On Sun, Dec 12, 2004 at 07:58:11AM -0600, Ronn Blankenship wrote: > In looking at DVD burners and the blank discs for them, I have noticed that > some are labeled "DVD-RW" while others are labeled "DVD+RW". So, > naturally, I wonder, > > (1) What's the difference?
Physically different formats. If you REALLY want to know the details, it is easy to find on the web. > (2) Which, if either, is preferable? They are similar in utility. Since you can get a drive that can handle all the formats +R, -R, +RW, -RW, it isn't a big deal which you choose, unless you need to be compatible with someone else's drive. I suggest you get a drive that can handle both +/-, and then choose the media based on what is the easiest to find and/or the cheapest. (I haven't looked, but it may turn out the 16X +R discs are easier to get than 16X -R discs, for example). > Is this something like VHS/Beta, No. Dual format drives ameliorate the problem. > Note that I am more interested in using said drive and discs for > storing massive amounts of data than in making multiple bootleg copies > of the extended edition of LotR, if that makes any difference . . . > ;-) A slight difference. DVD+R is compatible with a slightly higher percentage of video DVD players than -R, as of the last study I saw. But for data, if you will use the same drive to read and write, it probably doesn't matter. > -- Erik Reuter http://www.erikreuter.net/ _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
