Hi guys. I'm considering purchasing the Amber and have been watching the forum
for some time. The problem is that I'm coming up with more questions than answers.
 I'm running '98 on a Pent II 400 SuperMicro MB with built in SCSI, a Diamond 
Viper 500, 256 RAM, 3 COM network card, a really cheap ISA Viper 16 sound card,
 and Rex M1. I'm mixing IDE and SCSI hard drives, CD ROMs, and CD writers with 
no problems what so ever. In fact, everything is working so good, it's spooky. I 
REALLY WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY!!!

1. Is the Amber even compatable with my system?
2. Will the Amber write a format that can be played on home DVD players? All players,
 or just certain ones? Will I need special authoring software, or hardware?
3. As the package comes, will it write on the Panasonic unit in a format that can be
 read on any computer with a DVD reader installed?
4. Are all of the blank DVD disks re-writable?
5. Where does one buy the media? I've never seen any advertized.
6. If I have a hour plus wedding edited in Media Studio Pro, can I do a preview and
 have Amber decode it in real time? Either MPEG-1 or MPEG-2?
7. If the answer to #6 is, "Yes", then can I take the MPEG-1 format and with EZ CD
 Creator Delux and a CD Writer, turn around and burn a CD in Video CD format?
8. DV Direct still has a $300 rebate from Canopus on their website. They said it was,
 "In my cach", but after refreshing, it's still there. Is this a new one?

If the questions sound stupid, I'm sorry, but I really do need the answers.

Thanks, Andy Smith

1. Yes
2. These are three questions. This is not fear. :-)
Well...
2/a. Yes
2/b. All players
2/c. Both, software and hardware. a DVD-R burning device, such as Pioneer, for 
$5,000, and an athoring software from $1,000 to $30,000.
3. This depends on the DVD-ROM drive feature, so it is compatible with DVD-RAM
 discs or not. Panasonic DVD readers are compatible.
4. In case of do You mean to DVD-RAM disc = YES!
5. Single sided, 2.6 Byte, Type 1. is around $20-30. Double sided, 5.2 Gbyte,
 Type 1. is around $35-$50. Single sided, 2.6 Gbyte, Type 2 is around $25-$35.
 Type 2 is removable from the cartridge so You can isnert the disc into normal
 DVD-ROM device, Type 2 is not removable.
6/a. Yes, but to be more precise tell me more about your idea.
6/b. Yes.
7. If do You mean to 6/b, then yes.
8. ???