DVD+ vs. -

[Theiananator]

I am very confused as to which as better. My dvd burner doesn't care, so I've just bought what ever is on sale so far. Does one have any advantages over the other?

 

[NurseRN]

So far, just like you, I've used both for data and DVD movies w/o any problems. From what I've heard, people tend to use the - for DVD movies and media and the + for data. I'm not sure though what the diff. is. If it's ont broken why fix it?!

 

[Theiananator]

Originally posted by: NurseRN
If it's ont broken why fix it?!

Amen.

 

[Goi]

+ is often faster and more cutting edge, but - is often more compatible. However, the standards have converged so much so that it doesn't really matter. Buy whichever is cheaper I say.

 

[saltedeggman]

- for more compatibility + for data, as i was told

 

[BFG10K]

These days it probably doesn't matter as almost every drive that can handle one type can also handle the other.

 

[gsellis]

This is why I just ordered a NEC 3500A. -R has better reliability with set top players, unless they were made by one of the original +RW Alliance rebels (I say rebels as they agreed to the DVD Forums -R standard and then started their own standard - let's put the double standard blame where it belongs). I had to order a NEC because I have to reship to a customer, a +R disc to run in their Panasonic set top (older than 2 years old). That player is a little dodgy according to reports at videohelp, so the real solution is use bitsetting with a 3500A to fake it into believing it has a DVD-ROM disc. Same deal with a Playstation 2. It likes +R better, and can be dodgy with -R. Guess what? Sony is one of the +RW Alliance founders with Panasonic (Matshushita).

Either way, theoretically, +R can be interrupted during a write and pick up where it left off, but I don't remember seeing that that has been implemented anywhere via DVD burner software. That is why everyone says it is superior with data. In practice, it does not seem to matter.

Just to add to my whining (sorry), the Blu-Ray standard is another +RW Alliance push, where HD-DVD is from the DVD Forum, keepers of the -R standard. Since I have to deal with the double standard more painfully than most, I prefer HD-DVD because the +RW Alliance p*ssed me off in the first place by introducing a second standard. Guess why Sony's PS/3 will support Blu-Ray. :disgust:

 

[Belzer]

Originally posted by: gsellis
This is why I just ordered a NEC 3500A. -R has better reliability with set top players, unless they were made by one of the original +RW Alliance rebels (I say rebels as they agreed to the DVD Forums -R standard and then started their own standard - let's put the double standard blame where it belongs). I had to order a NEC because I have to reship to a customer, a +R disc to run in their Panasonic set top (older than 2 years old). That player is a little dodgy according to reports at videohelp, so the real solution is use bitsetting with a 3500A to fake it into believing it has a DVD-ROM disc. Same deal with a Playstation 2. It likes +R better, and can be dodgy with -R. Guess what? Sony is one of the +RW Alliance founders with Panasonic (Matshushita).

Either way, theoretically, +R can be interrupted during a write and pick up where it left off, but I don't remember seeing that that has been implemented anywhere via DVD burner software. That is why everyone says it is superior with data. In practice, it does not seem to matter.

Just to add to my whining (sorry), the Blu-Ray standard is another +RW Alliance push, where HD-DVD is from the DVD Forum, keepers of the -R standard. Since I have to deal with the double standard more painfully than most, I prefer HD-DVD because the +RW Alliance p*ssed me off in the first place by introducing a second standard. Guess why Sony's PS/3 will support Blu-Ray. :disgust:

First, Panasonic is not a +RW company, on the contrary it has been one of biggest anti +RW companies very late with adding support for writing DVD+R/RW to its DVD burners and intentionally blocking the format from being played on its DVD players unless they're fooled with bitsetting.
I think you confuse Panasonic and Philips.

Second, why should DVD forum decide all future optical formats just because it was created to handle the DVD-ROM read only format? With that reasoning Sony-Philips should do it instead because they created the first major optical format, the CD...

 

[SkyBum]

I haven't met a Toshiba player yet that will play +R. There may be some that will but none that I tried could.....

 

[stelleg151]

Anyone have an opinion about quality of the DVD+ or -, what I mean is should I be careful and buy name brand DVDr's or get any old DVDr. I have NEC 3500A like everyone else

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: Belzer

Originally posted by: gsellis
This is why I just ordered a NEC 3500A. -R has better reliability with set top players, unless they were made by one of the original +RW Alliance rebels (I say rebels as they agreed to the DVD Forums -R standard and then started their own standard - let's put the double standard blame where it belongs). I had to order a NEC because I have to reship to a customer, a +R disc to run in their Panasonic set top (older than 2 years old). That player is a little dodgy according to reports at videohelp, so the real solution is use bitsetting with a 3500A to fake it into believing it has a DVD-ROM disc. Same deal with a Playstation 2. It likes +R better, and can be dodgy with -R. Guess what? Sony is one of the +RW Alliance founders with Panasonic (Matshushita).

