[Ham-Computers] RE: DVD Media Question

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

Robert,

Although focused on CD-R's, here's a link to a good Primer on CD-R's (much
of which still apply to DVD recordables):
  http://www.mrichter.com/cdr/welcome.htm

More info on data storage on CD-R/RW's...
  http://www.infinadyne.com/articles.html

And the greatest resource (IMHO) on anything CD/DVD/VCD/SVCD...
  http://www.videohelp.com

In general, DVD+R was designed as a data recording format as opposed to
DVD-R which is based more on the original DVD format.  DVD+R is a bit more
high-tech and PC friendly...therefore, you'll probably see "new" features
introduced in the +R format before the -R format.  On the other side, my
personal experience is that -R is more compatible with stand-alone DVD
players.  For data recording purposes (such as archival backups), either
should suffice.  For creating standalone DVD's, I use DVD-R.  And, just to
keep my media needs simple, I use DVD-R for everything.

Any "RW" format has many caveats and I generally avoid them.  It's not worth
the hassle if something goes "wrong" and I have to use data recovery tools
to recover the data on the disc.  Less likely to occur with write-once DVD's
as the media is inheirently more stable (as well as the recording format).

And, as for the lack of drives...the holidays is probably a good answer.  My
local Fry's usually has shelves full of drives.  Only a couple of palettes
this past weekend.

73 and good luck,

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O (ex-KD6DAE)
    {nn6o}@arrl.net
    {athsu}@nbcuni.com
    No-QRO Int'l #1,000,006
    . -..- - .-. .-   ".... . .- ...- -.--"
 

-----Original Message-----
From: WA5CAB at cs.com [mailto:WA5CAB at cs.com] 
Subject: [Ham-Computers] DVD Media Question

Group,

Can someone explain the practical differences between DVD +R and DVD -R 
media?  Or point me to a site with a good explanation?  And/or comment on
pros and 
cons of using R/W versus R media as longterm backup (other than the obvious 
that the R/W is rewritable but more expensive).

Robert Downs - Houston
<http://www.wa5cab.com> (Web Store)
<wa5cab at cs.com> (Primary email)
<wa5cab at houston.rr.com> (Backup email)