So, after beginning to torrent, it was just a matter of time before I finally caved and bought a DVD burner. Got the thing, found out that my ancient (by today's standards) computer couldn't give it what it needed, bought the wherewithal to upgrade (to USB 2.0), struggled to install the PCI card (which was the wrong size, although three different sources told me it was what I needed; eventually, I managed to jam it in and used duct tape to block the gaping hole left in the back of my computer because the damn thing was too small), screwed up my first burn with a dumb instruction, and now have successfully burned to DVDs that actually play in the DVD recorder/player hooked up to my TV. I'm feeling quite chuffed.
I am, however, startled at how long it takes. Once I set the machine a-chugging, it takes six to eight hours to produce a hundred-minute DVD. I don't really care all that much--downloading torrents takes forever, too, and I've decided to think of both processes the same way I think of traveling by ship (i.e., the typical ocean liner doesn't cover too many miles an hour, but since it's on the move twenty-four hours a day, the distance does get covered more quickly than one might think)--but I am curious to know whether it's normal for this process to take so much time.
Anyone? Bruce?
