[KLUG Hardware] 4G DVD-RAM adds DVD-RW (and CD-R/RW) + my updated DVD comparison tables ...

[Bryan J. Smith]

Panasonic's new "DVD Multi" drive now added equivalent functionality to a 1G
DVD-RW (2/1x DVD-R/RW, 12/8x CD-R/RW).  Drive pricing is around $300, which
makes it less than attractive versus 2G DVD-RW (

Okay, I guess call this a 4G DVD-RAM!  It's basically a 4.7GB (2/3G) DVD-RAM
with 2/1x (1G) DVD-RW, including CD-R/RW support:

         DVD-RAM:      2**
    DVD-ROM/R/RW:   6/ 2/ 1
     CD-ROM/R/RW:  32/12/ 8

[**NOTE:  I can't verify this, but it looks like these new, 4G DVD-RAM drives no
longer have reduced performance when "verify" is used?  If so, that's a _major_
boost in performance because DVD-RAM isn't really warranted (versus other
formats) without it. ]

So to update (and correct) my previous table (now two tables, "Current-G" and
"Current G minus 1"):


"CURRENT-G" DRIVES (mid-2002+):

                  Panasonic       Pioneer          Sony (Philips?)
                  4G DVD-RAM      2G DVD-RW        3G DVD+RW
                  --------------  ---------------  ---------------
Lowest Price:     ~$300           ~$200            ~$300
Record Formats
  DVD-R (99%)     2xCLV           2xCLV/4xCAV      2xCLV/4xCAV*1*
  DVD+R (??%)     -               -                1xCLV/2.4xCAV
Rewrite Formats
  DVD-RAM (<10%)  2xCLV*2*        -                -
  DVD-RW (70%)    1xCLV           2x CLV           2xCLV
  DVD+RW (70%)    -               -                1xCLV/2.4xCAV*3*
CD Support
  CD-R            12xCLV          16xCLV           24xCAV
  CD-RW           8xCLV           8xCLV            10xCLV
Linux Compat
  RW/kernel       STOCK           patch            patch 
  DVDRTools       no              YES              no
  ProDVD (beer/$) yes (?)         yes              yes (?)


CURRENT-G "MINUS 1" DRIVES (2000+):

                  Panasonic       Pioneer          Sony/Philips 
                  2G-3G DVD-RAM   1G DVD-RW        1G-2G DVD+RW    
                  --------------  ---------------  -----------------
Lowest Price:     ~$150-200       ~$150            ~$150-200        
Record Formats
  DVD-R (99%)     1xCLV*4*        2xCLV/4xCAV      -            
  DVD+R (??%)     -               -                1xCLV/2.4xCAV*5*
Rewrite Formats
  DVD-RAM (<10%)  2xCLV*2*        -                -            
  DVD-RW (70%)    -               2x CLV           -            
  DVD+RW (70%)    -               -                1xCLV/2.4xCAV
CD Support
  CD-R            -               12xCLV           16xCAV (?)
  CD-RW           -               8xCLV            10xCLV
Linux Compat
  RW/kernel       STOCK           patch            patch
  DVDRTools       no              YES              no  
  ProDVD (beer/$) yes             yes              yes 


NOTES:
  *1*  3G DVD+RW drive had (?) small, nagging DVD-R issues (gone?)
  *2*  1-3G DVD-RAM  verify cuts performance by 40% (but not 4G?)
  *3*  Firmware update to DVD+RW 2xCLV/4xCAV now available (?)
  *4*  2G DVD-RAM drives do _not_ support DVD-R at all (only 3G+)
  *5*  1G DVD+RW drives do _not_ support DVD+R at all (only 2G+)


-- 
Bryan J. Smith, E.I. (BSECE)       Contact Info:  http://thebs.org
[ http://thebs.org/files/resume/BryanJonSmith_certifications.pdf ]
------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft states Linux's GPL is "viral" so I guess all the authors
in the US who require you to pay royalties to print their books
must be the digital "black plague."  Copyright is copyright and
the GPL prevents commercial use without a license from the holder.