# so I bought this DVD writer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 20, 2001, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711 "2001-03-20T14:11:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![justinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@justinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justinh)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/1 "2001-03-20T14:11:04Z")
If I did buy a DVD writer then what are your blanks? do you use CD-Rs or is there a special DVD-R? Whats the different and how much do they cost? how much would this DVD writer cost? It seems that stand alones cost about $1500 while PC internals cost about $350. Are they the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/2 "2001-03-20T14:20:09Z")
Can I add a question to anyone knowledgable enough? Will you be able to copy DVDs, or have they got the copy protection all sewn up? Thanks… (hope you didn’t mind the slight hijack, justin…) ---
**Author:** ![Freedom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Freedom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedom)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/3 "2001-03-20T14:35:05Z")
ahhhh… What an innocent thread… I wonder what you guys are planning. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NaughtyMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@NaughtyMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NaughtyMe)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/4 "2001-03-20T14:55:37Z")
At our work we use DVD Ram discs (double sided) to store data on; they hold about 5.2GB of data. We use a PC DVD Writer and it takes ages to copy the data over to. Although we can’t write onto CD-R’s I have heard you can buy integrated units. I’m not sure about the cost of the discs themselves, and I wouldn’t like to hazard a guess, as I am in the UK & you are in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/5 "2001-03-20T15:07:10Z")
Planning? Moi? Shurely you jesht. Actually, I’m not planning very much, really. I bought a dvd player a couple of months back; I’m **very** impressed with the results compared with video, but increasing unimpressed at how quickly the discs seem to acquire bad spots. I’ve bought a few DVDs (and will buy more) but I’d like to be able to make copies. Now. You and I both know that there’s no way in hell I can back this up. I may be an inveterate pirate. Thing is, I’m not. Not through morals, particularly, but mostly apathy. I went through all this when DAT came out; I’ve got a small home studio and DAT at that point was _the_ medium for people like me. Problem was, you couldn’t turn off copy protection on the semi-pro units (SCMS) so I was a bit limited on backing up my own stuff digitally. Just wondered what the scoop was on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/6 "2001-03-20T16:06:09Z")
What kind of dvd do you want to copy? A film? No way, those things are encoded & I wont say nothing about decoding them. Why can’t anyone search the net to find out what a blank costs? They cost around $25 each for the better ones, far more than a video already on dvd is gonna cost ya. ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/7 "2001-03-20T16:21:27Z")
Actually, until I read the thread, I had absolutely no idea that you could get recordable DVD at all, hence my interest. If the blanks are that much, it’s a non-starter. As you say, you could buy 2 copies of the original for that. Maybe I can back them up to video. Not as good as DVD, but arguably better than nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Defense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Civil\_Defense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Defense)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/8 "2001-03-20T16:26:29Z")
DVD writers cost around $350-$500, depending on the brand and speed. Blank DVD media is generally double sided and can hold around 5.2 GB, single sided media holds around 3.95 GB, give or take. Blank DVDs cost around $12-$25. I know both Target and Best Buy sell blank DVDs if you want to peruse their shelves. As for copying, yes, you can copy other DVDs with the writer and software. However, if you’re trying to copy DVD videos I’d suggest saving your money and using DiVX technology instead, for several reasons: 1. Cheaper ($350 for DVD writer, $20 for a blank DVD compared to a CD-R drive for about $125, and a CD-R for about $1.00) 2. Faster encoding 3. Saves storage space 4. Simpler entirely if you’re just using computer viewing ---
**Author:** ![Evnglion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f04885/32.png) [@Evnglion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evnglion)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/9 "2001-03-20T16:30:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xerxes \* > **Will you be able to copy DVDs, or have they got the copy protection all sewn up?** Well, lots of companies are in egal trouble over posting links to a program called DeCSS, which decodes the encryption on DVDs. Now, this is not a copying tool, it is a tool that breaks the encryption to allow DVDs to run on everyone’s favorite, Linux. But, this same encryption is what is preventing them from being copied, so, to answer your question, yes, they can. Now, onto **justinh** ’s question. There are a couple of companies that are coming out with DVD-R drives that ARE backwards compatible with CD-Rs. These are still rather pricey drives, but to be able to get 4.7 gigs on one disk would be pretty nice. I believe Pioneer has one (external scsi) for around $4500. I remember when CD-R drives cost about the same price, so I would give a 2 or 3 years on the tehnology, let them get it working properly, and then try one. AS it is now, a blank DVD goes for about $10. Now, on the other hand, there are drives out there calld DVD-RAM. These record to something that you might think looks like a DAT or even a small VHS tape. These are DVDs encased in plastic for protection and ease of writing. Some of these drives have made it below $1000 in the last couple of months. The drawback to these is, the disc can not be used in any DVD-ROM or DVD player, it has to be used in a DVD-RAM drive, and you’ll probably be the only person you know to have one. My advice is to hold off on buying one, let