Optical Drive media recommendations?

Hey people
On Monday, I received my dv1000t. It has DVD+/-RW/R CD-RW Combo w/Double Layer.

My question is, for best value and fewest coasters, what do you guys recommend? CD? DVD? (I'd assume you get better value purchasing blank DVD's)

Also, do most of you purchase double layer, or is the cost not worth it. I'd figure often times, I don't necessarily need that much room, but if all I have is double layer DVD's, that's what I'll end up using.

Do you recommend DVD +R or DVD -? Any difference???

Also, any brands which are better then others? Verbatim seems to be pretty prominent...

Newegg currently has Verbatim 8.5GB 8X DVD+R DL Disc -$23.99, for a 10 pack.

They also have RIDATA 4.7GB 8X DVD-R Disc - Retail $27.99 for 100 pack!

Guess purchasing double layer is NOT the most cost efficient. Probably should get a single layer, and some time in the future, if I need it, pick up a ten pack of the double layer.

Also, anything I should be aware of? Any reason certain DVD's won't work on my laptop?

Thanks...

 

For me if you want to burn data, you should go with DVD+R, and for movie go with DVD-R. But your mileage may vary.

 

Taiyo Yudens are widely considered to be the best blank media, both CDs and DVDs. Verbatims are good as well. For DL media, Verbatims are the only decent ones.

 

Just agreeing with zazonz- Taiyo Yuden are great blank media, and Verbatim for dual layer.

 

I'll second zazonz's recommendations of Taiyo Yuden and Verbatim. The Verbatim's will be cheaper and are great for general use, but for long term backups or archiving TYs win hands down.

Just be warned that TY's are also one of the world's most faked media types... If they seem too cheap (average $1.10-1.20 AUD per unit here), they may not be legit.

BTW, if you see Mitsubishi media cheap, buy it. It's the same stuff that Verbatim sells.

Ritek/Ridata is occasionally good, but I wouldn't want to rely on it.

Don't bother with DL media unless you need to make unshrunk copies of movies... the price premium just isn't worth it yet.

 

I use Ritek G04 or G05 for my dvd burning. They have worked great in my sony dvd player and in the 300 dvds I have burned I have never had a coaster (knocks on wood). The G04 are 4x and the G05 are 5x, I havent tried any of the 16x yet.

As a bonus the Ritek are pretty cheap, www.supermediastore.com and www.meritline.com usually have pretty good deals on them especially if you buy in bulk.

 

If you can find any Japan made Fuji CDRs grab them, most stores only stock the Taiwan ones now though. I think I saw some 25 packs here at Best Buy last weekend. They should be Taiyo Yuden.