DVD+R vs DVD-R

Is there really any difference between DVD+R/RW by the and DVD-R/RW besides compatibility obviously? They otherwise seem to be the exact same to me. Why did they bother to make two different formats that are basically the same?? They just like to confuse us and make things more complicate don't they???

 

The truth is that the two competing technologies use different formats. No single company "owns" DVD and both technologies have their "champions".

DVD-R/RW was developed by Pioneer. Based on CD-RW technology, it uses a similar pitch of the helix, mark length of the 'burn' for data, and rotation control. DVD-R/RW is supported by the DVD Forum, an industry-wide group of hardware and software developers, and computer peripheral manufacturers. The DVD-R format has been standardized in ECMA-279 by the Forum, but this is a private standard, not an 'industry' ISO standard like the CD-R/RW Red Book or Orange Book standard.

DVD+R/RW is also based on CD-RW technology. DVD+R/RW is supported by Sony, Philips, HP, Dell, Ricoh, Yamaha, and others, and has recently been endorsed by Microsoft. DVD+R/RW is not supported by the DVD Forum, but the Forum has no power to set industry standards, so it becomes a market-driven issue.

DVD-R:
Benefits: Better DVD playback compatiblity within home DVD players.
Drawbacks: Older technology and less money behind the format means that they come out with faster media and burner technology slower. You will frequently see DVD burners that will support (for instance) 16X DVD+R and only 8X DVD-R.

DVD+R:
Benefits: Faster speeds, more inovations. They typically are dual layered whereas DVD-R is not (though Pioneer has produced dual layer DVD-R discs; read: http://www.pioneer.co.jp/press/release125.html)
Drawbacks: Will not play is some home DVD players. If you know your home DVD player will play DVD+Rs then there is no reason to not use them.

Also, just for the fun of it, DVD-R is pronounced DVD "dash" R, not DVD "minus" R.

JC

 

Thanks!!

I also got an answer here,

http://www.sharpened.net/helpcenter/answer.php?129

 

Ah another answer. Cool.

 

Dash media also has a longer shelf life. I'm told plus media corrupts in about a year and a half, whereas dashes should last close to five years.

 

I actually heard that + media is more reliable. It was developed after - media, so they got a chance to learn from mistakes. It has better defect management and DVD+RW is closer to DVD-RAM in terms of the ability to use it for random access.

 

I use DVD-R because that's what I find in the store. Yet, I do have problems burning multisessions with such disks. Unless I buy the really expensive ones, my burner would resume the multisession but the new session will not be visible thus wasting a hell lot of space.
Next time I'll buy DVD+R and see if there's any difference

 

I use + and -.

I use DVD - for movies and music mostly.

I use DVD + for mostly software and to back up some of th files on my computer..