Which is the best DVD format?

no1uknow · 09-10-2003, 02:50 AM

DVD+R or DVD-R?

I'm ready to order but don't know which is the best way to go.
Any help would be great. Thanks.

FrYGuY · 09-10-2003, 03:03 AM

DVD+RW has faster access times

DVD-RW has wider compatability

Choose your poison.

no1uknow · 09-10-2003, 03:36 AM

By compatability do you mean that the finished DVD may not play in some types of home DVD players? Mostly I want to use the drive for backing up data, but I also want to be able to back up my DVD collection with x-copy.

After some more reading, apparently there is no difference between +RW and -RW for backing up DVDs.
Mildly confusing. Guess the best way to find out is jump right in...and hope I don't get burned. Leaning toward +RW right now.

FrYGuY · 09-10-2003, 06:24 AM

Correct, some older (I stress older heavily) DVD players may not be able to read the DVD+RW format, but able to read the DVD-RW format. Newer ones, however, almost universally accept both.

Plus, the DVD+RW is an all around better format. That'd be what I would choose, If I had money to spend on such things. Y'know, such Non-food-n-rent things.

rastagard · 09-10-2003, 08:52 AM

I made the leap around Xmas and chose the DVD+ format and have not regretted it. I was leaning heavily towards the Sony dual format burner, but I decided I would wind up still having to choose one way or the other or else have a hodgepodge of different format disks floating around.

In my area, the + format is more readily available and more often on sale. I have bought 25 disk spindles for as little as $29.95. Not bad for 4.7 gigs per disk!

I think just since human nature is what it is, the + format will win out over the - format. (Positive vs. negative....LOL)

no1uknow · 09-10-2003, 02:21 PM

Yeah...it reminds me of the old vcr versus beta debate way back when. I have already ordered the +RW drive (fingers crossed) after reading a few articals on the net. Picked up a NEC drive for $99(us) at TigerDirect. I've been waiting for them to get under $100.

Thanks for the input. I'm sure everyone who buys their first one asks themselves the same question. When I saw that Sony had a hand in developing the + format, I'm guessing it's here to stay for quite awhile.

rastagard · 09-10-2003, 06:39 PM

Yea, I think it is. I've been shopping for a component DVD for the TV and have noticed most of them list the DVD+- formats that they are compatible with. Most all list the + format. Sony lists both.

Anybody I have loaned DVD+ movies to has been able to play them on their home player.

That looks like a great deal to me. I paid $350 for mine...............

no1uknow · 09-10-2003, 08:25 PM

That's why I waited so long. When I bought my first cd-rw it cost something like $260. Four months later I saw the exact same drive for $120 at the same retailer. Now you can buy one for $60.

We're not talkin' top-of-the-line DVD drive, but it'll work I'm betting. Can't wait for it to arrive. It comes with a coupon for x-copy for $29.

igalan · 09-16-2003, 01:00 PM

Both formats are equally suitable for all DVD tasks. The difference is for the user that has some equipment that would only read one or the other. Some DVD players will read DVD+R just fine while others will only read DVD-R. Mine reads both, but my laptop only reads DVD-R so I use DVD- most of the time.

no1uknow · 09-20-2003, 12:45 AM

An update...I received the DVD+RW, installed it and XP automatically installed the driver. I was kind of concerned when I saw that it didn't come with any drivers, but it is working beautifully. Backed up all of my mp3 files (whew!), and copied 'Lord Of The Rings - The Two Towers' which plays in all three of the set-top DVD players that I was concerned about.

Very happy...$99 well spent. Highly recommended upgrade to anyone who hasn't taken the plunge yet.

rastagard · 09-20-2003, 12:59 AM

That's great!

Plain ol' CDR's are gonna start ta look a lot like floppies to ya now............................

no1uknow · 09-21-2003, 09:10 AM

Now that you mentioned it, I've got this stack of cdr's with the old mp3s on them, and I could really use the jewel cases for dvds...looks like they'll fit nicely into my clay pigeon launcher...now where's that box of shotgun shells? This ought to be interesting....

rastagard · 09-21-2003, 12:42 PM

*sigh*

I see in this mornings ads that Best Buy is selling a Plextor DVD dual format burner that burns DVDs at 8X and CDs at 40 X. ($299, about $50 less than I paid fer my 4X)

Wonder how long I'n gonna be able to hold out? (ennybody interested inna nice 4X DVD burner???????)

Wobbel · 09-21-2003, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rastagard

Wonder how long I'n gonna be able to hold out? (ennybody interested inna nice 4X DVD burner???????)

Uhm, send it over, i'll pay for the stamps...

the hunter · 09-21-2003, 05:51 PM

Hey Rasta, how much do you want for it? Hmm you still have my add dont you?

09-10-2003, 02:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
no1uknow Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 44	Which is the best DVD format? DVD+R or DVD-R? I'm ready to order but don't know which is the best way to go. Any help would be great. Thanks.

