DARN!!! I just bought a DVD+RW drive, but is DVD-RW better?

[Dogfarm]

DARN!!! I just bought a 4x DVD+RW drive, but it seems like DVD-RW is better? Is this true? I mean heck!!!...DVD-R blank discs are the cheapest and DVD-RW drive created discs are the most compatible as well with DVD players. Did I truly get the worse format in DVD+RW? Are there any benefits or advantages to +RW technology???


P.S.
Where is a link to thee cheapest place to get blank DVD+R discs?

[sjc160]

I have a DVD+RW Drive and the recorded discs play in both of my DVD set top players and my brothers. They are all from different manufacturers. Mine-Panasonic and Pioneer and my brothers-Fisher. The Panasonic Clearly states in its manual that it does NOT support the DVD+format but it plays them without a hitch-both DVD+R and DVD+RW!

I think you will be happy with your choice. Media prices are now comming down as well. From my experience, the plus format finalizes much faster-about a minute.

[LanEvo7]

Same thing, except dvd-r discs are less expensive.

[Bulten]

Maybe I'm amazed of the way you discuss this all the time...
Maybe I'm afraid of the way you do it.

[Bob W]

It really doesn't make any difference as long as the discs you burn play for you. The only real downside is perhaps the media will cost you a bit more.

[Hardcoreruss]

You won't have any probs, will work on nearly all players just the media is a little more pricey.

[mpb]

DARN!!! I just bought a 4x DVD+RW drive, but it seems like DVD-RW is better? Is this true? I mean heck!!!...DVD-R blank discs are the cheapest and DVD-RW drive created discs are the most compatible as well with DVD players. Did I truly get the worse format in DVD+RW? Are there any benefits or advantages to +RW technology???

P.S.
Where is a link to thee cheapest place to get blank DVD+R discs?

It depends who you ask as far as which format is better. It's true that the +R media costs a bit more... so that might be a factor. +R (not RW) is compatible with a lot of DVD players these days. So if it works for your player(s), then you're more or less in the clear. -R and +R are very similiar in most respects, so it's not like you're getting reamed on Betamax or anything.

I'd recommend sticking with it if you're happy with it, and then by the time you opt to get 6x or 8x DVD burner, just get the dual standard (+/-) either the Sony or Lite-On or whoever else is making them at that point.

If you opt to take your burner back, I recommend the Pioneer DVR-105 (A05 retail, also several OEM versions are out there)... I own it and it is a fantastic drive. One roommate has a 104, it's good too but only 2x. Another roommate has the new Plextor +RW, says it's the best + drive that he has tried. All the discs we make play in all our players, so I guess it's just a matter of personal preference. In your case, it's the same thing. Stick with whatever you are happiest with.

They also have cheap +R cakeboxes at PC Club, if you have any in your area. They are mostly CA/AZ/NV locations... and they should be Riteks which means decent quality.

Good luck with your burner!!

[Kedas]

Is DVD+R not also more expensive because you can burn at a higher speed.
if it isn't mentioned on the box then DVD+R support 2.4x but what is the max. speed of DVD-R 1x 2x ??

OK, soon DVD+R 4X and DVD-R 4x will be standard then we can make a real comparison (with the same brand).

info on the format can be found here: http://www.dvdplusrw.org/index.html

[ptmurphy]

If you take it back, I would recommend a Sony drive is compatible with both formats. As I have said before, not so you can burn both formats, but because you can by the type of media that is on sale and the best price.

Also, if you happen to have a friend that has a player that is only compatible with one format or the other, you can make them a working copy of a home movie or whatever.

[Alnath]

I have a DVD+RW drive and i am happy with it, the discs work in everything i have tried them in and they are only 2 or 3 pence per disc dearer when buying quality discs. I dare say if i had bought a DVD-RW drive i would have been just as delighted with it. The format wars do seem a little tiresome and threadbare now, thanks to the introduction +/- drives it ensures both formats will survive as there will always be a market for both types of media.

[bkimmle]

I have tried my DVD+R/RW's on many DVD players and have never had any problems. If you have a SAM's club in your area they sell 30 packs of Verbatim DVD+R for 44.99. 1.49 a piece doesn't sound bad to me.

[Gazorgan]

The only question you need to ask is Do they play on your standalone player?

When comparing disk prices, remember that the slowest DVD+R records at 2.4x when compared to a 1x DVD-R. Don't compare $1.29 at walmart for a 2.4x DVD+R to a $0.69 1x princo DVD-R 8)

[mpb]

Is DVD+R not also more expensive because you can burn at a higher speed.
if it isn't mentioned on the box then DVD+R support 2.4x but what is the max. speed of DVD-R 1x 2x ??

OK, soon DVD+R 4X and DVD-R 4x will be standard then we can make a real comparison (with the same brand).

info on the format can be found here: http://www.dvdplusrw.org/index.html

Ah.... that's not exactly an unbiased site reference.

For the record, DVD-R/RW had 4x before + did. The Pioneer DVR-105 to be specific. There are already dual-standard 4x burners (Sony and Lite-On) with which we can make perfectly valid comparisons now.

The results so far: the only useful difference is the price of media. 4x -R media can be had for well under $2 (www.esbuy.com and others) while 4x +R media is gonna cost ya. Meanwhile 1x/2x -R is well under a dollar in bulk now. (PC Club, esbuy, princo, others) There is, as yet, nothing even close to that for +R.

However if someone is happy with their drive then there's no reason to switch...