Advice on DVD types please (-, +, dual layer)

MarkBargain

Do computers write to DVD+r and DVD-r these days? I have an Acer Aspire 5741-A laptop (https://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5083383.htm) and was wondering what type to get, or can I buy any sort of DVDs and write data to them? The laptop spec says "dual layer", is that a separate type or are all DVDs dual layer?

fwor

A dual layer drive can write both single and dual layer DVDs. A single layer one can't (obviously).

Differences between types and further links here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD%2BR

MarkBargain

fwor wrote: »

A dual layer drive can write both single and dual layer DVDs. A single layer one can't (obviously).

Differences between types and further links here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD%2BR

Thanks for this. So, I'll avoid -R discs and buy some +R ones.

bat999

MarkBargain wrote: »

So, I'll avoid -R discs and buy some +R ones.

Why?....:huh:

Dave_C_2

MarkBargain wrote: »

Thanks for this. So, I'll avoid -R discs and buy some +R ones.

Just make sure your DVD player can playback DVD+R. My 5 year old Panasonic S75 will play pretty much all disc formats including DVD-R, but won't play DVD+R.

Dave

MarkBargain

bat999 wrote: »

Why?....:huh:

The Wiki article says -R is an older format and as my laptop is new I thought I'd go for the newer +R, but maybe -R would work just as well?

poppy10_2

MarkBargain wrote: »

The Wiki article says -R is an older format and as my laptop is new I thought I'd go for the newer +R, but maybe -R would work just as well?

Your laptop will read both -R and +R equally well. Some older standalone DVD players are more compatible with -R than +R for video, but really these days there's no real difference between the two in terms of support. -R tends to be a little cheaper as it is the more popular format and is mass-produced on a larger scale.

esuhl

DVR-R was the "original" recordable DVD. DVD video players used to be more likely to read DVD-Rs than +Rs, although nowadays most will read both types.

DVD+Rs use more bits for checksums/error-correction, so the capacity is very slightly lower, and they are slightly less likely to work with standalone DVD video players.

I'd probably veer towards using DVD-R for distributing video (better compatibility) and DVD+R for archiving data (better error-correction). Actually, scrub that - this is MSE! I'd just use the cheapest! :money:

I bet you won't notice any difference!

CoolHotCold

Not going to notice any differences.
The way I describe it is,
"Think of a gramophone record with the groves and bumps. -R writes and reads to the groves, whereas +R writes and reads to the bumps"

aliEnRIK

With regards to dual layer, they need to be DVD+R for the 'layer skip' to work properly if it was being played on a dvd player (possibly also if it was a hidef file on a PS3 or whatever)

roddydogs

Go for DVD-RW, their not much dearer and you can re-use them.