I want to get a few of the "A&E Biography" documentaries. I see that many of them are for sale at the A&E website, but I heard that they aren't DVD's, but rather DVD-R's. Is this true? Can anyone who owns some speak as to the quality?

They're DVD Rs, with no menu screen, etc. The quality is fine, and the content can't be gotten elsewhere, so by all means get them if you want them.

^ That's not exactly true. Some of them are DVD-Rs, while some are professionally produced DVDs with disc and cover art. I have a few, including the Bob Dylan and Oscar Wilde titles, which are store-ready DVDs.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0009HMTIK/

Fair enough. I have about 8 of them, and they are all DVD-Rs. I guess some episodes were released and distributed.

My advice, before you purchase from the A&E website check out the A&E ebay store. If you have a couple of weeks, keep checking it because they are always adding new BIN or Auctions. You can pick up the items cheaply that way and with FREE media mail shipping.

http://stores.ebay.com/A-E

Is there any way to tell which ones are real "pressed" DVD's with menus and disc art and which are DVD-R's? I'm don't feel like paying full retail for something I can record myself.

If you are wanting Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, Peter Lorre or Vincent Price they are available in a 2 disc set from Image titled Heroes Of Horror. Real pressed dvds.