dlstewart's Full Review: Memorex (32025619KIT) 16x DVD+R Spindle (50 Pack)
I mostly use rewritable DVD discs when recording. That way I can record something, watch it, and erase and re-record on the DVD. However, some programs I want to keep without risk of erasing. That is why I purchased the Memorex 16x DVD (plus) R Spindle (50 pack).
For some reason, Epinions won't print the plus sign, so I am using the term "(plus) R".
Description
These DVD discs come mounted on a spindle. It’s a compact storage device that vertically stacks the discs. This “tower” also has a clear plastic cover that connects to the base with a twist-on/twist-off motion. The downside to this arrangement is that the discs do not come with individual jewel cases.
There are 50 DVD discs on the spindle. These particular discs are 16x, 4.7gb, 120 minutes. They are designed for the PC or for home video recorders. These discs are silver in color and clearly labeled with the Memorex name and the DVD (plus) R symbol. Even though the discs have a dotted pattern on their top side, there are two blank areas along the top and bottom outside edge to write with a disc-safe marker.
These 16x DVD (plus) R discs may not be compatible with all recorders. There are brief instructions regarding the update of recorder drivers for use with these discs. Here is what the packaging says:
* 12x DVD (plus) R drives: recording limited to 12x.
* 8x DVD (plus) R drives: recording limited to 8x.
* 4x DVD (plus) R drives: recording limited to 4x or 2.4x unless firmware is updated.
* 2.4x DVD (plus) R drives: may produce writing and data retrieval failures unless the drives have been updated to be operational with 4x DVD (plus) R discs. Further updates may be required.
* 2.4x DVD (plus) RW drives: cannot record DVD (plus) R discs.
* Home DVD (plus) R recorders: may need firmware updates to record 16x DVD (plus) R discs at the standard recording speed of 1x.
Note: The firmware update requires downloading software from the internet. The software can be downloaded directly to a computer drive. For home video recorders, the firmware update needs to be saved onto a CD/DVD. The Memorex website offers additional instructions and suggestions regarding firmware upgrades.
My Experiences
I don’t anticipate using all these discs, but I ran into a sale where it was less expensive to purchase a 50-pack than a smaller size. I also like the DVD tower arrangement. I can place this spindle near the video recorder without it hogging a lot of space. The plastic cover does an excellent job of protecting the discs from dirt or scratches.
At first I was sure I would miss having the discs come in jewel cases. However, once I started cleaning out my old CD computer software, I found that I had enough empty jewel cases for my needs. If I run out of cases, empty jewel cases can be purchased at a reasonable price.
First I made sure my home recorder supported the DVD (plus) R format and that the 16x speed would be okay. There are several programs I wanted to immortalize on these discs. My brother’s children are involved in several school events that are televised on the local cable channel. I also have friends involved in various literary and play productions that are sometimes broadcast. These are memories that I enjoy recording to keep.
I have had no trouble recording on these discs. Playback quality is great, too. I most often record on the SP speed, which means I can record up to 120 minutes on a disc. I will record on LP if the recording is particularly long. I hesitate to record on the EP or SLP setting, because I notice a dip in recording quality. Once a disc is recorded, I have to “finalize” it on my home recorder to make sure that the DVD will play on other machines.
I have tried to play discs that were recorded on my home recorder on my laptop DVD player. However, the laptop DVD player is 8x. I thought the discs would work fine, and sometimes they do to a certain extent. I have had some of the discs show jumpy movement as they play, and one disc actually froze, and I had to eject it. Remembering that I might need to update the firmware, I did a search and learned that there are no firmware updates to solve the problem for my laptop. Oh well, I don’t watch too many DVDs on my computer anyway.
Here is a breakdown of recording quality/time allotted on the discs:
Staples had a sale on this 50-pack of DVD (plus) R discs, which is why I purchased so many. They normally sell for $29.98, and I bought them for $14.98.
Summary
This pack of Memorex 16x DVD (plus) R discs was a great purchase. I’m disappointed that the laptop can’t play them, but I should have checked that out before making the purchase. Guess I’ll have to share the home videos with my brother and his family on my home recorder. The television screen is larger anyway!
The DVD+R 50 pack is used with Recordable Drives that support DVD+R media. The DVD+R disc is write-once, single sided and can store up to 4.7GB of dat...More at Buy.com
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.