DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RAM

[smithnya]

Hey people can anyone tell me the difference between DVD-, DVD+, and DVD-RAM without getting too technical?

[MachineMan]

Check it!!
https://www.videohelp.com/dvd

[Canoe164]

I have one bit of wisdom. Check what standalone you use and go from there.

[bek]

DVD-RAM is somewhat Panasonic proprietary. DVD+ and DVD- are virtually the same--they're just competing formats. Go with a multiformat DVD burner and you're safe. I try to avoid DVD-RAM, although my DVD recorder uses it (unfortunately) and my DVD burner can't read DVD-RAM (although Plextor and someone else now makes DVD burners that can).

Hope this jumbled explanation helps a bit.

-Brian

[MysticE]

To further muddle things, -R is really all you need. You'll get the most compatability with standalone players. MS doesn't seem to like it, I'm sure that has to do with X Box copying. -RAM is nice for general computer/data stuff, more versatile than DVD-/+RW's.

[bek]

I agree with going -R for everything, but you lost me with DVD-RAM being "more versatile." How so?

I'd go DVD-RW or DVD+RW for sure, as those are common, accepted formats. DVD-RAM is improving, thanks to the new multiformat DVD burners using it, but still not as common as +/-RW.

[energy80s]

DVD-RAM is the best of the three formats, it's also the most incompatible and most expensive. Whereas the two main formats (plus and minus R) use similar technology to CDR, DVD-RAM is much closer to minidisc. This means that RAM has basic editing facilities built-in (for topping and tailing, etc) and you can recover and reuse any spare disc space from, say commercial breaks. Also it allows for Timeslip, where you can start watching a recording before it has finished! For most write once applications, Minus-R is the way to go.