TDK 16X DVD+R 100PK Spindle

Every since they've stopped selling Sony writable DVDs at local stores, I had to find a way to buy writable discs. I copy my VHS tapes to disc, and the Memorex 50pks, they replaced Sony with, would usually have 10 discs with writing errors, or imperfections in the discs. So I looked around Amazon, and a review here mentioned that TDK has better picture, sound, and writing capabilities than Sony. I have bought 2 100pks so far, and they were right. To be honest, I have only had 3 discs that had errors out of 200, but I think it was the disc writer. But this is a great buy. At the local stores you get 50pks for $20, you get 100 for $25! Much better quality. Every dollar I spend has been worth it, and I look forward to buying again in the near future!

UPDATE (12/9/08): Two of these discs turned out to be coasters. I'm not entirely convinced that one of them wasn't my fault, however :( Still not bad in my book._______________________________________________________________________________Here's a total reversal of my, and I believe most of Amazon's reviews: A product review marred by AMAZON'S shoddy packing and shipping.The discs are fine. Admittedly, I've only burned a few of them, but no problems so far, and what a buy for the money. Backed by Amazon's great return policy, they live up to the brand-name-you-can-trust theory of mail-order purchasing.For the first time, though, the shipment (which also included a USB thumb drive)came in an oversized box barely filled with any packing material, rolling and rattling alarmingly. The plastic wrap around the bottom had managed to tear open and the spindle was partially spilled inside the box. The discs seem to be burning okay, and since the shipment was delayed by weeks (Amazon randomly allows some items to ship to APO addresses, yet not others resulting in slow ship times to a physical address)I was unwilling to repeat the process in case some discs were scratched. So far so good. Keep this in mind, though it seems to have been a one-off phenomenon. I hate to ding the product on account of the tangentially-related shipping experience, but otherwise it would've been 5 stars for this purchase.

Before I purchased this, I read customer comments - most of which were gripes and complaints and one fabricated story about the layers pealing off - LOL. Maybe these are just folks who happened to get a bad batch - that happens with darn near any product ending up with some defective bacthes getting by inspectors.Having said that - I took the chance and ordered the TDK 100 DVD+R pack because I couldnt afford anything else. I was scared to even try it after the package arrived. I expected at best - just so-so quality, something i could tolerate. HOWEVER - I WAS AMAZED AT THE QUALITY PICTURES It delivered. I collect my favorite Tv shows off Tv - and WOW it out performed Memorex, Sony and another top brand (cant recall at the moment) Blank recordable DVDs.I say ignore the complaints - if you get a bad batch just ask to send it back for exchange. The same you would do with any product. My rule is if after a product as been replaced and even the replacement sucks - THEN - ask for a refund. Give a product a chance first.

I purchased 2 spindles about a few weeks apart. I bought the 2nd spindle as I was getting close to half of the 1st one - all looked good. But then about 60% of the way into the spindle I started finding clearly defective disks - rough edges on the recoding side (like glue was spilled on the spindle edge) sometimes actually going into the recoding area - a problem if you plan to record a lot of data and will need the area close to the outer edge of the disk. I was able to use many of the disks and they seemed to work fine, but you have to check every disks in bright light to see if it's ok before you use it. Also in the second spindle some disks have uneven coating with something looking like a scratch going from the center of the disks to the edge in straigh lines - they are not scratches though but just uncoated "lines". I did not use those defective disks, but I am pretty sure that would have been a problem as it affected most of the recordable area - not just the outer part as the "roghh edges" problem.Also note that it is just the name "TDK" - the disk are actually made by Imation Corp.(says so in small print on the packaging) - I did not have a good experience with Imation disks on my PC in the past either - they are somewhat low quality just like these "TDK" disks. So here TDK makes money because their name is used and Imation makes money because even if you would not buy Imation Corp. disks - you might buy them labeled as "TDK" (thinking you are buyng something made by TDK). Both companies make money (by a deceiving branding method - TDK never made these!) and you pay for one thing (TDK) and get another (Imation). They sould be labelled as Imation - if you do not care if it's TDK or Imation you will buy them anyway - the price is low. But if you care and would buy TDK but not Imation - then both companies are making money by deceving you!

I bought these DVDs a few years ago, and at the present time about 2/3 though the entire pack. I use them to make backups of some critical files as a supplement to a daily disk backup on hard disk. I found them to be reliable, only a couple in the approximately 75 DVDs were duds and had write errors. I have gone back to the backups a few times, and they were in good shape, no read errors.I noticed that the price on the on this product fluctuates. There is a nice online tool that I use to help catch a good price on Amazon, this tool is called "Online Price Alert". This tool will send you an email when the Amazon item price reaches the target price range that you specify. If you search on "online price alert" in Google it will be come up at the top. I find this tool to be very helpful.Overall, I would purchase this brand of DVDs again.