[Ham-Computers] RE: DVD Media Question

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

The pro's and con's are relatively minor between the two formats.  The
reason there are two formats is the same reason we have multiple political
parties.

"-R" was the first recordable format and was developed by Pioneer.  As
mentioned before, it was designed to mimic the DVD-ROM/Video format.  The
"-R" format we commonly use is known as "General".  There's also another
"-R" format used for "Authoring" (used for "mastering" other DVD's).  "-R"'s
main advantage is compatibility with stand alone DVD players.

"+R" was developed by Philips and Sony as a competitor to "-R".  It took
into consideration the use of DVD as a data storage medium and optimized the
"format" to computer usage.  It's main advantage is the efficiency of the
data format for PC style reads/writes.  For example, I believe it's better
suited when handling "random" reads/writes across the disc as opposed to
"-R" which is based on a format designed for sequential access (such as
movies).

Each as their own "camp".  For "-R", "-RW", and "-RAM", it's at the DVD
forum (http://www.dvdforum.org).  BTW, the "DVD Forum" is also the official
organization that defines the original "DVD" format.  For "+R", "+RW", "+R
DL", it's the "DVD +RW Alliance" (http://www.dvdrw.com/). 

Otherwise, in a nutshell, there are no "major" differences that the typical
user will see.  Archival life is dependent on the quality of the media, not
the format.  Both "+R" and "-R" have good and crappy quality media
available.  Brand names don't mean much these days when it comes to
media...find out who is the actual manufacturer of the disc.  It's such a
cut throat market that most "brand names" just by in bulk from generic disc
manufacturers.  I spoke to a rep at the Verbatim booth while at CES a couple
weeks ago.  He acknowledges that the media they sell to the retail market
(e.g. Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, Fry's, etc) is usually OEM'd from a
third party.  True "in-house" made Verbatim discs are generally only
available through special channels - those who really want the "quality"
discs will know where to find them.  Others generally don't care as the $$$
is the deciding factor.

So, for your purpose of archival backups, it really doesn't matter which
format you choose (-R or +R).  Just make sure the discs you buy are of a
high quality and don't use ReWritables.  There are companies that will test
media for you for error rates, if your data is that important.  The only
"real" advantage right now that "+R" has over "-R" is that the current "Dual
Layer" drives are "+R".  Dual Layer "-R" are due soon (remember what I wrote
earlier about +R being more technially advanced, so features will show up
here first).  Downside to Dual Layer...cost.  The discs are EXPENSIVE!

73,

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O


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

OK.  But the drive specs on those currently showing up online list write 
speeds of 16X DVD +R, 8X or 16X DVD -R and 4X DVD +R DL.  Which I took to
imply 
that there must be a single layer +R as well.

It's the pros & cons that I'm primarily interested in.  Doesn't apparently 
affect which drive I buy as they all seem to handle all of the media types.
But 
there must be some reason for there to be two different types.

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