What is DVD+R?
Rumours that +R supposedly has better compatability is actually a myth that is being spread
by a small faction of manufacturers trying to sway the masses into their
court instead of the -R format.
No, I'm not making this up. I spend a lot of time on DVD work, and had to actually research this compatability issue.
The +R standard is now more prominently featured as being supported on the newer
home players because that is the way the industry wants to go. Why? Because
it is a cheaper media to mass produce and can be sold for a higher profit
margin then the -R media.
Those +R supported players also will support -R
media as long as it is created to the -R standards. That is the
trick - meeting the strict standards of the -R camp.
The most compelling reason to go with the -R format is in fact larger compatability.
It was the first public standard, and is the closest thing to both a CD-R and a pressed
DVD.
The +R's wobbled groove requires a special adaption to the hardware and
firmware to be able to read it. Since the -R is recorded in a constant
physical groove (like a CD-R and a pressed CD) almost ANY DVD player can
read it so long as the laser and pickup are strong enough and sensitive
enough to translate the burns into pits and lands. I am not pulling your leg
here - there is an actual site that lists the compatability testing of
hundreds of players out there, and there are far more listed as being
capable of reading -R than +R (and very few of the bargain brands or models
2 yrs or older will read +R reliably, unless very specific paramaters
concerning source format, software, and media brand are met).
The only issue that consistently pops up with -R (incidetally it goes for +R also) is
concerning the use of Sonic MyDVD products. The answer is to use different
software like Ulead or SpruceUp/Primo(RecordNowMax).
Personally, I will stick with my Pioneer A105 4x drive!
Romulous, Feb 2003
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