What does the minus mean in dvd-rw?

[oreo321123]

I search a little, and I am still not sure what the plus and minus mean on the dvd burners and discs.

[offline]

Do you remember VHS vs Betamax? They were two competing video formats in the 80ies, both offering video tape recording and playing.
In the end VHS won out.

+ and - are examples where
history is repeating itself. +R is one format, -R is another. Supporters
on either side can get quite passionate just like they used to over
VHS/Beta.

Try this link https://www.videohelp.com/dvd

[dwight55]

Offline is perfectly correct about the format war going on, Oreo, . . . but the purists will get you over the "minus" lingo. The formats are "Plus" and "Dash".
Having said that, . . . I'll get out because if I stay any longer I'll say something like make sure you stay with the Dash format because it is the best, . . . and then I'll start a format war discussion and we don't need that.
May God bless,
Dwight

[jimmalenko]

I believe that the whole "plus" and "minus" argument was started by Phillips, who chose to pursue their own format (plus). In the beginning, middle and now, there is no such thing as minus. It is a dash !

A marketing genius down there decided to call their format "plus", and market it as being a better format than the "inferior minus" because plus is better than minus.

[holistic]

Blah Blah ..... blah
http://www.plextor.com/english/support/faqs/G00015.htm

[BobK]

> Do you remember VHS vs Betamax?

The big difference is that if you had a Betamax player when VHS won you were screwed. It became impossible to find a Beta player so all your old Beta video tapes had to be copied to VHS or you just couldn't play them.

With +r\-R that's not likely to happen. Most players today will play both formats. And even if one should 'win out' over the other it's much easier (and faster) to copy all your -R to +R disks (or vice versa) if it becomes necessary.

[jimmalenko]

OK. We've answered the question...now let the flaming begin

Dash is better

[dphirschler]

I have problems with both formats. BTW, my friends and I use 'plus' and 'minus' terminolgy. But really we don't care which wins. At this point, I need both because some players can play some, and other players can play some. But no single format so far has played on every player.


Darryl

[DeleriumMDK]

The above poster hit it on the head. I live in a household with 4 different DVD players and I'm the resident back-up creator. If someone has a movie they want a backup of, I select the media based on their player and... We have 1 player that will play everything (DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW), 1 that will only play DVD-R or DVD+R, another only reads DVD+R, and one other will only read DVD-R. For me, its necesary to use both and although I do buy more DVD-R's, I do have a need for both formats.

I don't know how many other folks are in a similar environment such as myself, but I do believe I'm not the only one. There is a market for both formats and it seems like they can indeed co-exist. This pissing contest about speed matters only to the hardest of the hardcore, and to the companies themselves. I haven't moved on from 4X just yet, but I do know this, I'm extremely glad I picked up this NEC drive and don't have to decide between +R or -R. For me, its whatever the DVD player in question requires.

[makntraks]

I search a little, and I am still not sure what the plus and minus mean on the dvd burners and discs.

Just means you get less for your money....

makntraks

[makntraks]

OK. We've answered the question...now let the flaming begin

Dash is better

I think someone should start a poll!!! Or better yet with all the great info contained in this topic make this a sticky!

makntraks

[Ziffelpig]

According to memorex it is DVD "dash" RW
DVD+RW is simply DVDRW

[indolikaa]

It's DVD 'dash' R. Open up your character map in Windows, select the Arial font and please examine the 14th keycode in the first row. That is a 'dash' sign, and is indicated as such by the 'Keystroke' reference in the lower right corner.

Now if they would have wanted to call it the 'Minus' format, they would have used the 23rd keycode across the 4th row. That is a 'Minus' sign and is indicated as such by the 'Keystroke: Alt+0150' reference in the lower right corner.

The 24th keycode across the 4th row has nothing to do with the argument, so don't even bring it up. That's an 'extended dash' and is used in certain grammatical situations when hyphenated words are present.

Class is now dismissed.

[makntraks]

It's DVD 'dash' R. Open up your character map in Windows, select the Arial font and please examine the 14th keycode in the first row. That is a 'dash' sign, and is indicated as such by the 'Keystroke' reference in the lower right corner.

Now if they would have wanted to call it the 'Minus' format, they would have used the 23rd keycode across the 4th row. That is a 'Minus' sign and is indicated as such by the 'Keystroke: Alt+0150' reference in the lower right corner.

The 24th keycode across the 4th row has nothing to do with the argument, so don't even bring it up. That's an 'extended dash' and is used in certain grammatical situations when hyphenated words are present.


Class is now dismissed.

You probably blew away most of the topic followers with your most eloquent explanation. I on the other hand am refreshingly impressed... now they'll start asking how to use the character map...

makntraks

p.s Can you explain how this correlates to the following formats:
ascii and ROT-13 as well????

I Keed, I keed....

[dphirschler]

Actually, Character Map calls it a "Hyphen-Minus". hehehe


Darryl

[dphirschler]

Furthermore, it is the 13th character. The 14th character is a period, which is called "Full Stop".
Darryl

[Headbanger's Ball]

I can't wait for DVD~R comes out and screws with everyone.

[xcool]

Furthermore, it is the 13th character. The 14th character is a period, which is called "Full Stop".
Darryl

Looks like indolikaa preached to the preachers again. Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle.

[indolikaa]

You probably blew away most of the topic followers with your most eloquent explanation. I on the other hand am refreshingly impressed... now they'll start asking how to use the character map...

What? There's people out there who don't know how to use the character map? That's impossible! Nobody's that ignorant...

Looks like indolikaa preached to the preachers again. Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle.

...I stand corrected.

p.s Can you explain how this correlates to the following formats: ascii and ROT-13 as well????

If I wasn't stoned from the sinus medication I took this morning, I probably could.

* I'd have enough problems trying to count to 13 right now and using just the letters in the alphabet at the same time,
* But then I'd have to remember the ASCII code for those stupid symbols and move them up 13 places on the table,
* And then I'd throw the whole thing in the shitter, since ROT-13 is a self-inverse cypher and those things were a big-time no-no when I worked for Uncle Sam.

You might get a more coherent answer from me on KOI-8, though...

Furthermore, it is the 13th character. The 14th character is a period, which is called "Full Stop.

I'm in no position to argue. Try counting across a tiny table on a 1280x1024 monitor with a nasty case of vertigo. :P

Actually, Character Map calls it a "Hyphen-Minus". hehehe

Can you imagine the cocktail party scene for that one?

Capmaster: "I only use DVD Hyphen-Minus R/W for my midget clown porn downloads."
indolikaa: "I have a cat."