Can't burn dual layer DVD's

I realize this is a user based support forum... However you have to believe that Apple has people trolling around in here pretending to be users, posting solutions. And even if they don't have that, they have people who keep an eye on the revolting masses, to see what problems become big enough to warrant an official response.

Also, I did submit via the feedback form. However as you probably know that is not a personalized response medium, and it probably goes to a "Never Read These" bin in some poor schmoe's email.

Anyone else have stories or experience with this?

I went back home and tweaked my settings (system preferences->Energy Settings) to never on the hard drive sleep. Tried the same memorex brand. It worked. I am thinking the night I left it to write DVD, HDD went to sleep and messed it up. But the software is not smart enough to let us know or warn.

I see many shabby things with iMac (iMovie quitting without reason, slowing down (at least perceived) after keeping it up for 24 hours etc).

It looks and does better than a PC but it is still not "the wow" thing.

To top that my other apple product iPod shuffle died without a reason. Guess Apple like any other brand is prone to its own errors.

+I went back home and tweaked my settings (system preferences->Energy Settings) to never on the hard drive sleep. Tried the same memorex brand. It worked. I am thinking the night I left it to write DVD, HDD went to sleep and messed it up. But the software is not smart enough to let us know or warn.+

Well, when you think about it, it makes sense: how can the hard drive do the single most intensive work (burning), when it is asleep...

+I see many shabby things with iMac (iMovie quitting without reason, slowing down (at least perceived) after keeping it up for 24 hours etc).+

What do you mean by "keeping it up for 24 hours etc"?

Do you ever repair permissions?

Do you occasionally run Onyx to empty various caches and other maintenance tasks?

My iMac is just 2 weeks old.

What do you mean by "keeping it up for 24 hours etc"?
- I keep the system on for 24 hours, sort of, I use power button to let the mac go to sleep and then push the power button on to wake it up (that way I do not have to mess with HDD sleep setting). This is when I observed delays in using applications like iMvie and iDVD. I also use RDC to connect to work. The RDC performance is a total nightmare even when I do a fresh boot up. I already did all the settings to remove all the display options to speed up interaction.

Do you ever repair permissions? - No

Do you occasionally run Onyx to empty various caches and other maintenance tasks? - No, I should probably try clearing cache and check it out.

Thank you Barbara for your answers/help.

Well, I prefer setting up the Energy Saver and Screen Saver options once, that way I don't need to "invoke" sleep manually, but of course, that's your choice. If you do not generally shut down your Mac, you should occasionally - most knowledgeable users have suggested once a month or more. I can't comment on that one because I'm one of the stubborn "shut down every night" people.

I also can't comment on the RDC - I believe that is a Windows application? (I don't do Windows).

I do use iMovie and iDVD and haven't experienced a problem with either - so your problem is only when you wake it up? Just a guess for now: if either application is doing something such as rendering, you should not let the computer sleep until it's done.

It's a good idea to repair permissions (Applications -> Utilities -> Disk Utility) before and after using Software Update and/or any other installs. It's amazing what can get messed up during the install process.

If you want to try Onyx (free), I just usually run the default set under Automation.

It is really a sign of a bad operating system to ask users to run verify permissions like Apple does. I have been using Unix for 20 years and never had to do that. It shows that Apple has terribly strayed away from the underlying free public BSD. Setting up energy saving and all the other "tricks" is just a further sign of loose approach to operating systems.

The original post was about the burning disabilities of iMac. None of the "solutions" offered is an answer. The answer is: Buy an external burner or switch to Windows 7.

+None of the "solutions" offered is an answer. The answer is: Buy an external burner or switch to Windows 7.+

I did offer the suggestion to use an external burner earlier in this thread.

Here is a few money saving tips:
Tried Memorex Dual layer DVD +R get not enough memory on disk
Tried Sony Dual layer DVD +R get not enough memory on disk
Tried TDK Dual Layer DVD +R get not enough memory on disk.
BTW, +R will work in more dvd players, you are limited with -R's.
Suggestion: all my research leads to Verbatim Double Layer 2.4sp DVD +R , its also what Apple suggests will work with Superdrives in Mac Book Pro OSX 10.5.8 I will post when order arrives and have tried it. Trying to d/l movies at 6 + gigs. I pray it allows me to copy. Oh btw, try using Toast 10 titanium as all my research states this works well with macs and dual layering.

Hope this helps in your quest! Klassylady