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DVD-RW or DVD+RW which is the best for now and why?

donfm

donfm

Senior member
I want a DVD burner but am confused by which format to buy. +RW or -RW which is the best for all around uses. What is the drawback vs advantages for one format over the other. Which will be compatible with the most Home Theater DVD players available today?

NewEgg has a Toshiba DVD burner for $174 delivered. Is it any good because i'm seriously thinking of buying it at that price. I know everybody is looking at the Sony burner since it does both formats but at this price I could buy one for each different format!
 
Currently, the -R standard seems to be more compatible. However, Sony, MS, and a few other companies have touted their endorsements of the +R standard in the future, and that's all Longhorn has current plans to support automatically.

Do yourself a favour and get a multiformat burner. LG offers one for slightly less than the Sony.

- M4H
 
either get the multi format or answer these questions ...

will you be spreading the discs around?
what are the major uses for the burners? movies, data, archiving?
are they for standalone dvd players?

1. if you aren't spreading the discs around and just using them yourself, essentially it doesnt matter which format it's in
2. recent dvd players play both +/-Rs. My biggest use would be archiving data and the format doesn't matter cause it will get read by the burner it made it with.
3. again, new standalone players can read both formats.
 
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Currently, the -R standard seems to be more compatible. However, Sony, MS, and a few other companies have touted their endorsements of the +R standard in the future, and that's all Longhorn has current plans to support automatically.
Click to expand...

MS just announced support for DVD+RW AND DVD-RW in XP and Longhorn:

http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/2203231


Microsoft Thursday pledged to support all major writable DVD formats in Windows XP, or Longhorn.

The Redmond, Wash. software firm said its "increased writable support" means users will have more options to back up data and exchange digital audio, pictures and video files between personal computers and consumer electronics devices.

Microsoft made the announcement at its Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) conference in New Orleans, saying the OS support will cover DVD-RAM, DVD-RW/-R and DVD+RW/+R formats. The support will let users with a compatible drive to work with any of their existing writable DVDs used as a data storage medium; users will not need to download additional drivers to ensure compatibility.

Microsoft previously only supported the DVD+MRW (Mt. Rainier) format, as well as the DVD-RAM format in Windows XP, although Microsoft has included built-in support for DVD devices in its OS since Windows 98, with driver support under the Windows Driver Model.
 
Originally posted by: MoobyTheGoldenCalf
MS just announced support for DVD+RW AND DVD-RW in XP and Longhorn:

http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/2203231


Microsoft Thursday pledged to support all major writable DVD formats in Windows XP, or Longhorn.

The Redmond, Wash. software firm said its "increased writable support" means users will have more options to back up data and exchange digital audio, pictures and video files between personal computers and consumer electronics devices.

Microsoft made the announcement at its Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) conference in New Orleans, saying the OS support will cover DVD-RAM, DVD-RW/-R and DVD+RW/+R formats. The support will let users with a compatible drive to work with any of their existing writable DVDs used as a data storage medium; users will not need to download additional drivers to ensure compatibility.

Microsoft previously only supported the DVD+MRW (Mt. Rainier) format, as well as the DVD-RAM format in Windows XP, although Microsoft has included built-in support for DVD devices in its OS since Windows 98, with driver support under the Windows Driver Model.
Click to expand...

😕 😀

Didn't know they overhauled. Thanks for that tip! 😀

- M4H
 
Considering most DVD players will play both like stated above, and Microsoft nows supports both, get whatever is cheaper...

Currently media for -R is cheaper so i would go with that type of burner..

Good Luck..

Also try the search button, there should be plenty of threads about this.. 🙂
 
DVD+RW can be formatted in the background saving a lot of time. Consider the Optorite DD0203 for a dual format drive that also has Sanyo HD Burn technology for around $290.
 
I have chosen DVD+RW drive, because the first of all, I do not own an old-standalone player 😉. And the second, +RW's feature looks absolutely better than -RW (which I am going to use). Consider your usage and situation 🙂
 
Well I can see why I'm confused on this topic. It would seem to me everybody has a different view of what's the best format. Is anyone familiar with the TDK AID +440BX+/-? It is another new dual format DVD writer? Wonder if it's any good? I will be using this mainly for movies and not spreading the discs around. I have an older Toshiba SD1200 DVD player in my Home Theater and I'm not sure if it plays +RW format. What format are most retail movies burned in? Thanks for all the comments guys. Seems there is no clearcut choice other than to protect yourself with a dual format burner.
 
Unfortunately retail movies are not burned. They are pressed. You may find that your Toshiba does not support either format but if it does support any it would probably be - R only. Toshiba's are very picky.

I have the Pioneer DVR-105 and have had no problems with it to this point burning movies or data.
 
I just checked my manual for my DVD player and you're right it specifically says it will not play DVD -R/-RW discs. Looks like it's time for a new DVD for my Home Theater player soon. Thanks for the heads-up vicvon.
 
Originally posted by: donfm
I just checked my manual for my DVD player and you're right it specifically says it will not play DVD -R/-RW discs. Looks like it's time for a new DVD for my Home Theater player soon. Thanks for the heads-up vicvon.
Click to expand...

Lots of times manuals are inaccurate. Heck, the manal for the Panansonic F65 I just got says it will only play DVD-R, but in reality it will play anything I throw at it, -R/RW +R/RW, RAM. Take al look at dvdrhelp.com for report of people with your same DVD player model. Looks like the SD1200 will play DVD-R and some brands of +RW:

http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDname=sd1200&Search=Search
 
"Do yourself a favour and get a multiformat burner. LG offers one for slightly less than the Sony."

Which drive is this ?? A lite-on ??

Thanks for the info.

Regards,
Jose

 
I don't know which format is the best, but I do own a Pioneer A05 and it's backed up my movies and data just fine.
No bad burns and on cheapo Optodisk 1x @ 2x :music:
 
Originally posted by: jose
"Do yourself a favour and get a multiformat burner. LG offers one for slightly less than the Sony."
Click to expand...

LG will introduce their second DVD RW drive, which will be multiformat (even can write DVD-RAM) in June. Its model name will be GMA-4040B. I think MercenaryForHire meant Lite-On, I guess? (Because LG's multiformat DVD RW hasn't come out yet)
 
My friend just recieved his free copy of some DV magazine and it stated that DVD+R in their review of players had a 1% lead over the -R. I would just get a combo drive with both.

Just remember the real reason why DVD-R's are cheaper is because its 1x media. the DVD+R media is 2.4x. thats a difference between 1hour or 26 mintues for a full disc. Although the pioneers can be hacked you MIGHT have problems with data corruption writing @ 2x.
 
I would only get a combo drive if the price were not much more then a + or - drive. Why pay a $100 premium when in a year or two all DVD drives will be dirt cheap. It's like a coworker of mine who spent $500 for a 1x SCSI CDRW, and 2 years later I bought a 4x drive for less then half. Of course, as we know prices dropped and drives got even quicker from there.

I see the same thing happening with DVDr drives. In 2 years (maybe sooner) you are going to want to upgrade anyway to something much faster.

FYI, I have a DVD+r/rw drive in my new Dell. I burned my first DVD from dv just last week, and it was read in my VERY old Panny DVD-A110. From what I read both +r / -r are 85% compatible, so I would just buy what you can get a good deal on.
 
The only difference is compatability issues? One format isn't better than the other, right?

IOW - I'm not going to be sacrificing quality by choosing one format over the other, right?
 
sony dru500 works fine, no one knows what format we are going too, i like the drive i got it cheap brand new back in december for 325 with a 50 dollar mail in rebate.. couldnt beat that!
 
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