DVD ignorance

Hello,

I am confused about the different types of recordable DVD formats available.

I am looking to back up the Movies from my 2.4 SR MBP onto DVDs for long-term storage. Can anyone help guide me through the different formats that are compatible with my mbp? Ideally, I would like to have re-recordable media that is the highest capacity possible.

Thank you all in advance,
MonkeyNuts

 

DVD's come in two formats, + and -

Both should work equally well in your mbp, and in reality there is very little difference between the two formats.

You then have single layer or double layer. Single layer is the most economical and you can fit 4.7GB/disk (real world ~4.4) Double layer (DL) disks are more expensive but can fit 8.5GB (~8.0).

Next you need to choose if you want single write (R)
or re-writable (RW)

So for eg, say you want double layer re-writable disks look for DVD(+ or -) DL RW on the disk.
eg 2. single layer single write = DVD(- or +) R.
The latest superdrives from mac should except all of these above standards... but just in case check the spec's listed with your specific model against the nomenclature above.
good luck

a

 

What format are the movies currently? ISO? VOB? AVI? MOV? Something else?

For long-term backup, why not just use an external hard drive?

 

i stick with DVD+R's. best compatibility in dvd players and other crap

i dont ever intend to go -

 

Hi,

Firstly, thanks for all your comments, very helpful!
In response, most of my films are .avi. They are all backed up with Time Machine on my external, but I only have the one external (for now) and since I hardly watch the films I just want to get rid of them without fully deleting them.

Thanks again to you all, especially to you Underpantman. I love these forums, it's so useful for my many ponderings and questions of general ignorance!

 

Really? I was always under the impression that the DVD-Rs had the best compatibility with old(er) players... but DVD+Rs are newer and slightly better overall?

 

You're correct.

DVD-R and DVD-RW are the formats that were originally designed by the DVD Forum and approved by the DVD Forum.

DVD+R/RW is made by another group that has nothing to do with the DVD Forum.

With that said, DVD-R virtually guarantees compatibility with nearly all DVD players and DVD drives. The only drives that can't read them would be extremely old players from the 90s that probably don't even still work today.

Just about every DVD player sold today can read both forums, but its not guaranteed. For a DVD player to legally be sold, it only has to meet the requirements set forth by the DVD Forum. And those requirements don't include DVD+R/RW compatibility.

In my experience, even players that said they could read the + format couldn't always do it reliably. The PS2 (models since late 2003) is supposed to read both DVD+R and DVD+RW, yet it varies by disc. However, even the first run PS2s will play virtually every DVD-R thrown at it.

My household has been through about 8 DVD players in the last 10 years (mostly just upgrading, only the oldest have stopped working) and every one of them has played DVD-Rs just fine.

DVD-R is the way to go. For compatibility and because its easier to get high quality discs. For example, Fujifilm might use Taiyo Yuden (highest rated manufacturer for recordable optical discs) for their DVD-Rs, but CMC Magnetics for their DVD+Rs. CMC Magnetics is generally regarded as the worst of all of the manufacturers.

For the original poster: rewritable media is not the way to go for long term storage. Those discs tend to die rather quickly, and most don't come close to the stated "1,000 rewrites" before failing. For long term storage, you'll want Taiyo Yuden DVD-Rs and even then you'll want to make new copies every couple of years.