Which is best, DVD+R or DVD-R ??

[kbluejayk]

Having recently acquired a new PC with a 40x DVD RW Drive, I am somewhat confused by the recordable DVD formats available....
Does it really matter if I buy DVD+ or DVD- or is one better than the other? I have talked to different PC Sales people and all seem to have their own opinions!
Can the Techies in this forum offer any advice?

 

[iwantitfree]

If you got the DVD writer to burn computer data then it doesn't matter if you use + or - DVD media. If you're going to burn movies to play on your standalone DVD player, then use a DVD mdeia that will work on your player. DVD-R media can usually play on most DVD player.

 

[Galahad]

DVD-R is more common. The DVD-R disc needs to be formatted before they can be burned. DVD+R formats the disc on the fly and will take less time to burn a disc. DVD-R blank disc are usually cheaper to buy. Most DVD writers now comes with both DVD-R & DVD+R. Usually, these writers are identified as dual format drives -- not to be confused with dual layer drives.

 

[GIMME]

DVD+ Came out with Sony trying to a "special" format out there. Generally, the - is more widely used, and you get more - readers. Its good you have a + also, but my recommendation is to buy the - DVD.

Does anyone know of a place where I can get double density DVD's? Looking for the 9 GB ones.

 

[iwantitfree]

Does anyone know of a place where I can get double density DVD's? Looking for the 9 GB ones.

Try Futureshop. On sale this week 3 pack of Memorex for $20

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10056773&langid=EN

 

[SophiasPleasures]

Quoted from:
http://www.build-your-own-computer-tips.com/dvd-drive-differences.html

'The DVD-R DVD+R difference can easily be summarized by the following:

• The DVD-R/RW standard was developed by Pioneer, and is used primarily by Apple and Pioneer. These “minus“ discs can only be written to in one layer on the discs surface. In addition, this format is supported by the DVD forum, but is in no way an industry standard. DVD-R/RW discs are cheaper than the “plus” format.

• The DVD+R/RW format is supported by Philips, Dell, Sony, HP, and Microsoft. These discs can be written to in multiple layers, giving them slightly better and more disc storage than the “minus“ format. Because of this additional capacity, they are slightly more expensive than “minus“ discs.

A couple final things to clear up is the difference between DVD-ROM and DVD+RW, or the other DVD formats I mentioned above. The DVD-ROM drive can only read DVDs, while the other DVD drives can read and write data to DVDs.'


As for myself I always use DVD-R

Sophia
xxxxxxxxx

 

[to-guy69]

The rule of thumb for now is this:
-Use DVD+ if you are burning a DVD for yourself only
-Use DVD- if your burning a DVD for someone else

 

[GIMME]

Try Futureshop. On sale this week 3 pack of Memorex for $20

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10056773&langid=EN

Cool, thanks!

 

[kbluejayk]

Many thanks everyone! I knew I could rely on my fellow Terbites to turn me into an expert on DVDs! Much appreciate the input of one and all. Mebbe all Best Buy and Future Shop Sales Associates should be forced to join TERB for a month.......they might, ahem, learn a thing or two!.....

 

[shakenbake]

DVD+ Came out with Sony trying to a "special" format out there. Generally, the - is more widely used, and you get more - readers. Its good you have a + also, but my recommendation is to buy the - DVD.

Does anyone know of a place where I can get double density DVD's? Looking for the 9 GB ones.

It wasn't just Sony, if I recall. HP was really into the + format. I find - to be much more comatible with most my DVD readers, despite what many 'experts' say, especially with my DVD-ROM on my computer.

Prices are coming down. I saw an ad for a Memorex three-pak DVD+R DL for just under $20, about a week and a half ago. I also saw some at a small place, close to Natural Healing, incidentally, in Mississauga, where I buy some of my media. A rub, a tug and later some media for my downloaded smut. What more can I ask for?

If you are backing up your dual layer video DVDs, then don't bother, as the cost is way too high at this time.

Happy burning!

 

[shakenbake]

DVD-R is more common. The DVD-R disc needs to be formatted before they can be burned. DVD+R formats the disc on the fly and will take less time to burn a disc. DVD-R blank disc are usually cheaper to buy. Most DVD writers now comes with both DVD-R & DVD+R. Usually, these writers are identified as dual format drives -- not to be confused with dual layer drives.

Galahad;

Are you sure about the formating? My burner and software treat both formats the same way.

 

[The Bandit]

The rule of thumb for now is this:
-Use DVD+ if you are burning a DVD for yourself only
-Use DVD- if your burning a DVD for someone else

Why does this make any sense?????

 

[kbluejayk]

Too true Maximadude....I couldn't agree more!!

