Difference between dvd -rw and dvd+rw?

Question

what is the difference between dvd -rw and dvd +rw

I have brought a dvd recorder which says it takes both but just wanted to know the difference between them.

thanks

Answer 1

All a bit complicated...as I understand it DVD.RW means DVD - RW-re-write - means you can write over info stored on the DVD.

Answer 2

dvd-rw means u can record but not re-record over the dvd

dvd+rw means u can record and re-record over the dvd.. the w is writable..

Answer 3

Hi Gary,

The DVD+R and DVD-R are competing formats much like the old VHS and Beta formats in video tapes. Today most drives are Hybrid and handle both formats. They are usually labeled DVD+/-R

The market for recordable DVD technology never settled down in favor of either the plus or dash formats, which is mostly the result of the increasing numbers of dual-format devices that can record to both formats; it has become very difficult to find new devices that can only record to one of the formats. However, because the DVD-R format has been in use since 1997, it has had a five-year lead on DVD+R. As such, older or cheaper DVD players (up to 2004 vintage) are more likely to favor the DVD-R standard exclusively, and when creating DVD’s for distribution (where the playing unit is unknown or older) the DVD-R format would normally be preferable.

My personal experience has led me towards using the +R. It is slightly better at error handling so more tolerant of dirty or damaged media and also more tolerant to the subtle differences between players.

Norm

Answer 4

The lazer scans from the middle of the disc to the rim for one format & the rim to the middle for the other format. do not know which one is which. They are both re-writable. Old dvd players could only play one or the other format as some were set up to record from the middle & some were set up to record from the outside. But most new players will play both formats although some will record in one format or the other.