Microsoft makes a DVD burner format choice +++++

[shardison]

...and a lot of you won't like it.

Read on... from a doom9 link to ZDnet:

Microsoft has decided to support one of two competing formats for popular DVD recording technology, a decision that is intended to make the storage devices as easy to use as current CD burners and floppy drives.
At its annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference ( WinHEC), Microsoft plans to demonstrate software and to provide technical documentation for incorporating the DVD+RW format into its Windows operating system, according to a Microsoft Web site detailing the schedule for the conference.

"This presentation explains how support for DVD+RW in Windows has been designed to become the standard storage solution for the PC and consumer electronics environments," reads the description of a presentation planned for next week's show. Microsoft will be adding support for DVD+RW into a future version of Windows, code-named Longhorn, according to the site.

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-880122.html

[Sefy]

Yup, there goes the much better and more compatible DVD-R/RW format! is that a suprising thing ? nope, I highly doubt it.

[AntnyMD]

Apple (as well as major DVD settop makers) has chosen to support DVD-R/RW. Let the games begin.

[Sefy]

Yeah, the games will begin, but unless Microsoft loses the trial as the monopolist (and terrorist) of the free computer world, I highly doubt DVD-R/RW will have a chance.

Take for example USB, it was out in 95, but because Microsoft didn't include it in Windows, and only in 98/SE they finaly gave it good support, only then USB started to grow.

[Kusanagi]

This has already been covered here to some extent:

http://forum.vcdhelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=86556

I have to agree with the following though:

The "+" standard has seemed to be the better standard since much of this started to be more publicized about over a year ago. It is more for data storage at this point. As the first to release a drive for the "+" standard HP made statements that they shouldn't have. However, I have to agree with comments made in the article on eMedia Live. It is silly to expect complete forward compatibility on a format that hasn't even been finalized. Those who purchased a DVD+RW drive from HP or anyone else should have placed their bets on something that was already out if they wanted an "R" format.

Even though HP made the mistake of promising forward compatibility and angered more than a few consumers they are now about to release drives that do have compatibility with the +R format as well as the +RW format.

Microsoft may or may not have helped the "+" format to become the standard. If the "+" format does become the standard, those with "-" drives may be out of luck just as much as those who thought they were getting a drive last fall that would eventually support the +R format.

In all cases even though I am tired of waiting for a standard to emerge, I doubt that the format war is really that close to being over. Apple still has a very substantial amount of support with DVD-R from graphical artists as well as video editing professionals/amateurs.

[Mirror_Image]

unless Microsoft loses the trial as the monopolist (and terrorist) of the free computer world

Terrorist? Hmm, I always thought terrorists committed acts of extreme physical violence upon civilians, but I guess I was wrong. I must have missed the Microsoft-backed suicide bomb truck driving in the front of Oracle headquarters when I surfed away from the news for a minute...

[Sefy]

Yup, Terrorists, Computer-Age Terrorisim, I think that describes Microsoft exactly, when you don't do what they want, you get wiped out, and not because they are better, but because they got the power, they use tactics that are not allowed by law to do whatever they want, and they break the law cause the have the power to do so and they are strong enough to widthstand a LONG trial while no other competitor can do so.

[N0SoopForU]

From what I've read, it looks like DVD+RW is the better choice. Take a look at:

http://www.dvdplusrw.org/video/comparison.html

A quote from the above mentioned page:

Add to this the fact that the DVD-R and DVD-RW format also uses a different physical format that is less compatible with existing DVD-drives compared to DVD+R and DVD+RW respectively, and it will become clear that there is not a single advantage of choosing a DVD-R/-RW video recorder instead over a DVD+R/+RW video recorder if you want to make DVD-Video compatible discs.

[resnullius]

N0SoopForU did you happen to look at where you where getting the info from? dvd-r/w are more compatible because of higher reflectivness.
I'm not supprised M$ choose to support a propriatary format they're probably getting a cut...

[Kusanagi]

Yea, dvdplusrw.org is such a self-hype/bias site it's not even funny...


Kusanagi

[vitualis]

As above. dvdplusrw.org has some very dodgey consumer information and I urge anyone considering to buy a recordable DVD drive to do some more reading research.

DVD-R/RW has definitely better compatibility (in existing DVD drives) than DVD+RW. The compatibility of DVD+R has yet to be tested.

As for the other stuff you mentioned about "DVD video recorders", this is in reference to the very expensive set-top box type recorders. You can make/author "real" DVDs on the PC with both DVD-R/W and DVD+R/+RW. The difference is only in the media.

Furthermore, despite the hype, exisiting DVD+RW will most probably not be able to be firmware upgraded to record DVD+R: http://forum.vcdhelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=86751&highlight= If you are interested in DVD+RW, it may be worthwhile to wait (a short wait) for the DVD+R/+RW drives to come out.

Regards.

[TRILIGHT]

Make no mistake, I will tell you upfront that I am a Microsoft fan. I like many of their products and many of their products and technologies are the reason I have a job! That being said, I am not going to get on the DVD+RW bandwagon at all. I already have a Pioneer DVR-104 drive and it has worked flawlessly for me. The discs written on it play great on many of the standalone players I've tried. Seems to be a damn good compatible format to me! Should the day come that +RW is more compatible than what I have and they are making 4X burners (and I DON'T have the same choice in the DVD-RW format) then and ONLY then will I even consider a change.

