DVD-R vs DVD+R

orca wrote on 8/7/2004, 10:45 AM

Here's just the simplest question, but it really confuses me as someone who just took a plunge into DVD authoring. My burner can burn both, then my question is what's the difference between the two? I basically want to create the burn projects that will play on as many DVD player as possible. Is there any advantage of using one format over the other? Thanks.

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 8/7/2004, 1:33 PM

DVD-R has a slight edge in compatibility, especially with older DVD players.

orca wrote on 8/7/2004, 7:24 PM

Thanks for the fast reply. So, that said, is there any advantage of using DVD+R over DVD-R or the two are basically the same except for the compatibility issue with the older player?

johnmeyer wrote on 8/7/2004, 7:27 PM

I am not aware of any major other differences. They hold the same amount of data, cost about the same, can both be burned on most new DVD burners and can be played on most new DVD players. I use DVD-R only because of the compatibility issue with early players (also, my Pioneer A05 only burns DVD-R). Even if I get a new burner that burns +R, I'll stick with the -R.

kentwolf wrote on 8/7/2004, 8:08 PM

The only advantages of which I know are:

1.) Multi-session DVD. Not that you'd ever need it, but that is touted as a benefit.

2.) I believe that the +R will be the first with dual-layer support.

There are other proported benefits, but I don't remember them all.

+R definitely seems more "corporate" driven, being back by such heavyweights as Philips, etc.

Personally, I use +R, but that's just me. I have used it successfully on some pretty old DVD players as well.

orca wrote on 8/8/2004, 12:23 AM

OK that's interesting to know that DVD+R works with older DVD player, I guess I also need to run my own test on this one. Thanks for all your input.

clearvu wrote on 8/8/2004, 3:37 AM

If you do some online research, you may discover that many also believe that +R's for actually more compatible with most DVD players, including older ones.

Years ago in MY research that's what I discovered, bought a +R burner and have never had a problem with compatibility.

These days, I have a +/-R burner but still use the + media only as it's consistently been problem free.

That being said, it probably does not really matter all that much.

JaysonHolovacs wrote on 8/9/2004, 8:28 AM

Aren't the +R media available in faster speeds? Or am I misremebering something? I believe my Plextor can burn +R and +RW faster than the corresponding -R/-RW.

-Jayson

GlenL wrote on 8/9/2004, 12:38 PM

DVD-R came out first so you have more depth (compatibility with older players). More players have come out with DVD+R support so you have more breadth (players that support DVD+R but maybe not DVD-R).

Best to stay away from DVD+/-RW for archiving. These discs use different dyes and are not expected to last as long (not that anyone really knows how long any of them will last).

JaysonHolovacs wrote on 8/9/2004, 12:57 PM

glenl,
Yeah, I agree on the archiving concern. I use +RW for all my "in-development" discs and +R for all my final master copies.

-Jayson