DVDs and the Mini Mac

We recently purchased blank DVD-R disks from Staples. When we insert them into the Mini Mac drive, they just sit there for about 30 seconds and then pop back out. No message appears on the monitor.
When they are put into the eMac, a message screen appears that enables us to record. No problems.
Any ideas?

The slot-loading superdrive in the Mini has had a reputation for being "fussy" about what media it likes. I would try a different brand of media for starters. (And for data-backup, DVD+R is considered to be a bit more reliable than DVD-R, though for movies, that won't make much difference.)
You don't say how old your Mini is -- or whether it has successfully used different brands of media.
If the Mini has some miles on it, and brands that formerly worked no longer work, then you might need to use a DVD lens cleaning disc.
Another option to consider if you do a lot of DVD burning is to get an external , tray-loading, firewire dvd burner. They will generally be more tolerant of different media brands and sizes, and will generally burn faster. Some examples here:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/optical-drives/
Another thing to check is the settings in Apple Menu > System Preferences > CDs & DVDs, "When you insert a blank DVD". Probably should be set to "Ask what to do"

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