This probably isn't surprising to most but I'm disappointed with it. in 2003 Maxell was among the highest-rated (and most expensive) DVD-R brands. The media tested good in 2003 and after 3 years of normal shelf storage it is bad, 8 out of 9 players can't read it at all, not a video single frame. The rest of my collection still seems OK, there is something special about this disc. Under magnification you can see a pattern of tiny dark spots all over it (seems to be at the dye layer level, not on the surface). More details and photos here:
http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/DVD/M ... spots.html