dvd-rw and dvd+rw?

[taurusthebull]

can someone please tell the difference between dvd-rw and dvd+rw? i see that some dvd burners will write to +rw`s and others to -rw`s. will i have to buy +rw blanks or -rw blanks or is there no difference in the media?

[The Jester]

I really don't know all the technical BS on these 2 types, but I from what I gather, -R/-RW seems to be more compatible for set top players but +R/+RW writes faster less compatible. The media type depends on your writer if you have (-) then you need a -R/-RW writer and (+) for +R/+RW writer. I have a Memorex +R/+RW. Hope this helped

[taurusthebull]

thanks for the info!

[EnemyWithin]

-R media is relatively cheap now in the US, with the prices falling fairly quickly (under $1 a disc). +R media was just released and (last I checked) still $3 a disc. So for media costs, -R/RW is the way to go at the moment.

Besides the media, the +R/RW format is more feature rich. Go here for more information.

If the higher media costs don't bother you, then I would go for +R/RW. The +R media should be compatible with many standalone DVD players.

BTW, I have a Pioneer A04 DVD-R.

[Xesdeeni]

There is a lot of mis-information about these competing formats:

1. DVD-R/RW discs are more compatible than DVD+R/RW discs: FALSE

DVD-R and DVD+R discs are made of exactly the same materials (so they have the same reflectivity), and contain exactly the same data (which is necessary for DVD players to read them). DVD*R discs are compatible with approximately 90% of all DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives. DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs are also made of exactly the same materials. But DVD*RW discs only appear to be compatible with about 35% of all DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives.

[* = + or -]

The confusion comes from the fact that DVD+R discs are a recent (April) addition. Prior to that only DVD+RW discs were available. So comparisons before were between DVD+RW and DVD-R.

2. DVD-R/RW discs cannot contain variable bit rate (VBR) content: FALSE

One feature of the DVD+R/RW format is something called "lossless linking." This allows the writer to stop writing data in the middle of the disc, and later pick up almost exactly where it left off. This is only useful when recording real time video, such as when using a set-top DVD recorder like a VHS recorder.

In this case, DVD+R/RW recorders can stop and restart the burning process when the data rate falls and there is insufficient data for the burning to continue. DVD-R/RW recorders cannot, so they must keep a constant bit rate (CBR).

However, none of this holds true for off-line video, such as we almost exclusively discuss here on VCDHelp.com. DVD-R/RW discs can most certainly contain VBR data when authored as the many fine guides accessed from the menu at the left outline.

3. DVD+RW discs can be made more compatible with a special utility.: FALSE

Well, this might be semantics here, but using the utility in question to make a disc playable in one video player, will cause other players to stop reading it.

The Long Story

DVD*RW discs have less reflectivity than the DVD*R discs and single-layer pressed DVDs. They have about the same reflectivity as the second layer of a dual-layer DVD. (http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html#4.3) For this reason, the DVD+R/RW camp contended that DVD+RW discs were all that would be needed. Eventually they realized they were wrong, so they hurriedly brought out DVD+R discs.

The problem isn't that the DVD video players [b]can't[b] read the DVD+RW discs. The problem is that they won't read them.

DVD*RW discs came out well after most DVD video players. So the players were programmed with the existing DVD formats in mind. Although there is a code on the disc themselves identifying these new formats, the players don't recognize them. So they have to improvise. But they all do things a bit differently, depending on who programmed them. In the majority of cases, something about the DVD*RW discs trips them up. Often its the fact that the player expects a single layer DVD to have the correct reflectivity, but when it doesn't, the player can't read the DVD*RW.

For some of these players, lying to them with the utility mentioned above, causes them to read the disc. But this same lie will cause other DVD video players, programmed with different logic, to fail.

4. DVD+R discs cost more than DVD-R discs: TRUE

Of course, the DVD-R format has been out for several years, while the DVD+R format came out in April. But it is true that DVD-Rs can be had for sub $1, while DVD+Rs are at least 3$ today. Prices will likely equalize as more burners are sold and more DVD+Rs are produced (remember that the materials in the DVD-Rs and DVD+Rs are identical, so in the same quantity, they will cost exactly the same to produce). But if you are interested in making many DVDs very soon, you would be best to choose a DVD-R/RW burner.

5. Microsoft has chosen DVD+R/RW as their format of choice.: TRUE

Although I don't know for sure why. I'm pretty sure this is related to the Mount Ranier file system (http://www.softarch.com/us/products/WriteCDRW/mtrainierfaqs.html). This is a file system that Microsoft hopes will allow CD-RW and DVD+RW discs to provide the same functionality, and therefore replace, floppies. I suspect that the lossless linking feature of DVD+RW discs will make implementing Mt. Ranier eaiser.

But this does not mean that DVD-R/RW discs are a bad choice today.

First, now and future drives will almost certainly read DVD-R/RW media. It is even possible that now and future drives will write DVD-R/RW media alongside DVD+R/RW media (http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,104372,00.asp).

But more importantly, it looks more and more like the drive itself will have to implement the Mt. Ranier file system (initially the claim was that a firmware upgrade would enable it for current drives). So we will all have to buy new drives in the future, DVD-R/RW or DVD+R/RW.

Xesdeeni