[ember]

DVD wars are destroying the DVD recording market. No bugger knows what to buy. I heard new DVD players will play MS video files (WMV, ASF). Maybe MS have a deal with dvdplusorg? Maybe part of it is for the forum to add WMV functionality.

[attractor]

too bad microsoft has not looked at the comsumer electronics market in Japan.
There, at least for recording of of home video on standalone players, the "war" is over
with DVD-RW the obvious winner...see the number of players already available here:
http://home.att.ne.jp/sigma/vik/dvd.htm

[nemethmik]

Windows XP has built-in DVD-RAM support today.
If you plug a Panasonic LF-D311 DVD-R/RAM into your XP box,
XP will provide built in drivers for it.
This way a DVD-RAM disk can be used as a fast 4.7G floppy disk.
I'm quite sure eventually Microsoft will support all rewritable
DVD formats.

[jeex]

sefy,

usb support was included with win95b.. usb was released in 95, aswell as windows 95 (september).. you must consider how long windows was in development.. i'm not trying to defend microsoft, just presenting facts..

[Greyhair]

I think Sefy is right. Microsoft is as bad as Standard Oil ever was, or Andrew Carneige or any other monopoly. It's pathetic how they manage the market. It wouldn't be so bad (like AT&T during the 1930's to 1970's) if they knew what they were doing. Unfortunately. we are continually stuck with operating systems that suck, applications that are "me too", and spyware that rivals anything from 1984.

But then, that's just my opinion too.

[Sefy]

jeex, Windows95 OSR 2 (with the USB support) was released nearly at 96 compared to the regular Windows95 (which didn't even have FAT32), which was basicly another way for Microsoft to monchafa on the customers by making them pay twice for the same OS.

The USB support was so bad and untill 98 came out there were hardly any products because of that result, since most countries around the world did not have the 95B but the regular 95, and only when 98 came out USB caught flight, and Microsoft already declared a few months ago that they will support FireWire and not USB 2.0, but thankfuly the developers of the standarda re providing drivers for it.

And like Greyhair said, any Monopoly is bad, not just Microsoft, if AT&T didn't get the break, you wouldn't even have Internet today, not to mention all the cellular phone companies, cause it would have been too big to compete, and it would have dictated the market, which ment slow development.

The same goes for Microsoft, not a SINGLE product they made is theirs! you think i'm making it up ? check this page and see exactly who made their products: http://www.vcnet.com/bms/departments/catalog/yrcatalog.shtml

They either bought the company out, or tried buying them out, or stealing the already made technologies. and these are FACTS.

[Mirror_Image]

Yup, Terrorists

Looking at your profile, and living where you do, I'd have thought you'd known what terrorist violence is like, but I guess the suicide bombers haven't been to your part of Israel. You might pick up the Jerusalem Post once in a while and read about it, if you have a spare minute.

[Sefy]

I just love when people quote out of sentence Mirror_Image, it reminds me of CNN, i'll have you know i've BEEN in two bombings already, so unlike you, I don't read about bombings, I experience them.

Do you know what is the objective of terrorisim ? to ruin the free world, and that is what Microsoft is doing, but instead of the outside world, they are doing it in the digital world, ruining all business that try to compete with them by using bolly tactics and destroying everything that is free and good.

[Mirror_Image]

You're a lost cause, I give up.

[SatStorm]

Ehh.... Here my 2 EuroCents...

USB is a connection port, like paraller, serial, SCSI etc (I don't know how to express it correct in english, sorry).
A DVD Burner is a Hardware extension. It has a built in interface by it's on.

Let Microsoft include built in drivers for DVD+r(w)

I'll simply buy a DVD-R and I will install the drivers included with the package.
Is it easy like that.

From the other hand, when and If DVD+R(W) media become cheaper/better than DVD-R(w) media, then I 'll upgrade.
For me, there is only one issue to concern. The overall cost and the enough compatibillity. I'll always support the cheaper way.

[invisibler]

ok guys, I don't have anything better to do so I'll get into the mix that has little to do with this topic....Websters says terrorism is "a mode of government by terror or intimidation." ...I think that we can agree Microsoft has been known to intimidate its competitors...but I think that with all that's happening in the world these days, the word terrorism has taken on a loaded meaning...can't we all just get along? I mean we all like movies, right?

[RAAGAAman]

First, I am not a MS fan. The reason why they are supporting DVD+RW is because of MT. Rainier(Drag and Drop). MS wants to dump the floppy drive on all PCs and adding MRW will help them accomplish this. CD-RW MFgs have already introduced drives that support this and DVD+RW will support this.
My personel opinion is that MS should support -RW just like they support DVD-RAM. I guess the +RW alliance is sweetening the POT.

http://www.mt-rainier.org/
RG.

[Sefy]

invisibler, thank you!
Mirror_Image, you only give up cause you know i'm right.

As for DVD-RW and DVD+RW, I have a feeling by the time any of those win a standard, the FMD drives will become affordable