DVD dash vs DVD plus Discs

[mabas9395]

I have just finished a photo slideshow for my DS 2nd grade class using photos contributed by all the parents. This weekend I'll be burning 25 copies of it for all the kids in the class and before I go out and buy the discs, I was wondering if there was any good reason to choose DVD-R disc or DVD+R discs?

I think in the past DVD burners only did one or the other and one type used to be more expensive. But I know my burner is -/+ so that isn't an issue.

Is one type more compatible with DVD players? I'll be giving these out to all the kids in the class so I want something that will be able to be played on lots of diffferent types of DVD players.

Does one kind last longer? I assume that people will want to keep this wonderful, touching, professional-quality slideshow around for years and years and so we need something that will last.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Cricket2]

The DVD-R has been out longer so some older DVD players seem to favor that format for playback. Other than that, while there are technical differences for each format (error correcting during the burn is better with +R but high speed reading favors the -R) you shouldn't notice the difference.

I use +R but only because I get them for free

 

[Cricket2]

Oh, I forgot my example
I can't play DVD+R's in my '07 Town and Country's DVD player. Never tried a -R so I don't know about that.

 

[webshark3]

Oh, I forgot my example
I can't play DVD+R's in my '07 Town and Country's DVD player. Never tried a -R so I don't know about that.

Yep DVD-R has been around longer, so if you want a "near" guarantee that the disc will play in even generation 1 DVD players (even some that pre-date dvd-r), use dvd-r. But the debate now-a-days is pretty moot. It usually comes down to what ever you find cheaper.

 

[Groucho]

Yeah, the compatibility difference exists but is very slight - maybe 1%.

DVD-Rs do store a hair more data, like a few meg's worth, I think - don't remember exactly off the top of my head.

I generally choose -Rs when I have a choice, though that bit me on my last WDW trip when I brought along as stack of -Rs to back up my photos, then remembered that my work-supplied laptop would only burn +Rs! Argh! Fortunately, everything from the past few years writes both with no problems.

I do sometimes buy +Rs if the price is better. Mostly, I get 100-packs of Riteks for just over $20, or for a while there, BJ's Wholesale had 50-packs of Fujis for $10 and I'd always buy those.

 

[Cricket2]

If you want to get really technical, DVD+R isn't actually a "DVD" at all. It's a "DVD compatible media". Irrelevant in real life, but a small point the DVD-R folks like to bring up all the time.

 

[Groucho]

Ignore me, I misread something in the last message.

 

[Cricket2]

Maybe I got it backwards. I know one of them is and one isn't. Well, I guess it really depends on who officialy has control of the "DVD" term doesn't it?

I too would rather see BluRay as the dominant format. Watch it be another Beta.

 

[Groucho]

You were right, but I read that you typed -R both times, not +R and then -R.

Nevermind... not the first not last time I didn't read something completely before replying. I'm so ashamed...!

 

[Cricket2]

Well there you go. I was right for a change

 

[photo_chick]

Yep DVD-R has been around longer, so if you want a "near" guarantee that the disc will play in even generation 1 DVD players (even some that pre-date dvd-r), use dvd-r. But the debate now-a-days is pretty moot. It usually comes down to what ever you find cheaper.

Glad you pu t"near" in there. I have a Pioneer DVD/Laserdisc player that I got in '97 (had to replace teh Realistic LD that died). It will not play any of the dvd's I burn. It will not do CR-R either. Tried burning discs from several different burners here.

 

[mabas9395]

Well, I just burned 25 of the DVD-R's so I hope they work for everyone in the class.

Thanks for your help.