I finally had to replentish my supply and I was shocked that I could no longer get my 15 pack for $20 deal. They seem now to only have the 10 pack for 20 dollars.

A $1.33 to $2.00 unit cost hike is a tad hard to swallow (I had always wondered why they offered both 10 and 15 packs for the same 20 dollar price in the past)

anyone here with any insights as to what is going in?

Is a $1.18 fuji disc a worthwile substitute via the links on this site?

please let me know

Probably its nothing more than simple supply and demand economics. They made a certain number of 15-paks that sold well for a time, but no longer sell so well. Once they ran out of the pre-packed 15 bundles, they decided to simplify and stick to making the smaller more profitable 10-paks. DVD recording in general is w-a-y down in the USA, and aside from Panasonic DVD-RAM isn't a huge factor in home video to begin with so sales of blank DVD-RAM have probably dropped considerably. Under those conditions it makes better business sense for them to just offer a 10-pak. Mfrs of the more-common DVD-+R media can count on bulk sales from computer users to take up some slack from diminished home-video sales, Panasonic doesn't get as big a piece of that pie for their RAM media. Middling sales keep mfr costs high, high prices on media depress sales, depressed sales keep prices higher on this type of item: its a circle. DVD-RAM is an excellent recording format, but most people would rather spend 20 cents on write-once disc and throw it away instead of $1.50 on a reusable DVD-RAM. And at retail stores, DVD-RAM is ridiculously expensive compared to other media, often selling only as single discs for $3.99 each. This creates the impression that DVD-RAM is "unaffordable" and trickles down to Panasonic's reasonably-priced direct sales operation. Unfortunate.

There is much less variation in quality between DVD-RAM brands than other media types, so the Fujis should be OK: try a few and see. When I can't get Panasonic-branded DVD-RAM, I buy Maxell and it works just as well for me (which is funny, because Maxell DVD-R media is completely useless garbage). Just don't buy a bulk amount of anything until you run some tests with your own recorder.

IIs a $1.18 fuji disc a worthwile substitute via the links on this site?

please let me knowFuji RAMs are good. I have a pack of Fuji's I bought back in 2005 that I'm still recording on. RAMs may not be common but they are the most reliable recording media.

Like the Panasonic RAMs, wash the Fuji's before you use them for the first time and you won't have problems with them. I use tepid water and mild liquid dish soap with a well worn wash cloth. Then I dry with a soft cotton towel that has been washed many times. I wash all my disks like that and never see a scratch no matter what direction you wipe the disk in.

...(which is funny, because Maxell DVD-R media is completely useless garbage)...
Are you getting Maxell confused with Memorex? I have heard many times that Memorex was useless, but I don't remember such statements about Maxell, or am I just not remembering.

I have used Maxell DVD-RAM disks for quite a while with no problems. Mine are 5x. I also have used many Verbatim DVD-RAM (also 5x) disks with no problem. I have quite a few Pansonic DVD-RAM disks, all 3x. After being gently washed, all of the above have worked properly. I have no experience with Fuji disks.

Are you getting Maxell confused with Memorex? I have heard many times that Memorex was useless, but I don't remember such statements about Maxell, or am I just not remembering.


I believe some people have problems with Maxell R's. Personally with my Pannys I've never had a problem with Maxells or most any other media. No I haven't tried Memorex DVDs, I had bad luck with there tape media and aren't about to risk it with DVDs.
I've used Panasonic, Maxell and Sony RAM discs and they all work fine. Fuji used to be a good tape mfg. so I'd tend to trust there DVDs unless told otherwise. I don't know were people are seeing RAM discs B&M but I haven't seen any in quite some time. Last time I did they were the individuals for ~$4 that Citibear mentioned.

Are you getting Maxell confused with Memorex? I have heard many times that Memorex was useless, but I don't remember such statements about Maxell, or am I just not remembering.

Since DVD-RAM media never reached mass-market commodity status, it hasn't been cheapened the way +R and -R have. Fewer brands market or mfr it, and it is pretty stable across the board. The basic construction has not been messed with every few months in a futile quest to sell it for pennies, so just about any DVD-RAM media is still decent. I haven't noted any usability differences between Maxell DVD-RAM or Panasonic DVD-RAM, so I buy whichever I see on the shelf at a good price. Presumably the same applies to Fuji DVD-RAM as well: for all we know Panasonic might be providing the DVD-RAMs for everybody else to put their name on.

