Which DVD Recordable Format Will Win?

kila_m writes: "Their is a format war going on between two recordable formats 'DVD-R' and 'DVD+R.' Both formats do virtually the same thing i.e. are readable in most DVD-ROM drives - but a '-' disk is not recordable in a '+' drive and vice-versa. We have a review of the Pioneer DVR-A04 - the worlds best-selling DVD writer and based on the '-' format. I would like get an view of what recordable format Slashdot readers prefer or think is going to win."

Comments

DVD is crap

[t_allardyce]

Why is this even in discussion, DVD is dead. It didnt live up to it, 8GB is just not enough. All the new technologies that can store 100's of GBs will win, unless the RIAA/MPAA decides that the engineers working on them should have some 'accidents'

DVD+RW is superior, the war will continue.

[VTBlue]

If you look from a technological standpoint, DVD+RW is clearly superior cause it was designed from the ground up to MAINTAIN compatibility with existing recorders at FULL SPEC. This is key because where + was built with compatibility in mind, this is not the case with -. With - recording times are limited because of the non standard "video recording mode" and also the lack of mpeg-2 VBR recording. Thats right only CBR with -. Now of course this is all generally speaking. Anyone can choose the author their own dvds using complicated software like Scenarist and perhaps get a nice VBR recording on -, but that fact is we cant simply view this issue from the geek or power user perspective. You have to look at set top boxes, standalones, as well as the computer. In this situation, DVD+RW offers full VBR MPEG-2 recording at various rates unlike the the 2 hour compatibility mode limit of DVD-RW, plus you get on the fly editing and cut scene rewrites.

And the issue of compatibility is really a marketing scam because it really only applys to a fraction of the 1st-Generation DVD players. You all can get NEW better performing players for $80US so whats the issue? Even here, DVD+RW maintains better compatibility. Just look at the supported players list.

The only negative that exists with + is that the media is just too damn expensive compared to -. But this is a temporary set back. DVD-RW has cheaper media but the problem is that ure limited to 1x recording if ure lucky 2x. DVD+RW is now a 2.5x with the new Phillips drive.

I hope this has educated the lot of you minus Pioneer Fanatic owners. Just one more this, if u did purchase a DVD-RW drive, u really didnt make a bad choice cause ure media will still work for reading, and if u are using it, then more power to ya. Plus think about the thousands of blanks that will sell DIRT CHEAP if DVD-RW standard dies.

FOR MORE INFO CHEK OUT WWW.DVDPLUSRW.ORG

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