Sony RDR-GX7 - Manual (Page 4)

How fast are recordable DVD drives?
Optical disc write speeds are measured with an “x” speed rating. With a CD, 1x = .15 MB/s; for a DVD, 1x = 1.4 MB/s. A good
rule of thumb for determining speed is to assume that 1x DVD = 9x CD speeds. Thus, a 2x DVD would record at close to 18x
CD speed (2.8 MB/s) and a 4x DVD would record at almost 36x CD speed (5.6 MB/s).
How long does it take to burn a DVD?
At a 2x DVD burn speed, it will take approximately 30 minutes to fill a 4.7 GB* disc. At 4x, one can finish a DVD in almost 15
minutes. (Keep in mind that any capturing, editing, and encoding video to make a DVD may add time to the process.)
How long does a DVD last?
Though the duration varies by manufacturer, a typical DVD has an estimated life expectancy of 30-100 years. This is a huge
benefit of DVD, as video/data tapes biodegrade over time and have a lower life expectancy of approximately 10 years. In
addition, DVD does not suffer from the generational loss of video tape transfer nor does it shorten its life through repeated
contact with mechanical parts.
What is the cost for recordable DVD media?
The price of recordable DVD discs has fallen greatly over the last year. DVD-R/RW discs are usually less expensive than the
DVD+R/RW discs, but this should all even out as the public dives into DVD recording as a whole. Pricing current as of this writing
show that the range in price for a single-write DVD are $2-$3 per disc, with the rewritable discs being slightly higher.
What are the different DVD standards?
Sony is currently supporting both DVD-RW and DVD+RW formats. Because there are no true standards in the computer
industry and Sony is striving to deliver DVD recording via various means to its customers, DVD-RW drives are used in the VAIO®
desktop line and DVD+RW internal and external drives are being sold to the public as well. There also exists another format,
DVD-RAM, though incompatibility issues and slow adoption have made this format a distant third.
Please see page 5 for a comparison of DVD-RW and DVD+RW formats.
What kinds of Sony recordable DVD drives are available?
Sony offers three drive choices for you:
n DVD+RW
n DVD-RW
n DVD-RW/DVD+RW combination
Sony VAIO® notebook and desktop PC lines offer an internal DVD-RW drive that allows great compatibility with DVD players.
In fact, the availability of a DVD-RW on a notebook was first brought to the public on VAIO® notebooks. Sony offers many
configurations to enable you to build your own dream VAIO® desktop or notebook PC.
For consumers who may wish to add a DVD+RW drive to an existing computer, Sony has two drive options: internal and
external. The DRU-120L external drive is powered by the i.LINK® interface, Sony’s high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus (400 Mbps)
while the DRU-120A is an internal drive.
Sony’s DRU-500 Dual RW series recordable DVD drives offer the best of both worlds. For the first time ever, a drive is capable
of recording both DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW formats! Record DVD-R discs at 4x speed and DVD-RW at 2x or DVD+R/RW
discs at 2.4x. Available as either an internal (DRU-500A) or external drive with dual i.LINK® and USB 2.0 interfaces (DRU-
500L), the DRU-500 is a Sony exclusive.