DVD-Questions (for dummies)

[rookie.dk]

Okay - a couple of stupid questions for you guys. I have looked through some of the old threads, but couldn't find all the answers i wanted.....

Thinking about acquiring a Dvd-burner, but have some issues i would like to have clarified before.

1) How good is the quality of a back-up copy? Is it worth watching on a TV, or is the quality considerable degraded compared to the original ( I would like the back-up to incl. comentary and pref. some extra features)?

2) regarding the quality. Is it worth waiting for the new generations of burners, which can burn dual layer discs. I have heard rumors that their are suposed to reach the stores very soon - do you know anything about this?

3) The last question is about the protection of original DVDs. CD Media Worlds front page feature a story about SecuROM version 5.00.01. Do you think these kind of protections (or any kind of protection) are a treath to "legal" back-ups, or is there a way around them.

That all for this time.... hope somebody can answers my questions.

thanks

[bighap]

Originally posted by rookie.dk
1) How good is the quality of a back-up copy? Is it worth watching on a TV, or is the quality considerable degraded compared to the original ( I would like the back-up to incl. comentary and pref. some extra features)?

Quality can be the same as the original or just slightly less if you like. Most dvds are dvd9, which obviously won't fit onto a single disc as is. You can either keep true dvd quality by splitting the movie onto two discs or you can use compression to get it onto 1 disc. Quality loss with compression is minimal to not even noticable.

2) regarding the quality. Is it worth waiting for the new generations of burners, which can burn dual layer discs. I have heard rumors that their are suposed to reach the stores very soon - do you know anything about this?
They aren't worth it. They will cost a fortune when they are released(1st quarter 2004) and it will require a new dvd player to play this new dvd9 media. As explained above, a dvd9 burner is not necessary for dvd backups.

3) The last question is about the protection of original DVDs. CD Media Worlds front page feature a story about SecuROM version 5.00.01. Do you think these kind of protections (or any kind of protection) are a treath to "legal" back-ups, or is there a way around them.
There is a workaround for all protections. No worries.

[X-sist]

let me first comment on the SecuROM
if the sode/protection can be written...it can be cracked. need proff??...look at any copy protection thus far. as far as the quality of the backups.....the diff is negligible at best. Most dvd's out now are over the 4.5 gig limit that can be placed on your average DVD-R so compression is involved. If you are the type to absolutly have to have all the dvd extra's ..it would be worth your while to wait...until when?? who knows for sure.....and i am sure if its the new toy on the market the price will bve mindblowing....but is ultimately your call

[rookie.dk]

Thanks guys

Not really interested in having all the extras included in the back-up.... but always an extra soundtrack (the director's commentary) if available. Don't know how how much space such an extra soundtack takes up - if it will be possible to fit the film incl 2 (sometimes 3) sound tracks on one 4.5 gig disc in a good quality.