DVD-R has been reduced to bargain-basement crapola in recent years, with 70% of all brand-name DVD-R coming from the now-atrocious CMC factories. Depending on the country you buy it in and the mfr contracts any given week, Memorex and Maxell (and Fuji) DVD-R is actually made by Ritek or CMC. The Ritek stuff is hit or miss, its either barely OK or totally rotten. CMC is almost always rotten ("rotten" meaning unburnable in any hardware older than 2006). TDK was good when it was proprietary, became very bad when produced by CMC, and is now produced in some mysterious Saudi factory and other outposts. CMC was passable for awhile, making several grades of media, with the better stuff going to Verbatim, etc. But since 2007 pretty much all of CMC's output is the lowest-rank "CMC.AM3" quality. New or recent recorders and most PC burners manage to burn it with a slight struggle, but the vintage 2003-2005 DVD/HDD machines many AVS members prize cannot use these discs at all.

Is a $1.18 fuji disc a worthwile substitute via the links on this site?

Am I being blind? What links on this site? I tried refreshing this page a few times, and I saw a few Panasonic DVD RAM ads at the top. Could you give a direct link?

I admittedly am probably not going to buy TOO many more discs (in fact, I'm seriously thinking about copying the contents of DVD-RWs to a hard drive).. but I'm still interested for curiousity's sake.

Totally random tangent: It's strange that on an XS32, mounting a DVD-RAM takes a pretty darn long time.. Mounting a DVD-RW takes less time.. and DELETING a file from a DVD-RW comes about as close to instantaneous as anything on an XS32. It re-mounts quickly.

I don't know were people are seeing RAM discs B&M but I haven't seen any in quite some time.At least here there's Fry's - Panny 3x data RAM's, which only take a few seconds to re-format for video, are only 5 for $7.99.

Am I being blind? What links on this site? I tried refreshing this page a few times, and I saw a few Panasonic DVD RAM ads at the top. Could you give a direct link?

Totalmedia.com is selling Fuji DVD-RAM for this price. Click here (https://www.totalmedia.com/store/bargain-basement-2480/computer-closeouts-2484/dvd-2492/dvd-ram-2535/fuji-4.7gb-single-sided-dvd-ram-3x-in-slim--1131.html).

Buyer beware, because I could not find any ratings for this store on line.

If you succeed in buying these, come back and tell us.

Thanks.

A $1.33 to $2.00 unit cost hike is a tad hard to swallow
anyone here with any insights as to what is going in?


Considering that you'd be hard-pressed to find a DVD-RAM for under $30 during Panasonic's earlier days of DVD recorders, I think $2.00 a disc for the industry's most-reliable rewritable format rated at 100,000 rewrite cycles is still the bargain of the century.

Down memory lane:

Panasonic introduces FIRST DVD recorder Sep 2000, the E10, $3,999, with recordable discs $34.99. (http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2000/08/38145)

2 months ago I got one of these brand new in box on flea bay for 149.00 what a bargain, built like a tank, and plays back dvd-r's even when stated the machine should not.......got 2 more for back-up parts and they also work for 17.00 ..

I'm still using a 5 pack of RAM discs I bought several years ago. They keep going & going. I only had one that was causing a problem & washed it as others have mentioned and now it seems just fine.

Totalmedia.com is selling Fuji DVD-RAM for this price. Click here (https://www.totalmedia.com/store/bargain-basement-2480/computer-closeouts-2484/dvd-2492/dvd-ram-2535/fuji-4.7gb-single-sided-dvd-ram-3x-in-slim--1131.html).

Oooh, free shipping too.. They've also got some 1-2x DVD-RW for $11.something for a 15 pack with free shipping too.

Hey all...

I have 5 Panny 3x DVD-RAM discs that I've never washed or had problems with...

What problems should I be on the lookout for, that washing may alleviate?

Thanks :).

Hey all...

I have 5 Panny 3x DVD-RAM discs that I've never washed or had problems with...

What problems should I be on the lookout for, that washing may alleviate?

Thanks :).


My RAM discs were just working right along. Then one day I had trouble doing a scheduled timer recording with one disc. The status display said I had room on the disc, yet when trying to schedule it said there was no room. Formatting did not help so I was ready to throw out the disc.

Then I recalled reading that some people washed problem RAM discs, but I don't recall what problems they were having. So I washed my problem disc & it started working normally again. I'm presuming it must have picked up a speck of dirt somewhere over the years. Since all the discs were the same age I then carefully washed the rest of them just to be safe.

You might do a search for washing RAM to see what others had experienced. Since RAM discs can be re-written thousands of times, they are probably handled more than other discs and therefore subject to picking up dust/dirt/fingerprints.

