Although I want to keep the focus of tech*anovitas on video hardware, there's an interesting guide concerning removable media here:

http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm

DigitalFAQ is a great site anyway, so by all means check it out.

It seems many people don't realize that, as with LCD panels, a relatively small number of companies actually manufacture the product. As is the way of the world, large companies outsource to the likes of MXL (Hitachi/Maxell), MCC (Mitsubishi Chemicals), and PVC (Pioneer).

Take a look at the section on fake media too.