Either way, theoretically, +R can be interrupted during a write and pick up where it left off, but I don't remember seeing that that has been implemented anywhere via DVD burner software. That is why everyone says it is superior with data. In practice, it does not seem to matter.

Just to add to my whining (sorry), the Blu-Ray standard is another +RW Alliance push, where HD-DVD is from the DVD Forum, keepers of the -R standard. Since I have to deal with the double standard more painfully than most, I prefer HD-DVD because the +RW Alliance p*ssed me off in the first place by introducing a second standard. Guess why Sony's PS/3 will support Blu-Ray. :disgust:

First, Panasonic is not a +RW company, on the contrary it has been one of biggest anti +RW companies very late with adding support for writing DVD+R/RW to its DVD burners and intentionally blocking the format from being played on its DVD players unless they're fooled with bitsetting.
I think you confuse Panasonic and Philips.

Second, why should DVD forum decide all future optical formats just because it was created to handle the DVD-ROM read only format? With that reasoning Sony-Philips should do it instead because they created the first major optical format, the CD...

Just to add to this, my roommate's Panasonic plays every +R & +RW i throw at it, so i'm not sure you are correct about them blocking the + format.

Also, to gsellis, who mentioned he likes the DVD Forum...great.
The problem with taking the side of HD-DVD is that you are taking an inferior product's side, since to the best of my knowledge, they will only be able to store 30 GBs of data on a double layer disc.
Blu-Ray has about 50 GBs, & they could produce quad layer or larger discs as well.
More storage space = teh winnar eventually, even if HD-DVD initially scores big.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: stelleg151
Anyone have an opinion about quality of the DVD+ or -, what I mean is should I be careful and buy name brand DVDr's or get any old DVDr. I have NEC 3500A like everyone else

Avoid no-name brand DVD-/+Rs, unless you want them to deteriorate after a few years.

Taiyo Yuden is know for making the very best DVD-/+Rs, & Ricoh is also good usually.



CDFreaks has a host of info about which discs to get for good quality burns & long life.

 

[SkyBum]

Can't go wrong with Ritek media.


AfterDawn.com is a huge resource for all things DVD related.


Their forums cover pretty much anything you wish to know with dozens of different categories of discussion. Very helpful bunch of people over there.

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: Belzer

Originally posted by: gsellis
This is why I just ordered a NEC 3500A. -R has better reliability with set top players, unless they were made by one of the original +RW Alliance rebels (I say rebels as they agreed to the DVD Forums -R standard and then started their own standard - let's put the double standard blame where it belongs). I had to order a NEC because I have to reship to a customer, a +R disc to run in their Panasonic set top (older than 2 years old). That player is a little dodgy according to reports at videohelp, so the real solution is use bitsetting with a 3500A to fake it into believing it has a DVD-ROM disc. Same deal with a Playstation 2. It likes +R better, and can be dodgy with -R. Guess what? Sony is one of the +RW Alliance founders with Panasonic (Matshushita).

Either way, theoretically, +R can be interrupted during a write and pick up where it left off, but I don't remember seeing that that has been implemented anywhere via DVD burner software. That is why everyone says it is superior with data. In practice, it does not seem to matter.

Just to add to my whining (sorry), the Blu-Ray standard is another +RW Alliance push, where HD-DVD is from the DVD Forum, keepers of the -R standard. Since I have to deal with the double standard more painfully than most, I prefer HD-DVD because the +RW Alliance p*ssed me off in the first place by introducing a second standard. Guess why Sony's PS/3 will support Blu-Ray. :disgust:

First, Panasonic is not a +RW company, on the contrary it has been one of biggest anti +RW companies very late with adding support for writing DVD+R/RW to its DVD burners and intentionally blocking the format from being played on its DVD players unless they're fooled with bitsetting.
I think you confuse Panasonic and Philips.

Second, why should DVD forum decide all future optical formats just because it was created to handle the DVD-ROM read only format? With that reasoning Sony-Philips should do it instead because they created the first major optical format, the CD...

You are right, I got Panasonic and Philips mixed, and since I know who owns Panasonic... Panasonics are still one of my worst for compatibility. I have now had 4 different Pannys that support +R but not -R that I have had to deal with.

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: n7
Also, to gsellis, who mentioned he likes the DVD Forum...great.
The problem with taking the side of HD-DVD is that you are taking an inferior product's side, since to the best of my knowledge, they will only be able to store 30 GBs of data on a double layer disc.
Blu-Ray has about 50 GBs, & they could produce quad layer or larger discs as well.
More storage space = teh winnar eventually, even if HD-DVD initially scores big.

Larger does not necessarily mean superior. Consider that manufacturing can use the same line and a player may not need a second laser and lense, I don't think you can state it is definitively superior.

If size matters, Blu-Ray is already inferior. Pioneer has announced an ultra-violet laser system that goes to 500GB.