Changes in Verbatim DVD blank marketing
 

I was at the local Micro Center yesterday. It seems that Verbatim has decided to change their media branding again. The following was on the shelf:

-The "Life Series" with its white and purple/orange packaging in cake boxes. http://www.microcenter.com/product/3...0_Pack_Spindle
-The "new" standard Verbatim discs with its blue and purple/orange packaging that looks like the classic "DataLifePlus" labels. Except the media within isn't AZO dye. There is no AZO logo on it and it comes without a cakebox. Just a whipper with protective plastic ends. http://www.microcenter.com/product/4..._100_Pack_Wrap
-The classic AZO dye discs in the blue and purple/orange packaging. They are now labeled in big letters declaring that they are "AZO DVD-/+R" and come in a cake box. http://www.microcenter.com/product/1...0-Pack_Spindle

(Note link shows old packaging, this DL pack shows what the current labels look like with the big AZO marking: http://www.microcenter.com/product/3...0-Pack_Spindle )

SKUs are different between the two similar labeled variations. The middle grade media was oddly cheaper then the Life Series. I have no clue what prompted this change. I wasn't going to buy a package of this new "midgrade" media to see what the disc IDs were. I don't see the point of having both the Life Series and these new discs either. Micro Center also stocks Verbatim's "archival grade" media now too just to add to the confusion.

Edit: Ah, seems like this is the "value series" media that people are reporting. http://club.myce.com/f33/verbatim-value-series-303836/

I wonder if Amazon is going to sell "value" as legit media. One would hope not.
Same for Newegg.
Honestly, I wouldn't put it past them. Not the first time they've done bait-and-switch on DVD media. (Or B&Ms, for that matter.)

what country are these made in ? http://www.microcenter.com/product/1...0-Pack_Spindle

"AZO" = MCC media.
Not AZO is probably CMC (yuck!) or RitekF (okay).

Verbatim made in India ?
 

Today I just got my 50 pack spindle from Amazon there the DVD+R with AZO . they say there Made in India . Should I return them ? Are these good ?

Those are good. :congrats:

What about verbatim AZO made in U.A.E? Are they also good?

I haven't had any problems with UAE sourced Verbatim discs.

India, UAE and Taiwan are all legitimate locations where MCC is manufactured. It's all equally good stuff.
The UAE media is produced at the FTI plant.
FTI's own media is pretty good, too, though we see little of it in the USA.

But their (U.A.E made) media ID is as below:

Verbatim DVD-R 16X
AZO
Media ID: TTH02
Made in UAE

I asked this question in the past:

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/medi...-tth02-vs.html

Regards

Is it the DVD-R are the UAE and
DVD+R India ? Either are fine I would think.

I have always been using only DVD-R, never used DVD+R for single layer.

The U.A.E made DVD-R media ID is TTH02
The India made DVD-R media ID was MCC 03RG20

I have been deferring purchase of my blanks just because India made are no longer available in the local shops and only U.A.E made are available. Though we cannot tell until we open the box and test the discs for media ID, my earlier purchase of U.A.E made discs had TTH02, so I am assuming all UAE-made will have the same media ID. The India made discs, which I had bought 100's of them in the past, have been consistently MCC 03RG20).

I'm set on those Verbatims now (for everyday use and giving stuff to friends),

Just wondering what does everyone think about the Taiyo Yuden (DVD-WPPSB16-WS) Water Shield DVD-R , Are they really good for scratch resistance ? They come I 50pakcs and I would like to use my inkjet printer to try some artwork . I know the Discs are great quality but should I get them or the 100 pack silver inkjet that's not priced much higher . JVC / Taiyo Yuden (JDMR-SPP-SK16) DVD-R 16X Silver Inkjet Hub Printable Blank , wish this came in a spindle . these are only .33 cents each compared to the .58 watershield ones and that does not include shipping :( .

I just get my Verbatim DVD (+ or - ) at Office Max (California) on sale for 20.00 per 100 pack, They seem to be on sale here a lot ...off and on!!

The discs sold in store probably are not the good Mitsubishi ones, Watch out!
Be sure to read the media ID.