What is the difference between DVD -R/+R

menorton

Member
Feb 10, 2004
137
2
81
excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between -R/+R. Which is better? Which is cheaper? Which is the way of the future? If i were to buy a great drive with only one, would i be screwed?

thanks
 

Tostada

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
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This has been covered many, many times.

To put it simply, there's very little real difference. DVD+R's are supposedly slightly superior on paper. DVD-R's fit about 4MB more, work more reliably with old DVD players, and usually cost a tiny bit less.

Any differences between the two are really just nit-picking, but at the same time it would be crazy to not get a drive that burns both. I don't think anybody even makes single-format drives anymore.
 

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
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Originally posted by: Tostada
Any differences between the two are really just nit-picking, but at the same time it would be crazy to not get a drive that burns both. I don't think anybody even makes single-format drives anymore.

There is 1 good reason not to get a dual-format drive: bitsetting. AFAIK, there are no dual-format drives that support it, only DVD+R drives do.
 

CQuinn

Golden Member
May 31, 2000
1,656
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Hi Terry!

Lite-on drives should support it using third party tools

And I know Benq dual format drives support it, because Benq makes their own utility for it.