What happened to 8.5 GB DL Lightscribe media

[BigDom]

I have been trying to purchase DVD-R 8.5 GB DL Lightscribe media and have been not finding any available. Has everyone phased it out? I am finding non-Lightscribe or 4.7 GB media.

[lordsmurf]

The discs may be discontinued.

A quick Google search only resulted in a few potential leads:

• http://www.buylci.com/ItemDisplayF.a...=googleProduct
• http://www.govgroup.com/verbatim_lig...46488-prd1.htm
• http://www.henjil.com/henjil/Verbati...012225999.aspx
• http://www.sharksystems.com/browse/c...product/96689/ --- 26 packs in stock currently

Well, there's also the Amazon seller asking 2x normal costs ($50 instead of $25).
So if you're desperate: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=all

Local Microcenter, Fry's Electronics and TigerDirect/CompUSA stores may have some, too, if you're near one of their locations.

[BigDom]

Thank you

I still would like to know what happened to them. They are quite a bit more expensive than the last time I ordered them. Have they been discontinued and replaced by a new media?

[lordsmurf]

LightScribe was always a disappointing and costly technology, and the phasing out of this media has been expected for several years now. I'm honestly surprised production was maintained as long as it did. While I'm not 100% sure that it has been discontinued, it is very likely.

You'd need to ask Verbatim USA for more details: http://www.verbatim.com/contact-us

Not that you'll necessarily get a good answer. But it's worth the attempt.

Also worth reading: Lightscribe media and burners

LightScribe has been described as the Daguerreotype of blank discs. It's sort of a muddy sepia toned image on top of a disc, and it fades over time. It's pretty well inferior to inkjet media, in terms of label quality. But it has the added benefit of not actually having a label surface (which can peel or bubble over time). It's a trade-off.

[BigDom]

Thank you, lordsmurf.

I missed that post. Very informative. I have horrible handwriting at best. The labels are for archival reasons and just need to be legible not pretty. My handwriting barely meets the criteria. The reason I like the Lightscribe since the labels are quite readable and need no deciphering. Buying a new burner is not that big of a deal since they are so cheap these days. I have been using the same one for the last 3 years. No, I do not burn a lot of discs so that may be why it has lasted so long. The convenience of having the label making device in the computer I am using to burn is beyond measure for me. A very cool idea would be to have a device the size of a burner that does inkjet labels. Most people I know have at least one extra 5.25" slot in their desktop machines. Laptop users would be out of luck for this. Another reason having Lightscribe was so nice is that laptop users do not have to lug around a printer for semi-decent and legible labels.

Of the places you suggested I have tried BuyCLI and Henjil. After placing an order with each they have sent me an email informing that the items are discontinued.

[BigDom]

Response from Verbatim:

"Manufacturing stopped 2010 due to insufficient demand. The inventory is now depleted. "

[admin]

Thanks for sharing your response.
That sounds about right. Between Verbatim apparently looking to shed costs, lower-selling media was bound to be discontinued.