what format for start up and backup hard drives in osx10.5?

[faumble]

Want to double check, what are the differences or what is the best format to format a hard drive in macosx (10.5.3)? I see there are various options like standard, exteneded, jornaled, etc..
I have 2 disks one will be the startup disk and the other one will be to save my work, how should I format each?
also, I have a third hard drive with all my media (music, movies, etc) in NTFS format, is this format better/worse or how is it different from mac's hd formats?
thank very much!

 

[robbieduncan]

HFS+ for anything you only want to use with your Mac. Pretty much required for startup disks.

Macs can't write to NTFS formatted drives without additional software...

 

[faumble]

Thanks! so why HFS+? do the other formats have any advantages?
I know about not being able to write to NTFS, I am just wondering what is the difference between NTFS and HFS+?
thanks again