Hi, there, everybody, i've seen this thread http://www.cdrinfo.com/forum/tm.asp?m=71792, and it really got me wondering ! I was thinking of buying TAYO YUDEN DVD media, but how can i tell if they are real TAYO YUDEN DVD media ? Is there a way to do it ?
What supplyers are reliable ? I mean where can you buy (in Europe), online or not ?
I just can't see TAYO YUDEN DVD media for sale in the usual stores here in Portugal ? It's a bit strange, don't you think ?
By the way, which ones should i buy ? The silvered or white ones ?
I'm asking this because i intend to write on its surface the media content with a proper permanent pen. I think it doesn't damage the media, does it ?

A little help on this matter would be appreciated,

J. Silva

There are lots of little utilities that will read the ATIP identifier.

Try here

http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_utils_2.shtml

unless the Atip is also false, this will tell you.

You could tell by the brand name!
The original brand name are Taiyo Yuden, while the fake ones are name Tayo Yuden ( whithout the i )...

I think he might want a way to find out before buying. And I'm sorry to say that with the state of things as they are now it's pretty hard to know exactly what you're getting until after the fact

As for writing on the top, I've never had problems writing directly on the tops of recordable CD or DVD media with an ordinary, felt-tipped permanant marker.

most stores here will give you your money back if insist on it and give reason, so ask about it when you want buy some CDs first.

One way to tell is by looking at the spindle containter that the discs come in. TY uses a very specific container. Most spoofs will just use a generic one.

If the price is "to good to be true", it probabely is. Most fakes are sold below the normal price at questionable online shops. If you find a trustworthy shop, i doubt they will sell fakes. Sory i cant help you more, but i get my dvd's from a good shop and never had a single fake. And if you want to know whats reliable.... look for reviews and use google.

please do not mention the name of this good shop so others aren't tricked in buying quality disks there

THere are also two "levels" of the fake TY's.

The first are they guys out there that are just copping TY's name to make a buck.

The group are small manufacturers that actually bought stampers or codes from TY. The reason they do this is because dvd-rw drive manufacturers are very slow to add new (especially small company) write codes to firmware.

First its a dutch shop

Second i dont like spamming my personal favorite shop

Third, if anything goes wrong with a shop i recommend, some ppl may think im giving fake info.

It was with a purpose i did not mention the shop

ah, I wouldn't consider it spamming mentioning such things in this topic. I also think nobody would hold you liable if something goes wrong. but it's your (respected) decision anyway.
btw, this could have been a review that one could search for which you mentioned above, don't you think?

You got me there , and if this was a more informal forum like cdfreaks i would have done it (and i already have done it a couple of times there). But IMO HA has a higher standard then other forums, and im just trying to adjust to this level

So to stay a little on topic i would look at cdfreaks for a couple of good online shops.

(PS I agree with you it isn't spamming, but some mods on HA are pretty strict )

J.Silva, stop by CDFreaks.com's Plextor subforum and ask Mordor where he gets his media from. He is from Portugal and uses quality media, and thus better equipped to answer your question.

TOS14 does a pretty good job of explaining our view on spamming.

I am guessing that the store in question is:

http://www.cdrwinkel.com/

Which I also have good experiences with.