Here is the scoop
I saw something on TechTV a few months back where they were saying that the +R and +RW were better formats b/c of a wider compatability w/ dvd players, especially older players. Also, I just spoke with a friend of mine who's father just bought a pioneer dvd burner and says he can't play the dvd-r's on his older dvd player.
Can anyone confirm or deny this compatability issue?
I guess this pioneer he purchased was a +RW. Is that all Pioneer makes for those units? I'm not sure.
Pioneer is the king of -R/RW and Philips is the king of +RW (HPs are Philips ). Up until now, each only made those formats they are kings of. Compatibility between the two have been a heated debate ever since both consortiums started comissioning studies. Odd how the outcome changed based on who paid for the study <grin>.
Generally, the - and + R discs are more compatible on older players, as they have a dye that is burned to make the disk. The color of this dye, depending on the manufacturer of the disc, makes it easier for the laser to reflect the light, and data to get back to the player. While technically, the -R format is more compatable, as it's data structure most closley matches that of a real DVD disc, the variable of the dyes used kinda makes this a moot point between the two. Generally the + and - R formats are about 90% compatable with the players out there.
NOW.....
RW is another story. The way a RW disc is written is that a crystal array ( very tiny ) is hit with a certain intensity of light, and that causes it to go opaque. When hit with another intensity, it causes it to clear ( some ). The reflectivity of these discs are only about 40% of that of a normal DVD disc, causing older players, that have no idea how to adjust their laser power of less reflective media, not to be able to read these discs. There are between 40%-60% of the players that will read these discs. In this cases, studies have shown the the -RW format is more compatable, but of course, that depends you your DVD player.
In short, If you have a DVD burner ( not including RAM, which really isn't a DVD in any way but name ) use the write once media (R) for the best compatability, and use good blank stock from a major vendor, such as SONY, Verbatum, or Apple ( which I believe is actually Verbatum) .
Just what I know...
Max
P.S. the diference between the two formats is that +R is indexed so that in a computer, DVDs can be used like floppies. This feature became less important when the -R consortium changed the rules so that -R discs were not absolutly required to be finished ( VR format ).
The two formats have matched each other in features, and it is only a firmware upgrade away from being the same format.
Until then a -R disc still will not burn in a +R recorder.
Max
