Do people really use DVDs ?

[Andrzej]

Do you guys really burn DVDs ?...

Have to say that I never have

In the old days, there was enough storage on a CD (640MB)

Now, with decent broadband and hosting, that is a straightforward up/down-load

Bigger data moves can be done on a chunky USB memory stick

Backups of hard drives etc can be done across networks

I am really unsure of the value of DVD burners

There are 2 'multi-burners' in my main system - and I have 25 blank DVDs on an unopened spindle...

...but I have never used one in anger

Also, Microsoft (in their infinite wisdom) did not see fit to include 'drag n drop to DVD' as a standard feature when XP shipped


Then again - all of the supermarkets seem to stock 5-packs of DVDs as 'impulse buys'...

...so someone must be buying them

But who ?

[dave87]

I've used them to burn backup images of hard disks (ie a clean version of my laptop, with everything I use pre-installed) I've also got backups of the Original configs of my laptop (ie how Dell shipped it). If I'm doing any video work, DVD is also useful to export things to should I run outta hard disk space (but with a terrabyte on hand, doesn't happen often)

Dave

[jackvdbuk]

I've used them to burn backup images of hard disks (ie a clean version of my laptop, with everything I use pre-installed) I've also got backups of the Original configs of my laptop (ie how Dell shipped it). If I'm doing any video work, DVD is also useful to export things to should I run outta hard disk space (but with a terrabyte on hand, doesn't happen often)

Dave

mate, you gotta tell me how to do that, backing up my XP config and programs on a DVD! correct me if im wrong but the backup will only work on that EXACT machine i got it off? becasue of hardware and chipset changes etc...?

[dave87]

I use Norton Ghost to take an image of the hard disk, which I can then restore to if needed. Works great for stuff like my laptop, which isn't gunna change in terms of hardware configuration. Otherwise just don't install any graphics etc drivers, so if you do restore, you can do so even if you, say, changed the graphics card...

[Lee H]

Yes I use quite a few DVD's all the time.

What with each picture I take weighing in at just over 4.5 Mb on my camera you can imagine how many pics a DVD can handle.

Also, I use them for archiving all my stuff as I'd probably cry if half the media I've recording via media centre is lost as well

[Rack]

^^ what he said.

[Lee H]

Bania - look at it this way as well.

What I do before I go to my mates house if he's having a party is to get all the latest live sets and stuff I've mixed in ableton and whack them onto a DVD as well.

Rather than sit messing with the CD player everytime we want a different genre or style we just navigate the DVD menu from the DVD player and volia - more choice at your fingertips.

Couple this with a surround sound decoder and speaker system and you've better sounding audio than from a decrepid old Hi-fi system...

food for thought

[Andrzej]

Ok - so what you are saying is that this DVD burning is a young person's game and it is only us old-timers that don't get it

[YOYOtech - CK]

each picture I take weighing in at just over 4.5 Mb

We won't ask

Good to have you here Lee, welcome!

[DR]

Trouble is - you lose or damage the DVD you be stuffed

I prefer to keep my data offsite or on a HDD

[Funkstar]

Creating DVD videos is pretty difficult if you don't actually burn a DVD

I do a lot of that at work

I don't use them so much at home though. Although i do now have an in car DVD player that will take a DVD-R full of MP3s so i need to have a play about with that.

[Andrzej]

...keep my data off-site...

Hmmm... you just given me an idea

[YOYOtech - CK]

We do sell a ton of media, that is why it is so close to the door when you come in. One of our biggest markets is for students. Especially from UCL. They spend all year working on coursework etc and MUST be sure that they do not lose it.

[Koolpc]

I backup all my pics and videos taken onto dvd.

[Sinizter]

I use DVDs all the time to store different things. Photos especially ... Each lot is usually more than 650-700mb and therefore DVDs are much more convenient to keep it together.

[Andrzej]

OK, OK

Seems like I am the only person in the universe who has not backed up his life to DVD

Here is a little advice for you, my friends, that may prevent heartache and loss in the future

While, under perfect storage conditions (pseudo vacuum - no use - no humidity - definitely no sticky paw prints etc etc), DVD-R disks could last around 100 years...

...an accelerated test performed by the America National Standards Institute showed that disks could fail in less than 30 years...

...and their recommendation was to back everything up onto new media 'at least once every 15 years' to be 'safe'

Looks like CK & the crew are building a lifetime supply of repeat customers