Tech Flashback: TDK 3.95GB DVD-R (DVD-R395S) Ver.1.0

For most of us, we think of recordable DVDs as an early-2000s thing – inexpensive, multi-speed (4x or above) and a familiar 4.7GB capacity. For those in the professional space, they may have been working with DVD-R for Authoring, an older recordable format using a slightly different laser wavelength that recorded at just 1x, but still had the familiar 4.7GB capacity. But all of these are technically DVD-R Version 2.0 or later media. While touring in Singapore, I was browsing one of my local “extinct media” shops (Stutch Data) and came across an absolute gem. While their listing wasn’t quite technically correct – I knew what these were and I had to grab them. All of them. Say hello to DVD-R Version 1.0 where the capacity is 3.95GB, the wavelength is 635nm and the speed is 1x. Unboxing Rarely do we encounter “new-old-stock” in such good shape. These discs were packed five to a box, which are all thin corrugated cardboard stock with black printing. The model of the disc is DVD-R395S.…