 

[canucklehead]

I have several Apple Computers and use both formats

 

[shakenbake]

I have several Apple Computers and use both formats

So does my Mac!

canucklehead, you are so right. It doesn't matter what computer. It matters what burner and software you use on that computer.

shakenbake

 

[xarir]

DVD standards are initially proposed by the various manufacturers, but are only made official by the DVD Forum. The Forum is a loose association of hardware & software manufacturers as well as content providers (the major movie studios). The purpose of the Forum is to define DVD standards, publish (technical) reference material, licence the DVD logo etc. The DVD Forum is based in Tokyo.

Having said all that, DVD+R is a format not officially recognized by the DVD Forum. This is why +R is not always compatible in all players, but -R is. Obviously the +R format is pretty popular on computers and most modern burners can handle both +R & -R. But, if you want to guarantee 100% compatibility, use -R.

http://www.dvdforum.org/forum.shtml

 

[mwong168]

Dvd

DVD-R is more common. The DVD-R disc needs to be formatted before they can be burned. DVD+R formats the disc on the fly and will take less time to burn a disc. DVD-R blank disc are usually cheaper to buy. Most DVD writers now comes with both DVD-R & DVD+R. Usually, these writers are identified as dual format drives -- not to be confused with dual layer drives.

Unless you are talking about DVD-RW's, there is no need to format a - or + DVD disc.

As for what kind of discs to use, if you are burning for other people and wanna give them something decent then I would say use Prodisc. I've burned thousands of these and had very little failure.

For my own master copies I always use better media such as Ri-tek or Tayo Yuden. Stay away from these cheap discs because some people I know used them and they worked today but 6 months from now they don't read or get all kinds of errors.

For those of you looking for the best place to buy DVDs from, don't go to Futureshop or Best Buy. Go and see my friend Hong at Computer Ultra. Most of the independent computer shops (eg. Canada Computers) all buy through him. He is also an authorized Ri-tek and MAM-A (aka Mitsui) dealer in Canada. Here is his web site http://www.computerultra.com.

 

[shakenbake]

Unless you are talking about DVD-RW's, there is no need to format a - or + DVD disc.

As for what kind of discs to use, if you are burning for other people and wanna give them something decent then I would say use Prodisc. I've burned thousands of these and had very little failure.

For my own master copies I always use better media such as Ri-tek or Tayo Yuden. Stay away from these cheap discs because some people I know used them and they worked today but 6 months from now they don't read or get all kinds of errors.

For those of you looking for the best place to buy DVDs from, don't go to Futureshop or Best Buy. Go and see my friend Hong at Computer Ultra. Most of the independent computer shops (eg. Canada Computers) all buy through him. He is also an authorized Ri-tek and MAM-A (aka Mitsui) dealer in Canada. Here is his web site http://www.computerultra.com.

I will also add that many of the big names have discs made by these companies. For example, TDK has had discs made by Tayo Yuden, Memorex by Ritek, Prodisc and even Princo (which I do not like) in the old days. In addition, Ritek also sells under the name of Rydata.

has any one had any luck with Starmedia DVDs? Or, is it just my LG burners that hate them? That brings up another point. Try a disc or two in your burner to make sure that brand is compatible with your hardware!

shakenbake burning!

 

[mwong168]

Dvd

I will also add that many of the big names have discs made by these companies. For example, TDK has had discs made by Tayo Yuden, Memorex by Ritek, Prodisc and even Princo (which I do not like) in the old days. In addition, Ritek also sells under the name of Rydata.

has any one had any luck with Starmedia DVDs? Or, is it just my LG burners that hate them? That brings up another point. Try a disc or two in your burner to make sure that brand is compatible with your hardware!

shakenbake burning!

Ri-tek is the parent company for Ri-Data. Ri-Data was targetted to sell in the retail market. Not sure about some of the companies you listed, but regardless if you can buy the real thing and for cheaper then why not. Starmedia? Never heard of it before, personally I don't like to use these generic or no name media cause once I find something I like and get consistent results from it I wanna be able to buy it again in the future. Haven't heard too many good things about LG drives, I've only ever used Pionner drives to burn DVDs and had nothing buy good things come out of it.

 

[kbluejayk]

Thanks for your additional input everyone!

My pc is a Sony VAIO with a DVD 40X Drive for burning + or - formats.
It would appear that my best option is to use DVD- cds My DVD/VHS combination Player is also a Sony so it should handle the '-' format....

This brings up another point, most blank DVDs are marked 4X or 8X.....
I assume this is the maximum speeds they burn at, even though the Drive could handle 40X... I also assume that the 4X speed will likely produce a more accurate 'burn'...Is this correct?