the way !!

Nomad

i never could manage to get any software to see my ram as anything but a removable HD .. how do you get it to act like a dvd-rom/r ? ... i dont mind the accasional coaster ( i've more than a few cd-r's in my time and i dont kid myself thinking i'll never make a dvd-r coaster ) .... the ability to test is the only thing that has me second guessing my lf-d311 .... one note .. VOB disk writer says the thing can write at 9X ... so it says 7mins to write a dvd and even counts down time left ... it just takes 45 mins for it to go from 7 mins to 0 mins