DVD+/-RW vs DVD-RW burner?

[Red Squirrel]

I want to buy a burner but need a beige one but the only beige one is not a DVD+/-RW but just a DVD-RW, that's the only difference I see, and it's 20 bucks cheaper. What exatly does the +/- part mean? (it's a + and - under each other). I'm wondering if I should just get the black one, but it will look weird on my case because the rest of the drives are beige. I guess I can always paint it or something lol.

 

[n7]

There are two main standards. Plus & Dash (+ / -).

I would recommend a drive that has both, & that has dual layer (DL).

BenQ DW1620 Pro is my recommendation, & others here will say the NEC 3520 is the best.

 

[Continuity27]

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
I want to buy a burner but need a beige one but the only beige one is not a DVD+/-RW but just a DVD-RW, that's the only difference I see, and it's 20 bucks cheaper. What exatly does the +/- part mean? (it's a + and - under each other). I'm wondering if I should just get the black one, but it will look weird on my case because the rest of the drives are beige. I guess I can always paint it or something lol.

+/- means it can write onto DVD-R/RW AND DVD+R/RW.

Those are two different standards, plus and dash.

Dash came first, and plus is said to be more compatible. Plus can be written a bit faster usually as well.

EDIT: Fine Mr. Nitpicky.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Oh ok, so if it only has + I should be ok (as long as I buy + DVD-R / DVD-RWs) correct? + is more compatible with all DVD players too right, or is it actually -? I have not played that much with DVD technology yet so figured I'd get into that wether it's video or data. got old vhs stuff that could go nice on a DVD as I could make a menu and stuff.

 

[n7]

Since i'm feeling nitpicky...

There is no such thing as minus r. It's correct term is dash r

 

[Continuity27]

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
Oh ok, so if it only has + I should be ok (as long as I buy + DVD-R / DVD-RWs) correct? + is more compatible with all DVD players too right, or is it actually -? I have not played that much with DVD technology yet so figured I'd get into that wether it's video or data. got old vhs stuff that could go nice on a DVD as I could make a menu and stuff.

The thing is, both standards will USUALLY work in most set-top players, some prefer dash and some prefer plus though. They are both over 95% compatible though.

Like it's been said, you can get real cheap drives today that do CD-R/CD-RW, DVD-R/DVD-RW, DVD+R/DVD+RW, DVD-R DL/DVD-RW DL, and DVD+R DL/DVD+RW DL... (DL means dual layer) such as the NEC ND-3520A, or the BenQ listed by n7, or a Pioneer DVR-109 (also known as A09).

Any of those 3 will be great, and cheap.

 

[teddyv]

Benq 6120 pro comes in that color and I am exceedingly happy with mine. Cheap too.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah the one I'm looking at is this one, cheapest I can find, but its' the only beige one so hoping this will do.
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/...etails.asp?EdpNo=1159842&sku=A457-4012

Edit: hmm from the looks of the specs I just realized it does do - too.

 

[sniperruff]

nec 3520A beige is like $46.99 on newegg shipped.

 

[Red Squirrel]

newegg is american though. They'll probably add 100 bucks in border taxes alone to that

 

[Continuity27]

Just curious, why do you really need Beige?

I mean, if you found a cheaper one, that did much more, but was in another color, would it really matter?

 

[Red Squirrel]

All my drives are beige, it will look weird to have a black one with the beige ones. I know I'm fussy but I like my case to look normal. (ok, so having it completely in acrylic with bare ide/molex cables is not that normal )

 

[corkyg]

Why not just change the face plate?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wish me luck trying to find that lol, if they made it, they'd include it, can't see them selling a face place for that exact drive, seperately.

 

[imported_toot]

-R are more compatibe with older players.. but +R can have their booktype changed to DVD-ROM, which is the most compatible of all.. but to do that you usually need to use a modified firmware (it's available for NEC 3520 and 3540)

 

[Budman]

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.ph...owProduct&cmd=pd&pid=006296&cid=CR.184

 

[Red Squirrel]

Is this one just as good? http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/...etails.asp?EdpNo=1159842&sku=A457-4012

Since I'm ordering something else from there as well so don't want to pay double shipping.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Ended up getting a samsung one, did not realize they had a few other beige ones. That, along with my 600Watt UPS. can't wait to plug that sucker in. That would of costed me like 200 bucks of shipping if it were with my other supplier.