Thanks Mike99 :)...

Down memory lane:

Panasonic introduces FIRST DVD recorder Sep 2000, the E10, $3,999, with recordable discs $34.99. (http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2000/08/38145)

I bought my E10 brand new when originally released! Still have it.

I recall being PO that the newer RAM format was not compatible with the old RAM format.

does washing a disc only apply to RAM or all? Do you wash them before first use or only when they do not record/play
How do you safely wash and dry them

does washing a disc only apply to RAM or all? Do you wash them before first use or only when they do not record/play
How do you safely wash and dry them


I had one RAM that was acting up. Initially had large pixels in the images and then would not let me set a timer recording. I used Dawn dish washing detergent & applied a small amount onto a wet disc using a light touch of a finger. Gently rubbed it all around & then thoroughly rinsed while gently rubbing to make sure no soap film would be left. Gently dried with a microfiber cloth. It cured the problem. I then decided to wash the remaining RAM discs as preventative maintenance.

I guess you could wash them before first use. It seems to me I read that some people had to. As far as washing other discs, I've never had to. If you do a lot of timeshifting and keep handling the RAM discs I can see where they might have more exposure to fingerprints, etc, and therefore might need a washing if they started causing problems.

I had one RAM that was acting up. Initially had large pixels in the images and then would not let me set a timer recording. I used Dawn dish washing detergent & applied a small amount onto a wet disc using a light touch of a finger. Gently rubbed it all around & then thoroughly rinsed while gently rubbing to make sure no soap film would be left. Gently dried with a microfiber cloth. It cured the problem. I then decided to wash the remaining RAM discs as preventative maintenance.

I guess you could wash them before first use. It seems to me I read that some people had to. As far as washing other discs, I've never had to. If you do a lot of timeshifting and keep handling the RAM discs I can see where they might have more exposure to fingerprints, etc, and therefore might need a washing if they started causing problems.

I know this will sound like a silly question (apologies in advance), but you're not talking about the Panasonic RAM discs that come in a cartridge, are you? I couldn't imagine washing one of mine, but then I remembered that they also make ones that are not encased in a plastic cartridge. If you ARE referring to cartridge-inset RAM discs, is there a way to remove them (and put them back) that wont damage the cartridge?

PS should probably add that I have double sided and a few single sided -- not sure if that makes any difference when it comes to removal

I know this will sound like a silly question (apologies in advance), but you're not talking about the Panasonic RAM discs that come in a cartridge, are you? I couldn't imagine washing one of mine, but then I remembered that they also make ones that are not encased in a plastic cartridge. If you ARE referring to cartridge-inset RAM discs, is there a way to remove them (and put them back) that wont damage the cartridge?

PS should probably add that I have double sided and a few single sided -- not sure if that makes any difference when it comes to removal


I am NOT talking about Panasonic RAM discs that come in a cartridge. I have heard of these but have never seen one. I've never seen the double sided ones either.

I don't buy a lot of RAM discs because they are reusable & I have been using my original ones for several years. I do have some new ones put aside in case the old ones finally stop working, but I'm sure I am nowhere close to the 100,000 rewrite cycles that I have seen claimed for RAM discs.

I'm pretty sure you can take the ones in the cartridges out.

I'm pretty sure you can take the ones in the cartridges out.

Yes, but you do need to destroy the cartridge itself to do so.

On most there's a pin that you permanently break out to allow the halves of the cartridge clamshell to open.

Yeeesh. Might as well just leave it in.

Why would you want to take it out, anyway?

Yeeesh. Might as well just leave it in.

Why would you want to take it out, anyway?

It would be pretty hard to wash them while still in the cartridge.

Yeeesh. Might as well just leave it in.

Why would you want to take it out, anyway?

You would want to take it out to put it in a replacement DVD drive in an XS32 for example -- which doesn't have the DVD-RAM cartridge slot.

Or to use in a computer DVD recorder (to move recordings to a computer).

Totalmedia.com is selling Fuji DVD-RAM for this price. Click here (https://www.totalmedia.com/store/bargain-basement-2480/computer-closeouts-2484/dvd-2492/dvd-ram-2535/fuji-4.7gb-single-sided-dvd-ram-3x-in-slim--1131.html).

Buyer beware, because I could not find any ratings for this store on line.

If you succeed in buying these, come back and tell us.

Thanks.


i ordered a bunch from this site and had success, but now they are up to $1.99 /each..YIKES!!!!... anyone know of any deals on RAM discs? I want to stock up for football season

thanks in advance