DVD+RW vs. DVD-RW which format is better / more future secure

[Funky303]

I want to buy a DVD Recorder, but I'm unsure which format I should choose from. Either DVD+RW or DVD-R/RW.

What are the differences between those two formats in special despite defferent manufacturors ?

I'd like to use the recorder as Movie Archive using DVD format and play it in an external DVD Player, but also for archiving files and making backups and using it on many different drives.

So wide compatibility is really important.

I can choose eiter from:

Pioneer DVR-A04 (DVD-R/RW)

Sony DRU110A-C1 (DVD+RW)
Ricoh MP5120A (DVD+RW)
Aopen RW5120A (DVD+RW)

Thanx,

funky

 

[Eug]

DVD-R - cheapest media, most compatible format with DVD players. Highest market penetration, esp. for Macs with Pioneer A03/A04.
DVD+R - very new, probably very compatible with DVD players too but it's too early to say. A lot of programs don't support DVD+R yet, but that's coming.

DVD-RW - mediocre for data, mediocre for DVD player compatibilty for video.
DVD+RW - mediocre for video, potentially better for data since it allows Mt. Rainier compatibility, but so far the format doesn't support Mt. Rainier. Almost no support on Macs.

DVD-RAM - the best data solution, but only rare support by DVD players for DVD-RAM video, and the media is usually more expensive compared to DVD-RW and DVD+RW.

In other words, I dunno.

By the way, whatever you do, do NOT buy a 1st generation DVD+RW. They do NOT support DVD+R. An example of a second generation drive is the HP 200i (not 100i).

I bought the Panasonic LF-D311, which is a DVD-RAM/-R drive, but it probably is not ideal for most people. (My needs are primarily data.)

 

[joohang]

Gosh.. DVD writers are confusing as hell.

It sure takes the industry forever to decide on one standard and push it. What a mess.

Bump for ya.

 

[grant2]

heh i remember my friend back in '97 claiming that the whole "point" of DVD was that there would never be writeable/rewriteable media (as with VCRs & CDRs)

 

[Gunbuster]

Compusa has a sku for generic DVD+RW blanks with a cost of ~$3 so price is getting to a usable level

just be sure to get a +RW that can also do +R (lets call them 2nd gen +RW drives) +R blanks should be even cheaper