Dvd-r V. Dvd+r

[al503]

Just bought a new laptop that has a dvd burner on it so I need to get some blank dvd's. I'm wondering what the difference is/if it matters which one I get.

[j2fast]

I don't claim to be an all knowing expert but here ya go. +R and -R are just completing formats (think betamax and VHS from the 80's). I've had the best luck with +R and that's basically all I use now. I ran into some cases where certain players wouldn't play the -R's would would play +R.

[AustinMike]

Just bought a new laptop that has a dvd burner on it so I need to get some blank dvd's.  I'm wondering what the difference is/if it matters which one I get.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Probably more info than you want, but here you go:

DVD Standards

I've had good luck with DVD+R playing in most players, for what it's worth.

[raz-0]

DVD-R is supported by more standalone DVD players. DVD+R is better at data integrity.

With the advent of cheapie DVD players designed to play bootlegged anything, compatibility should be less of an issue.

I tend to use DVD+R becaue I mostly use them for storing data, and I'll likely be able to read them for longer.

[HI5-O]

You need to find out what format your burner requires -/+

So far I've had good luck with both

[Scooter]

You need to look at what your DVD drive can write to. You have to use the right one or else it won't work.

[George]

DVD -R is the Real McCoy DVD Video format and what is supported 100% by the DVD video standards in effect.

DVD +R is a format that is not actually designed for Video/Movies as much as for data storage.

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=118

Compatability has more to do with media quality and burn speed than +R -R

-R is more compatible with legacy players. +R is supported on anything recent (under 2-3 years old).

Both burn equal in burner drives that support both formats, but DVD -R at 1x burn speed is a much better choice for movies you are going to make for Aunt Doris and her 5 year old Costco DVD player. DVD +R would be the better choice to archive digital photos, raw video footage and audio files because of it's future support potential for data recovery.

Dual layer is a solution looking for a problem as far as the consumer is concerned at the moment ;-)

DVD's you buy are pressed and have perfect pits. Burned DVD's have crappy pits and the faster you burn them, ther crappier they are. Error correction routines are the next culprit in the compatibility chain. Some are more strict and some are more lenient.

Dat's the Fact's, Jack!

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Regards,

Edited August 14, 2005 by George