all these people buying the $4500 DVD-R drives to be he beta testers (hehe) and wait for them to be as easy to use as CD-R drives. As I mentioned earlier, about DeCSS, this is actually a pretty big legal battle. I have been as envolved as a normal citizen can be in something like this. Everyone’s favorite magazine, 2600, is being sued because they posted links on info to DeCSS, and they don’t even like the program because it enables (theoretical) copying, but because it makes DVDs playable on any operating system. This is a true issue of freedom of speech, and I suggest that any of you guys interested in learning mor about this go to [http://www.2600.com](http://www.2600.com) . I have also expressed my dislike towards the DVD CCA (DVD Copy Control Association) by buying a shirt from [http://www.copyleft.com](http://www.copyleft.com) . This is all about “freedom downtime” ---
**Author:** ![Evnglion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f04885/32.png) [@Evnglion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evnglion)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/10 "2001-03-20T16:34:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Evnglion \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Xerxes \* > > **Will you be able to copy DVDs, or have they got the copy protection all sewn up?** > > Well, lots of companies are in egal trouble over posting links to a program called DeCSS, which decodes the encryption on DVDs. \*\* oopsy, I meant LEGAL, not EGAL \*\* > [@](#): > > I have also expressed my dislike towards the DVD CCA (DVD Copy Control Association) by buying a shirt from [http://www.copyleft.com](http://www.copyleft.com) . This is all about “freedom downtime” \*\* I am sorry again, it’s [http://www.copyleft.net](http://www.copyleft.net) ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/11 "2001-03-20T16:39:22Z")
I don’t want to appear to have _completely_ hijacked Justin’s thread (though I fear this might be tricky), but I’d also like to appear civil and thank the posters for the info that I, for one, had no clue about. I’m in the UK (perhaps one of the reasons why I hadn’t heard quite so much) so will probably have to wait another 18 months and pay pounds for dollars but hey, at least I can start saving [sub]actually, that’s crap. Of course I can’t start saving. What a ridiculous concept[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/12 "2001-03-20T16:58:00Z")
**Evnglion** : If you haven’t heard already, a fun thing I saw was that someone had worked out a prime number that when you gunzip it, gives you a DeCSS implementation (more details [here](http://www.utm.edu/research/primes//curios/48565...29443.html) if you’re interested). Ok, I know that all programs are essentially numbers, but it seems weird to say: “It is illegal to distribute the X[sup]th[/sup] prime number!” (Note, I didn’t tell you which one is it 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Evnglion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f04885/32.png) [@Evnglion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evnglion)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/13 "2001-03-20T17:12:12Z")
Thanks **dylan\_73** , but I have already heard of this ([www.slashdot.org](http://www.slashdot.org) is my startup page, nothing gets by me) ---
**Author:** ![justinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@justinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justinh)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/14 "2001-03-20T19:02:47Z")
civil defense, tell me more about this cheap CD video stuff? I want to digitize my VHS home movies. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/15 "2001-03-21T00:15:46Z")
I swear I saw a SCSI Dvd writer for $399.00 but I can’t find it anymore. Decss requires dozens of hours to decode the protection on a dvd, so I would forget using it. I see pricewatch has dvd blanks around $15.00 now, well better pricing finally. But then CD blanks are around three for a buck. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Defense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Civil\_Defense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Defense)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/16 "2001-03-21T03:22:46Z")
> [@](#): > > civil defense, > tell me more about this cheap CD video stuff? I want to digitize my VHS home movies. Hmm… not sure what you mean. CD video or DVD? If you’re referring to DiVX encoding, I can explain more on that if you want. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![justinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@justinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justinh)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/17 "2001-03-21T13:49:03Z")
CIVIL DEFENSE; yes please explain the DiVX stuff. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/18 "2001-03-21T16:08:47Z")
Sure, > **[Play DivX files. Free Video Software to play, convert and cast video.](https://www.divx.com/)** > > Download free DivX Software to play, convert and cast video including DivX, AVI, MKV and HEVC files up to 4K. Play DivX files anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/19 "2001-03-22T00:44:21Z")
Just a little reminder as you oh so carefully split that hair that this site and the Chicago Reader are big believers in copyright and the rights of holders of the same. You may or may not hold the same beliefs but on this site if you don’t please keep it to yourself. Thank you very much, think twice about what you say before you hit that button, carry on. your humble TubaDiva Adminstrator ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711/20 "2001-03-22T14:03:02Z")
I have been asked to clarify the above statement. Discussion of copyright is fine. Debate about copyright issues is fine. Specific discussion about how to violate copyright is not. Reproduction of copyrighted material without the express written consent of the copyright holder is not. Short relevant cites are good, hyperlinks to the material are great. Posting links to sites that allow abuse of copyright (or, as in this case, defeat copy protection) is not. (But I bet y’all knew that all along. 🙂 ) your humble TubaDiva Administrator [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-bought-this-dvd-writer/58711.md?page=2)