What does "dual" for DVD-RW's mean?

[hito]

I've recently become curious about DVD-RW's and have a question or two.

What does "dual" for DVD-RW's mean?

Does it mean dual sided recording? Dual format as in DVD's and regular CD-R's?
Also, what is this with the dual layering technology?

Thanks

 

[MichaelD]

Well, it means a few different things.

It burns DVDs as well as READS DVDs...like a DVD-Rom
It burns DVDs as well as CD-Rs and CD-RW
It burns DVD-R and DVD-RW

"Dual layer" is a term applied to commercially produced (like you'd buy at Best Buy) DVDs. There are two layers of pits on a single side...doubles the capacity.

 

[DaveSimmons]

^ . . . and "dual-format" usually means it supports both the "+" and "-" formats (which use different blank discs).

 

[Belzer]

Originally posted by: hito
What does "dual" for DVD-RW's mean?

Dual format = burns both the "minus" format (DVD-R/RW) and the "plus" format (DVD+R/RW).
Dual layer = burns 8.5 GB double layer DVDs, first writers which support this are expected to show up in Q2-Q3.

 

[hito]

Thanks for the replies all, it made clear what I was questioning about.

 

[StageLeft]

When will dual sided dual layer be available? These dvd burner companies need to stop playing around!

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
When will dual sided dual layer be available? These dvd burner companies need to stop playing around!

probably never -- single-sided dual-layer is all that's needed to "backup" movie discs.

Someday we'll get the 30 GB blue-laser discs though.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: Skoorb
When will dual sided dual layer be available? These dvd burner companies need to stop playing around!

probably never -- single-sided dual-layer is all that's needed to "backup" movie discs.

Someday we'll get the 30 GB blue-laser discs though.

Maybe I'll wait until the dual layer ones are out later this year for my "backups".