Difference of DVD +/- R?

Question

What are the difference between the +\- Rof the dvd? Which is the best of the 2? What can you recommend for data back-ups. Just recently bought dvd writer that is capable of both.

Answer 1

They're very similar, except some DVD players only play one and/or not the other.

Answer 2

I don't really think there is a difference. I have burned to both and view both - they both looked equally good. I think they came up with the + & - when different companies came up with their respective burners and the type of media you could use on it.

Also, note that some burners burn both now.

Answer 3

Hi Snarf,

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 difference is in the number of layers and the companies that support the formats. The size is pretty much the same for both. For detailed differences and comparison just diffen it at

http://www.diffen.com/difference/DVD%2BR...

Answer 5

The +R and -R refer to how the recorder writes the information onto the media.  +R is supposed to be more reliable with better error correction for the data.

The bottom line is you need to get the type of media that your recorder can work with.  This should be in the documentation for the deck and probably written on the front of the machine.  If you have a +/- R deck, it can use either type and get the same results.  As far as playback goes, there really isn't a noticeable quality difference between the two that the end user would see.  Most modern DVD players can play both formats.

Answer 6

I really don't know the difference. Both have worked fine for me.

I mainly use DVD-R for data back-ups.

I use Nero Express to burn a data disc, and I can fit a whole bunch of stuff on them.