Simple explanation, they got bad discs. It happens more often than you allude to. There could have been surface errors, fingerprints on the bottom which introduced errors during the burning process.
I'd also toss user error and software issues into the mix as well. Their problems could be attributed to a few other issues like multitasking during the burn, problems with the source file and BURNING SOFTWARE issues. Most folks use Nero to burn DVDs and I've found based on my research that it is the main source of problems with DVD burns. If anything, that's your common thread.
Funny enough, I've had issues with +R media whereas with -R I haven't.
Again, I'll say, the theory is bunk.
I am sorry, but I just do not accept what you are saying.
If you read my post you will notice that I am defining a TREND, not just individual users. And the TREND is, that user*s* with Sony writers have more problems writing cheaper DVD-R media than Pioneer owners do.
That's not bad discs. These people are buying the *same* media from the *same* reseller. They may well be bad discs, but then how come the Pioneer *can* write the *same* media at full *4 SPEED*, when the Sony users *cannot*. Software is not relevant here -- because the spread of people is wide enough. The burner *says* 4x burning, then takes half an hour to burn the disc -- that means it's burning at 2x. Then every so often the drive will burn the same discs at 4x, correctly.
I have *never* seen this behaviour on a Pioneer burner.
And the NEC drives (and the one Optorite burner I've come across) will *not* burn the *same* media *at all*.
There is no fixed pattern to it, either. Some Sony writers will write the discs without fault, just like the Pioneer. Some of them always write the discs 2x. Some will sometimes write 2x, sometimes 4x.
And here's the rub. I have taken a "bad" Sony writer and put it into a machine containing an identical, but "good" Sony writer, with the same model number and the same firmware. The "bad" Sony writer in the "good" system *still* wrote the Princo 4x media at 2x. Put the good one back in, bang, writes at 4x again.
Yes, the Princo media isn't the best quality on the market. And I am fully aware of the inconsistencies -- did you not read the lengthy piece on shady practices on the previous post?
But that does not alter the fact that the Sony writers I have seen (of various models, dates and firmwares) have all had varying levels of problems with cheap DVD-R discs that simply do not happen with Pioneer writers.
This leads me to one of two possible conclusions:
1) Sony firmware is crap;
2) Sony QA is crap.
Take your pick.
The fact that NEC drives in my experience are EVEN WORSE, and that the Optorite from my experience, and the postings of people on here and elsewhere, is nearly as bad with cheap discs leads me to the conclusion that either:
1) +R writers have issues with -R discs;
2) Multiple +R manufacturers can't make a decent burner to save their lives.
Again, take your pick.
It is not good enough to say the "theory" is "bunk". I have seen entire forums full of posts about this problem --
www.mediaforums.net being a prime example (the Media Discussion thread is interesting).
Yes, Princo discs are not brilliant, but I say again, if Pioneer can write them there is *NO* excuse for Sony, NEC and Optorite to have issues. Period.