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Although dual-layer DVDs (DVD+R9) have been produced commercially for some time now, Philips' latest drive is the first we've seen to bring this facility to the home market. You don't quite get double the 4.7GB storage capacity of a standard disc, but at 8.5GB it's a big improvement nevertheless.
There are some drawbacks though, the major one being that currently you can only write to dual-layer media at 2.4-speed. When we burned 7.1GB of data to a disc the process took just over 44 minutes to complete.
Furthermore, the drive is only able to write to DVD+R/RW media. Philips plans to provide the drive with DVD-R/RW support via a firmware upgrade in September, but at present you'll have to do without it.
Another issue with dual-layer DVDs is the current lack of availability of the media, which is consequently driving up prices. Indeed, Philips saw fit to include a note in the packaging of the DVDRW885 explaining the situation.
At time of going to press we found DVD+R9 blanks on sale for around £7.50 each - standard DVD+Rs were available at just 89p each.
This is a pretty big price jump considering you're paying over eight times more for dual-layer media and only getting double the capacity. However, we anticipate that costs will soon be driven down as this new media becomes more popular.
Dual-layer rewriteable media isn't currently available, but the drive will happily rewrite to single-layer DVDs.
If you have a desperate need to burn 8.5GB DVDs, the Philips DVDRW885 will get the job done. However, it's slow and, until September at least, you can't write to DVD-R/RW media of any sort.
Contact: Philips 01483 293 327
www.philips.co.uk
Specifications:
- Write: 2.4x dual-layer DVD+R, 8x, 4x DVD+R/RW, 24x 10x CD-R/RW
- Read: 40x CD-Rom, 12x DVD-Rom
- 2MB data buffer
- Internal Atapi
- Nero Burning Rom 6
See also:
All Optical Drives (CD/DVD Drive)
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