Dual layer dvd question

[irishvintagecars]

At the moment i am finding it increasingly hard to buy these dvds for archiving. Are they ok for archiving or is there a problem with them when you want to recover your pictures? Ooh and what is the best brand out there that has been tested so far?:)

[adam8080]

My only problem with them is possible lack of future support. Normal DVDs are much more common.

[ben_r_]

I use them for archiving as well as an external hard drive. I have only used the Memorex dual layer ones which seem to get bad reviews, but I have never had a single issue with them to date.

[bohdank]

I don't use them for backup but my experience and research suggests that the problem is not with the blanks but the burners. It seems that there is some incompatibility between burners and readers.

[Zepher]

I read that Verbatim are one of the better if not the best brand to go with, but they are 30-50% more expensive than other brands.

I bought a box of 50 TDK DVD+R DL for $30 recently.
I tried to burn one on my Pioneer DVD-RW drive and it failed at the very end.
I then burned the same file over the network to my HTPC and used my LG Bluray/HD-DVD/DVD-RW combo drive and it burned successfully and verified, but only the LG drive can read it.
it is really strange.

If you want to test it out grab these from newegg, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817130008
the free shipping keeps the cost down.

[I26]

I would highly recommend purchasing your DVDs from Rima.com
Taiyo Yudens are highly regarded as being one of the best you can buy, don't believe me, search the net. Other quality brands are Ritek, ProDisc, RiData, and some Verbatim. I always buy printable TY's there. If I am in the hunt for a quick pack in a store I always look for ones made in Japan. Almost all Japan made discs are made in the same factories as TY's and thus have a better dye used in the process. Tawain is a huge manufacturer with so-so quality. Fujifilm for instance make some in both countries.
It is cheaper to archive to 4.7GB DVDs than dual-layers if it doesn't matter.
Funny story, I was at Best Buy one day and found one pack out of 100 or so that was made in Japan. They were FujiFilm on sale. The guy asked me why I searched through and I told him. He said the guy before me purchased about 75 packs and insisted on them being made in Japan.

[ejicon]

We use Memorex Dual Layer dvds here at work. There are compatibility issues with DL-DVDs but we haven't had a problem with them at all. (of course that could change) We use MAC computers at work and burn DVDs for clients. The trick is to insure that the disc is readable by both MACs and PCs if anything.
I also recommend just archiving and single layer dvds