700m and DVD

Hi

New to the forums.
Great discussions here.

Dell have reduced their price for the 700m. Looking at the DVD burner (about 60USD extra) option but the info seems confusing.

Is the DVD burner +RW/+R? Or does it have -RW/-R as well?

 

It reads all formats, but I'm pretty sure it just writes + media. I haven't tried it with - media yet with my machine. The current configuration of the 700M uses the Sony DW-D56A drive whose documentation can be found here:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/storage/p81822/en/index.htm

Under specifications, you'll find that it only list DVD-R and DVD-RW as writable media.

-------------------------
"Everyday, in every way, I'm getting better and better."

Dell Inspiron 700 M: 2.0Ghz PM, 1024MB DDR SDRAM, 60GB 5400RPM, Dual Layer 8x CD/DVD+/-RW

IBM G41: 3.06Ghz P4M with HT, 1.5GB DDR SDRAM, 80GB 5400RPM, 8x CD/DVD+/-RW

 

You're right. I just didn't scroll down far enough. It'll write both + and -. Sorry about the confusion.

-------------------------
"Everyday, in every way, I'm getting better and better."

Dell Inspiron 700 M: 2.0Ghz PM, 1024MB DDR SDRAM, 60GB 5400RPM, Dual Layer 8x CD/DVD+/-RW

IBM G41: 3.06Ghz P4M with HT, 1.5GB DDR SDRAM, 80GB 5400RPM, 8x CD/DVD+/-RW

 

I might be reading the Dell site wrong, but the link above indicates to me that it can burn both +R +RW and -R -RW. I looks like the dual-layer burning is +R9.

I don't know much about dual-layer burning since the disks are so expensive, but it looks like this drive "does it all."

Drive Speed

CD-R Write: 10X CLV; 10X ~ 24X ZCLV
CD-RW Write: 4X CLV
CD-RW Write (High Speed Media): 10X CLV
CD-RW Write (Ultra Speed Media): 10X CLV; 10X ~ 24X ZCLV
CD-RW Write (Ultra Plus Speed Media): 10X CLV; 10X ~ 16X ZCLV
DVD+R Write: 2.4X CLV; 8X ZCLV
DVD+RW Write: 2.4X CLV; 4X ZCLV
DVD+R9 Write: 2.4X CLV
DVD-R Write: 2X CLV; 8X ZCLV
DVD-RW Write: 2X CLV
CD-ROM Read: 24X CAV
DVD-ROM Read (Single): 8X CAV
DVD-ROM Read (Dual): 6X CAV
DVD-R Read: 2X CLV; 8X CAV
DVD+R Read: 2.4 X CLV; 8X CAV
DVD-RW Read: 2X CLV; 6X CAV
DVD+RW Read: 2.4X CLV; 6X CAV
DVD+R9 Read: 4X CAV

Bus Interface

ATAPI interface

Types of disc formats supported

Readable Format and Modes Supported

CD Digital Audio and CD EXTRA
CD-ROM (Mode 1)
CD-ROM XA (Mode 2, Form 1 and Form 2)
CD-I (Mode 2, Form 1 and Form 2) and CD-I Ready and CD-I Bridge
Photo CD
Video CD (MPEG-1)
CD-TEXT
CD-R
CD-RW
DVD-5, 9, 10, 18
DVD-R/-RW
DVD+R/+RW
DVD+R9 (Double layer)

Writable Format and Modes Supported

CD-R
Low speed CD-RW
High speed CD-RW
Ultra speed CD-RW
Ultra Plus speed CD-RW
DVD-R/-RW
DVD+R/+RW
DVD+R9 (Double layer)

 

I'm not sure if we are getting different DVD drive in Asia.

http://dellstore01.sg.dell.com/public/cart/configurator.jsp?prd_id=29514&sr_no=2

If you scroll down to the optical drive section, and click on the "learn more" link for the drives available, it doesn't give a DVD -R/-RW capability.

Am I missing something obvious? Or is this expected for sales in Asia?

 

Well, Dell offers support for two different 8x DVD+/-RW drives which are made by Sony and NEC. Both can write to + and - R and RW media. Final answer is that whatever drive you get from Dell will burn both + and - DVD media.

-------------------------
"Everyday, in every way, I'm getting better and better."

Dell Inspiron 700 M: 2.0Ghz PM, 1024MB DDR SDRAM, 60GB 5400RPM, Dual Layer 8x CD/DVD+/-RW

IBM G41: 3.06Ghz P4M with HT, 1.5GB DDR SDRAM, 80GB 5400RPM, 8x CD/DVD+/-RW