DVD-R or DVD+R

DCFC79

Im wanting to buy some blank dvd's but im not sure whether to go for dvd-r or the +r, if it helps the dvd would be played in a dvd, is verbatim the best brand to get

pault123

most people seem to buy minus.

although 99% of dvdrw's support either nowadays.

I normally use

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Peripherals/Recordable+Media/DVD-/TDK+DVD-R+16x-25+Pack?productId=31955

or

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Peripherals/Recordable+Media/DVD-/Sumvision+Ritek+Super+A+Grade+DVD-R+16X+Inkjet+Printable+50pcs+?productId=36729

esuhl

DVD-R and DVD+R use different encoding formats, so you should get the type of DVD that will play on the device you have, although many devices (such as DVD drives in computers) are compatible with both versions.

I believe that DVD-R is the original standard, and is more likely to be used by separate DVD players plugged into a TV.

If I remember rightly, DVD+R has a slightly lower capacity but better error correction, which could be useful if you are intending to write data files to the discs.

Hope this helps...

isofa

when I was deciding on backup media a few years ago + won the choice, although I can't remember why! I've a set of Verbatim DVD+RWs that have been wiped and reused several hundred times, working fine.

If they are to be played in a DVD player, some won't work, on DVD player won't play one type, yet is fine with the other, buy a couple and test it out. Many can play +/- Rs but most can't play RW discs.

DCFC79

Theyre quite cheap, are sumvision ok, i wont be able to test it on the dvd player that its to be used on though as its not my dvd player, i have a dvd player that i could test it on

inmypocketnottheirs

You can get Maxell 16 x either + or - for £12.99 from Play.com for 100 discs in a cake box including free delivery.

DCFC79

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

You can get Maxell 16 x either + or - for £12.99 from Play.com for 100 discs in a cake box including free delivery.

are maxwells any good

isofa

I've always used Verbatim for long term use, TDK and Imation as second and thirds, Imation I've had more faults with than the others, never had a faulty Verbatim or TDK disc.

GeoffX

Dash R disks ( DVD-R ) are the official standard format. Plus R ( DVD+R ) are the newer, technically superior format. Most current players and computers can use them. I've never bought anything else.

It's the dye that the disk uses that matters, not the brand name on the packet. Oh, and where you bought them. Top quality disks such as Taiyo Yudens - mainly available in the UK from Verbatim with the package marked as Made in Japan - are faked and sold in markets and via dodgy websites.

I'd recommend DVD+R disks, Verbatim branded, with the label marked as Made in Japan or Made in Taiwan. They are supposed to be in Staples and Sainsbury for under £8 for 50 at the moment. You should also make sure that your burner has the latest firmware installed.

An important thing to remember is that just because a disk records and verifies, it doesn't mean it's any good. All that means is that that particular burner can read it at that moment in time. I remember reading an article in PC Pro a few years ago where a columnist had recorded his camcorder films to DVD. A few months later at Christmas he wanted to show them to his family. They were unplayable on any computer or stand-alone player he tried. And he'd disposed of the tapes.

You need to use something like Nero DiscSpeed to perform a Disc Quality scan. The two main numbers it produces are PI and PIF. They shouldn't generally exceed 280 and 4 respectively. Overall cumulative totals less than 10,000 and 1000 respectively are an excellent result. Disks will verify with PI totals of over a million, but remember that journalist...

inmypocketnottheirs

DCFC79 wrote: »

are maxwells any good

I must have used 5 or 600 atleast. I have never had a problem. At 12.9p each, I don't think you can beat the value.

robredz

Some older DVD recorders are + R only and so will only record on a +R disk, same goes for some laptops, (super multi will write both).
however a DVD - R that has been finalised *should* play on a + R recorder