I would get the A05.....
Even though the Sony supports both formats, I have NEVER seen a reason to use the +R/+RW format.....
It is FAR less compatible than the -R/-RW format......
And the A05 is cheaper......
A new CD burner is just a matter of what you like......
MOST everybody SWEARS by lite-on and plextor......
I LIVE by LG..... (at least the model I have..)
It has successfully burned discs that both, Plextor and Lite-On FAILED at.....
Just get one that you can afford and like......
Verbatim CD-Rs are fine..... They are more widely used than most others....
BUT.... Top Dog in CD-R's is Princo (IF YOU CAN FIND THEM)....
They will play in things that Verbatim won't.......
Don't get me wrong.... Verbatim are good (I'm using them now)
BUT, nothing that I have found will top Princo CD-R's........
Depending on HOW BAD the disc is, and HOW GOOD your reader is, will decide if you can back it up or not.....
If you can get a GOOD image with NO disc read errors, you should be fine....
Hope this help you in your quest....
