What's the Difference?!

[osirisFIVE]

I've always wondered.

What's the difference between DVD-R and DVD+R?
And let's not forget their counterparts DVD-RW and DVD+RW.

I'm wondering whether there are any compatibility issues between each disc.
My DVD drive says DVD+R so I bought those.

However, in technical terms, I'm still not too sure about the difference between them.
Can anyone clarify this for me?

 

[sirAnger]

Magical faeries come down and sprinkle magic dust on the DVD+R disks to write the data.

Magical faeries come down and sprinkle different magic dust on the DVD-R disks to write the data.

That's about the gist of it.

 

[silverspoon]

.

 

[Veho]

Wikipedia to the rescue. Yeah, I didn't feel like reading it all the way through, but all the technicalities are there.

All I know, the main differences are the laser position and speed synchronization protocol, and the multisession lead-in/lead-out linking.

 

[osirisFIVE]

I clicked the link and it led me to DVD-R.

THEN I clicked another link and it led me to DVD+R.

Well there's not much difference except compatibility, I guess.

 

[sirAnger]

DVD-R is DVD Recordable means you can write data but can't erase and rewrite on it. although you could have multi sessions and write many times in parts.

DVD-RW is a DVD Rewritable in which you could write the data and erase and write again.

edit: I would suggest you to use wikipedia or google and make a search string like "DVD-R vs DVD-RW" you will get all the answers that ways quite easily.

I think he was asking about + and -. Like DVD+R and DVD-R. My retarded shut-in uncle knows the difference between R and RW.

 

[mthrnite]

+R is a little more accurate, less prone to errors. I seem to remember they were the first to do Dual Layer, but I could be wrong about that.

In the end, there's really very little difference. Now Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD... different story.

 

[Veho]

I clicked the link and it led me to DVD-R.

Scroll down, there's a section called "competing formats". It explains DVD+R and the differences between the two.

 

[silverspoon]

.

 

[jumpman17]

Here's the story.

You have CD-Rs right? Well, when DVDs came out, they made DVD-Rs. Well, later another company decided they wanted some money, and made DVD+Rs. So the DVD-Rs became "minus" and the new ones "plus". Different companies hold the rights to each format and refuse to get along. Kinda like HD-DVD and Blu-ray only not that big of a difference.

And now you know.

EDIT: Your one of those guys that comes in to Staples and kills a little part of me inside each time aren't you?

Woman: Which one of these do I need?
Me: Which burner do you have?
Woman: I think I have an HP computer.
Me: Ooookaaayyyyyy...
Woman: Which one do I need?

 

[osirisFIVE]

Here's the story.

You have CD-Rs right? Well, when DVDs came out, they made DVD-Rs. Well, later another company decided they wanted some money, and made DVD+Rs. So the DVD-Rs became "minus" and the new ones "plus". Different companies hold the rights to each format and refuse to get along. Kinda like HD-DVD and Blu-ray only not that big of a difference.

And now you know.

Cool. Too bad they make different drives for the different formats.
Why can't all drives be multi-format.

The next time I upgrade, it'll be when Blu-ray drives cost a 100 bucks.

 

[jumpman17]

Here's the story.

You have CD-Rs right? Well, when DVDs came out, they made DVD-Rs. Well, later another company decided they wanted some money, and made DVD+Rs. So the DVD-Rs became "minus" and the new ones "plus". Different companies hold the rights to each format and refuse to get along. Kinda like HD-DVD and Blu-ray only not that big of a difference.

And now you know.


Cool. Too bad they make different drives for the different formats.
Why can't all drives be multi-format.

The next time I upgrade, it'll be when Blu-ray drives cost a 100 bucks.

Well, most drives now a days are both or '-/+" drives. I mean, the $27 burner I have does cd-r, cd-rw, dvd-r, dvd+r, dvd-rw, dvd+rw, dvd-r dl, dvd+r dl. So basically everything. But I always buy the + because I get less burn errors then -.

 

[Westside]

Here's the story.

You have CD-Rs right? Well, when DVDs came out, they made DVD-Rs. Well, later another company decided they wanted some money, and made DVD+Rs. So the DVD-Rs became "minus" and the new ones "plus". Different companies hold the rights to each format and refuse to get along. Kinda like HD-DVD and Blu-ray only not that big of a difference.

And now you know.


Cool. Too bad they make different drives for the different formats.
Why can't all drives be multi-format.

The next time I upgrade, it'll be when Blu-ray drives cost a 100 bucks.

Well, most drives now a days are both or '-/+" drives. I mean, the $27 burner I have does cd-r, cd-rw, dvd-r, dvd+r, dvd-rw, dvd+rw, dvd-r dl, dvd+r dl. So basically everything. But I always buy the + because I get less burn errors then -.

But will +R have problems with compatibility with older DVD readers?

 

[jumpman17]

Here's the story.

You have CD-Rs right? Well, when DVDs came out, they made DVD-Rs. Well, later another company decided they wanted some money, and made DVD+Rs. So the DVD-Rs became "minus" and the new ones "plus". Different companies hold the rights to each format and refuse to get along. Kinda like HD-DVD and Blu-ray only not that big of a difference.

And now you know.


Cool. Too bad they make different drives for the different formats.
Why can't all drives be multi-format.

The next time I upgrade, it'll be when Blu-ray drives cost a 100 bucks.



Well, most drives now a days are both or '-/+" drives. I mean, the $27 burner I have does cd-r, cd-rw, dvd-r, dvd+r, dvd-rw, dvd+rw, dvd-r dl, dvd+r dl. So basically everything. But I always buy the + because I get less burn errors then -.

But will +R have problems with compatibility with older DVD readers?

Yes, if your lending the DVD to someone still stuck in the stone age with only a - reader drive, then yes.

 

[osirisFIVE]

Hey westside, so you're saying that the '+' format is generally better since it's a later technology?

 

[acky]

I think he's saying it's not better because it's a later technology. I think PS2 only reads DVD-R, but I'm not entirely sure. It asked me for DVD-R and wouldn't accept DVD+R when I tried to burn God of War 2.

 

[osirisFIVE]

When un-rewritable discs get rejected.

I get pissed.

Although I like the part where I actually get to break the disc into two.
Totally satisfying.

 

[jumpman17]

I think he's saying it's not better because it's a later technology. I think PS2 only reads DVD-R, but I'm not entirely sure. It asked me for DVD-R and wouldn't accept DVD+R when I tried to burn God of War 2.

My collection of DVD+R PS2 games disagree.

EDIT: But really. It comes down to this. If you are worried about them not working on your grandma's makeshift 1973 8 track converted to DVD reader device, then you'll want DVD-Rs. If you want DVDs that will give you a better successful burn rate, then you want DVD+Rs.