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[Miburou]

Futureshop has them on sale for $50 Canadian (for a 100-pack), both DVD-R and DVD+R. So what's the difference between the two, and which one is better? I remember reading that -R is more compatible, but +R is supposed to be superior in some way. Also, are Memorex branded DVD-R/+R any good?

 

[Teknopathetic]

Doesn't really matter if you have a +/- DVD writer. They're pretty equal. They both work with like 75-80% of DVD players, although, I'm sure some DVD players are more psisy about one or the other.

 

[The Shadow]

DVD-R is more compatible. However, if your burner supports bitsetting, you can bitset DVD+R disks so they appear to be retail "DVD-ROM" disks, generally pushing the compatibility higher than DVD-R.

So if you know your drive supports bitsetting, get DVD+R. If not, stick with DVD-R.

 

[miyuru]

How come there are two types in the first place?

 

[tenchir]

How come there are two types in the first place?

I think DVD+R came after DVD-R because there was a technical limitation with -R. DVD-R aren't made to be burn at higher speeds, which would explain why there aren't many 8x DVD-R discs compared to DVD+R discs.

 

[Error Macro]

I like +R because I can burn them faster, they seem to be a little easier to find in stores, and all the devices I've tried them with work. I was most surprised to find that my 1999 Sony 550 DVD player read them just fine, since it won't even read CDR discs at all.

 

[Drexon]

DVD-R is more compatible. However, if your burner supports bitsetting, you can bitset DVD+R disks so they appear to be retail "DVD-ROM" disks, generally pushing the compatibility higher than DVD-R.

So if you know your drive supports bitsetting, get DVD+R. If not, stick with DVD-R.

Sooo, what's bitsetting good for again? You can make a DVD player think it's a retail DVD but if you just burn the movie (or whatnot) with a DVD-R the downside would beee..?

 

[tenchir]

Sooo, what's bitsetting good for again? You can make a DVD player think it's a retail DVD but if you just burn the movie (or whatnot) with a DVD-R the downside would beee..?

You use bitsetting to change the booktype of DVD+R to DVD-ROM. DVD players will look at the disc and see if it's DVD-R, DVD+R, and DVD-ROM. Some dvd players won't play any DVD disc unless it's a DVD-ROM(compatibility problem). Basically, bitsetting is used to trick DVD-players into thinking it's playing a DVD-ROM instead DVD+R.

I don't think compatibility is a problem for many people. You have to have really old DVD players if you do indeed run into a compatibility problem, my 6 years old DVD player could play my burned DVD-/+R movies. Seriously, if you can afford a DVD-Writer, you can afford a new dvd-player, they are cheap now.

 

[Diablos]

Whoever says DVD-R and +R are the same -- that's not entirely true.

With the latest hacked firmware for my LDW-411S (enables it to burn at 8x), 4x DVD-R's that I burn at 8x always fail. CRC errors with data, unreadable frames and chapters with movies. With DVD+R's, everything works perfectly fine... data or movie. Both were Ritek brand media.

I've also found DVD+R's to just generally read better, not only in my DVD-ROM drive but in DVD players. I think it's a lot more reliable, even if not as compatible (woo 5% less compatible, big deal).

So I'd say go with some Ritek DVD+R's. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-132-321&depa=0

 

[DaCocoBrova]

The Samsung drive in the XBOX doesn't read +R at all.

Which sucks.

 

[Diablos]

Really? My Samsung DVD/VCR combo unit plays DVD+R's flawlessly. It's a bit old too, probably made in like 2001.

 

[iyox]

My ps2 has trouble with DVD-R discs and plays DVD+R no problem, one of those things i guess unfortunately i am stuck with my ps2 as my dvd player and unable to play all these DVD's I am backing up.

 

[MoxManiac]

4x DVD-R's that I burn at 8x always fail. CRC errors with data, unreadable frames and chapters with movies. With DVD+R's, everything works perfectly fine... data or movie. Both were Ritek brand media.

Er, dude. They are 4x. Maybe that's why? Maybe try burning them at 4x.

 

[Diablos]

Er, dude. They are 4x. Maybe that's why? Maybe try burning them at 4x.

Er, dude. My +R's are 4x too. But they still burn flawlessly at 8x.

Furthermore my PS2 seems to have more trouble with -R's.

 

[Phoenix]

I plop -Rs into my XBox and PS2 all the time and they work..... when I burn them at their rated speed.