DVD Players & Media Compatability

[sixwest]

This is something that I can't understand:

I have a SONY RDR-GX7 multi-format DVD recorder that has worked fine since I got it two years ago. I also have a samsung DVD L75 (portable) player that I carry around. Some specs of the Samsung say that it plays -RW and others don't (I even found conflicting Samsung manuals!). Just by chance, I recorded on a Philips +RW disc and it was also able to play on my Samsung.

I was recently down to 3 +RW discs that I was rotating through my Sony and Samsung so I bought another stack of Philips +RW DVDs. Can somebody hopefully explain to me why these additional discs which are the same as my earlier ones DON'T WORK ON MY SAMSUNG?

Thanks!

[CBC]

could be that they were made at a different plant that the first batch. Unfortunately, most branded media is outsourced to different factories around the world, and consistent results (even using the exact same brand media) can sometimes differ.
Blank media being as cheap as it is these days, I never even bother with RW any more.

[mats.hogberg]

Possibly because they are manufactured by a different manufacturers? Philips is a brand - they mostly just put their name on the disc. See www.nomorecoasters.com for more info on the subject.
Could also be differences between batches.

/Mats