DVD Burners -- + standard now, RAM still useful?

[GoodRevrnd]

So I'm looking to splurge on a DVD burner soon. I know the +/- ones are all the rage now. However, I would probably use mine equally for file storage and burning movies. Is it pretty much safe to say that + has become the more dominant one (and at least is universally compatible on any player from the last year or two)? Also, to what extent is RAM better for file storage? I understand the difference is that it is pretty much drag and drop file system style if you have a RW disc? And finally, how do + and - media compare in price?

 

[AndrewKu]

These three articles will give you some good background info:
Microsoft to broaden DVD support.
Microsoft backs rewritable DVD format.
Iomega debuts DVD combo drive.

DVD-RAM is suited better for data storage because of it's supposed longer lifespan and the screening process that is suppose to make sure data isn't stored on corrupted portions of the media. This is beside the fact that DVD-RAM can be double sided, which has a capacity of 9.4GB.

However, DVD+ drives are more common than the other two.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Thanks! To what extent is the following true:

Sony doesn't believe the DVD-RAM support in the Iomega drive will make a difference. The company said in a statement that the format "has very little value in the market. It's a proprietary format that's not playback compatible with DVD-ROM drives and DVD players. It's also slower, and the media is more expensive."

So a normal DVD-ROM drive will not be able to simply read the data on my DVD-RAM disc? It can ONLY be used in other DVD-RAM drives? That will greatly decrease its usefulness to me. How much slower is it?

EDIT: It appears the DVD-RAM is 3x. Am I safe to assume the nomenclature for the speeds is the same across all formats, and thus 3x is actually slower than 4x?

 

[HiTek21]

I've got the +- Burner and I find myself using DVD-R more than +R. Media is cheaper (not by much but still a little cheaper) and so far every DVD player I have tested out the -R media on works great.