Re: [Hampshire] [Tech] Software for burning DVDs

----- Original Message -----
From: "Vic" <lug@???>
To: <hampshire@???>
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 3:53 PM
Subject: Re: [Hampshire] [Tech] Software for burning DVDs


>>> You could ask the same of any two applications that seek to do the same
>>> task.
>>>
>> OK - fair point. But it doesn't explain how k3b got it "so right" and
>> all other programs failed.
>
> Yes, it does.
>
> K3B clearly uses a different way of getting the data onto the disk. That
> way seems to work better in the environment you gave it.
>
>> If we were to compare two word processors for
>> example, typing the same document into each - could legitimately end up
>> with different results courtesy of fonts, line spacing etc - all of which
>> are adjustable. I dare say if we ensured consistent settings across the
>> two, the output still wouldn't be identical.
>
> So from similar input, you can achieve dissimilar output. That's no
> different from what you're seeing with DVDs - except that the similarity
> of the output to the original is more important to you there.
>
>> Howerver in burning an iso, all
>> that's required is to write the data to the disk in precisely the way
>> contained in the iso (no settings to fiddle with)
>
> Not true.
>
> The .iso represents how the data sould be laid out on the disk (actually,
> that's an over-simplification, but it'll do for now). It does not tell you
> how to get it there; that depends heavily on what you've got in your
> system - component speeds, drive capabilities, media types, etc.
>
> K3B stands a better chance than most of getting this last part right
> simply by virtue of the amount of work Sebastien Trueg puts into K3B. But
> that doesn't mean K3B is always right, nor that everyone else is always
> wrong; the actual problem could lie anywhere in your system (including the
> media you are using).
>
> Vic.
>
OK - thanks for that - I stand corrected.

However this being the case, it does prompt the question - are certain
pieces of burning software going to be better at burning certain types of
disks (data, audio, DVD) than others and if so - is there any way to tell
other than trial and error?

I must admit, having seen just how well specified k3b is, I don't think I'll
ever bother with gnomebake again.

Cheers
Rob