Difference from dvd r+ and dvd r- (type of cd) i want to buy a dvd to burn something up, but confused in that.

Question

Difference from dvd r+ and dvd r- (type of cd) i want to buy a dvd to burn something up, but confused in that.

Answer 1

Hi 2852,

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 2

DVD -R is the more common format these days.  I'd use that.

But it's dependent on your DVD burner.  The newest burners will generally burn in both + and - formats.  Older burners (1 year or more, approximately) might only burn in either + or -.  

If your burner can handle either format, then I'd choose the DVD-R.