DVD+-R/RW Were is the market going?

[Marco33]

With the release of the Sony writer (DVD+-R/RW)... are we going to see a co-habit of both media's or are we going to see a VHS over Beta max victory?

I'm looking to buy a writer (maybe HP or Verbatim) These are +RW writers. I would hate to move old movies and stuff over to +RW and have to transfer it over when that media loses to -RW. If that happens.

[ItsMe]

I don't think its really relavent which one will win. They both have roughly the same compatability with set top player and PC drives, regardless whether the manuals states if they support one or both formats or not.

It would be prudent to buy a burner that supports both formats though. That way you can always copy from one format to the other.

[thxkid]

strange I always thought -R was more popular also until I went out to buy a DVD Burner and found out that most stores sold +R's 2 to 1 over -R's Burners and some stores don't even carry -R Burners at all, I got a HP DVD200xi and have not had a problem with it and every software I have tried with it works perfect thats even Nero and Roxio, every +R mdeia I have bought has worked without a flaw also. Just hope the media will go down a little more in price $2 a disc compared to $1 for -R media.

[banjazzer]

Just hope the media will go down a little more in price $2 a disc compared to $1 for -R media.

You want to be grateful you don't live in "Rip-off" Britain, then.

Despite the much higher price for media at the moment, if I could place a bet I would definitely go for +R gaining market dominance, sooner rather than later. 8)

[energy80s]

I agree about "rip off Britain" where DVDR's seem to sell for over £5 a pop!

As for which of the -R or +R standards will win, I would say that probably neither will win as they don't play in one in four DVD players! I see the current formats as a stop gap to proper DVD recorders, which will offer at least 3 hours broadcast quality recording on a single disc and without the hassle that currently goes with DVD authoring. Also machines will be priced in the "under £200" catagory and will be "stacked high" in your local TV shop. In other words, once recordable DVD can rival VHS in the domestic marketplace, then it will start to take hold.

The best thing to do at present is to buy a good reliable DVD burner for your PC and burn away to your hearts content - knowing that when a standard is finally agreed, your material can easily be transferred to the new format without any serious hassle.

[banjazzer]

There seems to be a big push this Christmas in selling relatively cheap stand-alone DVD +R/RW recorders, so this may have an impact on the market.

However, this could depend on reactions when people realise they can't make a copy of their latest rental DVD.

[energy80s]

Although "relatively cheap" still means over 400 quid per machine and I don't exactly see Dixons stocked to the gills with them!

[banjazzer]

Do you know the price of a stand-alone recordable DVD recorder one year ago!!??

But I think you are right. Go round the stores right now, and many people seem to be thinking they must really buy their first DVD player - at least here in UK.

I was tempted to get the Philips recorder a while back, and then I reckoned I would like the DV-in, which upped the price another £100.
And then, an integral HD would be nice, so I think I'll wait a while longer.

Although it shows my advanced age, I actually bought a Betamax recorder thinking that superior technology would gain the largest market share. How wrong I was.