09-10-2003, 03:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
FrYGuY Member Type Guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 501	DVD+RW has faster access times DVD-RW has wider compatability Choose your poison. __________________ -----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK----- Version: 3.1 GB/G/H/J/MC/S d-(--)@ s+:+ a-- C !U--- P--- L--(-) E- W N-(--) !o K--- w++ O--- M--(--) V-- PS+ PE+ Y+ PGP- t-- 5-- X- R(+) tv(++) b-- DI+ D---- G- e+++ h-- r* y++ ------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------ Yeah, my computer sucks. You try and do better.

09-10-2003, 03:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
no1uknow Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 44	By compatability do you mean that the finished DVD may not play in some types of home DVD players? Mostly I want to use the drive for backing up data, but I also want to be able to back up my DVD collection with x-copy. After some more reading, apparently there is no difference between +RW and -RW for backing up DVDs. Mildly confusing. Guess the best way to find out is jump right in...and hope I don't get burned. Leaning toward +RW right now. Last edited by no1uknow; 09-10-2003 at 03:52 AM.

09-10-2003, 06:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
FrYGuY Member Type Guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 501	Correct, some older (I stress older heavily) DVD players may not be able to read the DVD+RW format, but able to read the DVD-RW format. Newer ones, however, almost universally accept both. Plus, the DVD+RW is an all around better format. That'd be what I would choose, If I had money to spend on such things. Y'know, such Non-food-n-rent things. __________________ -----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK----- Version: 3.1 GB/G/H/J/MC/S d-(--)@ s+:+ a-- C !U--- P--- L--(-) E- W N-(--) !o K--- w++ O--- M--(--) V-- PS+ PE+ Y+ PGP- t-- 5-- X- R(+) tv(++) b-- DI+ D---- G- e+++ h-- r* y++ ------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------ Yeah, my computer sucks. You try and do better.

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09-10-2003, 08:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
rastagard Humble Idiot Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 2,271	I made the leap around Xmas and chose the DVD+ format and have not regretted it. I was leaning heavily towards the Sony dual format burner, but I decided I would wind up still having to choose one way or the other or else have a hodgepodge of different format disks floating around. In my area, the + format is more readily available and more often on sale. I have bought 25 disk spindles for as little as $29.95. Not bad for 4.7 gigs per disk! I think just since human nature is what it is, the + format will win out over the - format. (Positive vs. negative....LOL)

09-10-2003, 02:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
no1uknow Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 44	Yeah...it reminds me of the old vcr versus beta debate way back when. I have already ordered the +RW drive (fingers crossed) after reading a few articals on the net. Picked up a NEC drive for $99(us) at TigerDirect. I've been waiting for them to get under $100. Thanks for the input. I'm sure everyone who buys their first one asks themselves the same question. When I saw that Sony had a hand in developing the + format, I'm guessing it's here to stay for quite awhile.

09-10-2003, 06:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
rastagard Humble Idiot Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 2,271	Yea, I think it is. I've been shopping for a component DVD for the TV and have noticed most of them list the DVD+- formats that they are compatible with. Most all list the + format. Sony lists both. Anybody I have loaned DVD+ movies to has been able to play them on their home player. That looks like a great deal to me. I paid $350 for mine...............

09-10-2003, 08:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
no1uknow Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 44	That's why I waited so long. When I bought my first cd-rw it cost something like $260. Four months later I saw the exact same drive for $120 at the same retailer. Now you can buy one for $60. We're not talkin' top-of-the-line DVD drive, but it'll work I'm betting. Can't wait for it to arrive. It comes with a coupon for x-copy for $29.

09-16-2003, 01:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
igalan PCTT Articles Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Barcelona, SPAIN Posts: 1,018	Both formats are equally suitable for all DVD tasks. The difference is for the user that has some equipment that would only read one or the other. Some DVD players will read DVD+R just fine while others will only read DVD-R. Mine reads both, but my laptop only reads DVD-R so I use DVD- most of the time.

09-20-2003, 12:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
no1uknow Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 44	An update...I received the DVD+RW, installed it and XP automatically installed the driver. I was kind of concerned when I saw that it didn't come with any drivers, but it is working beautifully. Backed up all of my mp3 files (whew!), and copied 'Lord Of The Rings - The Two Towers' which plays in all three of the set-top DVD players that I was concerned about. Very happy...$99 well spent. Highly recommended upgrade to anyone who hasn't taken the plunge yet.

09-20-2003, 12:59 AM	#11 (permalink)
rastagard Humble Idiot Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 2,271	That's great! Plain ol' CDR's are gonna start ta look a lot like floppies to ya now............................

09-21-2003, 09:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
no1uknow Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 44	Now that you mentioned it, I've got this stack of cdr's with the old mp3s on them, and I could really use the jewel cases for dvds...looks like they'll fit nicely into my clay pigeon launcher...now where's that box of shotgun shells? This ought to be interesting....

09-21-2003, 12:42 PM	#13 (permalink)
rastagard Humble Idiot Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 2,271	sigh I see in this mornings ads that Best Buy is selling a Plextor DVD dual format burner that burns DVDs at 8X and CDs at 40 X. ($299, about $50 less than I paid fer my 4X) Wonder how long I'n gonna be able to hold out? (ennybody interested inna nice 4X DVD burner???????)

09-21-2003, 05:51 PM	#15 (permalink)
the hunter getting hitched Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: canada Posts: 2,655	Hey Rasta, how much do you want for it? Hmm you still have my add dont you?