DVD-Rs less available in stores

[wulf109]

I suspect that retail stores feature +R because it's the dominate format for standalone DVD recorders which they sell. There's a lot more profit in a DVD standalone than a computer DVD recorder.

[ofbarea]

In Costa Rica blank DVD media is difficult to find. And when you find it, it’s expensive and for some reason most of the time you only get DVD-R and DVD+RW. So far my solution is to buy the media on-line.

That’s why I’ll be getting a LG GSA-4040B Super Multi DVD Writer (DVD+/-R, RW; DVD+RAM). This way I’ll be able to use whatever is available.

I have recently tested a home video burned in both DVD+/-R formats, in various DVD players owned by friends and family. Both disks played good in all the decks. Button line, since I do not see any functional or big technical difference, my winning format is the one that is available to me.

Long live to the multi format drive!

[Erwin]

"I suspect that retail stores feature +R because it's the dominate format for standalone DVD recorders which they sell. There's a lot more profit in a DVD standalone than a computer DVD recorder."

Where did you pull this suspicion from? I guess we would all love to believe that one format is dominating the other, but dreams can't last forever. The fact is, is that Panasonic owned more than half of sales for standalone DVD Recorders last year (and there are other DVD-R standalone recorders as well). We have Philips/Maganavox and Apex making DVD+R. Then, we have Pioneer, Panasonic, Toshiba, and Samsung making DVD-R Standalone Recorders. Sony makes a DVD-R/+R Recorder. So, basically, what you are saying, is that Philips dominated all 4 of those standalone recorders (because Apex just came out last month, so it wouldn't make a significant change)?

[Xtasy2002]

DVD-R is winning...

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Articles/Specific.asp?ArticleHeadline=DVD%20Media%20Fo...Tests&Series=0

My own testing revealed the same results. DVD-R is by far more compatible with DVD playback systems than +R. I have yet to find a single DVD playback unit that refuses to play discs from my A04. I could care less about anything else. As long as the video works when my friends get ahold of it, that's what counts.

[AarontheRipper]

I think that it's just one big conspiracy. I think that the retail stores are secretly under control of the +R Czars, and that they have "special" deals with the +R group that prevent them from selling -R drives, or a decent supply of -R media. It's certainly can't be due just to supply and demand. I've looked everywhere, and no one carries any of the pioneer drives, but everyone carries the Sony, HP, and TDK drives. However, it appears that lots of people, especially on this website have Pioneer drives. There is definately a conspiracy going on here because it doesn't make business sense.