DVD Formats? at DVinfo.net

June 6th, 2002, 06:22 PM

I'm thinking of buying a DVD Writer / Rewriter, but I'm confused by the different formats available.

I want to produce home DVD's for distribution among friends and family for use on either home DVD players, PC's or Playstation 2's.

But I'm confused by all the formats available. What is the difference between DVD-R and DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW and DVD RAM.

What format is compatable with most home players. And will there be an eventual winner in the marketplace (A la VHS v Betamax v V2000)???

I've been looking at the Vivastar (www.vivastar.ch) RS 111 which is a DVD-R/ RAM recorder for about £280. This is the cheapest writer I have seen but I have not read any reviews on the drive itself. It comes with Five DVD-R discs. It seems good value. Has anyone got one??.

Thanks in advance

Mikey ;-)

Rob Lohman · June 7th, 2002, 05:45 AM

To shatter your glass, no-one knows yet which one will become
the market leader, but I can tell you a bit about the formats. If
you want to allow the disc to play in the most players go with
either DVD-R (widely available yet) or DVD+R (not much available).
They will both do the job, althought they might not play on
older players (this is always the case with new medium and
was also true with the first CD-R's and cd players). But those
two are your best bet. Use RAM, -RW and +RW for testing
(without loosing a precious -R or +R if you screw up). These
can be tested on your PC with a software DVD player like
WinDVD or PowerDVD.

If you want a rewritable format +RW is currently the best
to go. DVD-RAM uses cartridges that only -RAM based equipment
(sometimes!) can read. DVD+RW has a couple of advantages
over DVD-RW (faster format speed, more compatible with
standalone DVD players). But as I said earlier, -R and +R are
your bests ways to go to make sure the most people can
play/view your stuff (and not erase it again!).

Chris Hurd · June 7th, 2002, 06:26 AM

Just to follow up on Rob's post, a good website to explore which should be of help is http://www.vcdhelp.com/

Edward Troxel · June 7th, 2002, 07:07 AM

There is an article in the most recent issue of DV Magazine that reviews the different types of DVDs and even different brands within the same type. The bottom line was that DVD-R is most compatible but the compatiblity varys based on the brand of DVD-R media used.

Ed Smith · June 7th, 2002, 02:17 PM

Mikey,

As Rob pointed out no one knows which format will become market leader (unlike miniDV).

However there is a good magazine called Computer Video, available from WH Smith at about £3.75 and in the June issue there is a special supplement about DVD's and the whole subject.

All the best,

Ed Smith

June 6th, 2002, 06:22 PM	#1
Mikey Gannon Posts: n/a	DVD Formats? I'm thinking of buying a DVD Writer / Rewriter, but I'm confused by the different formats available. I want to produce home DVD's for distribution among friends and family for use on either home DVD players, PC's or Playstation 2's. But I'm confused by all the formats available. What is the difference between DVD-R and DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW and DVD RAM. What format is compatable with most home players. And will there be an eventual winner in the marketplace (A la VHS v Betamax v V2000)??? I've been looking at the Vivastar (www.vivastar.ch) RS 111 which is a DVD-R/ RAM recorder for about £280. This is the cheapest writer I have seen but I have not read any reviews on the drive itself. It comes with Five DVD-R discs. It seems good value. Has anyone got one??. Thanks in advance Mikey ;-)

June 7th, 2002, 05:45 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	To shatter your glass, no-one knows yet which one will become the market leader, but I can tell you a bit about the formats. If you want to allow the disc to play in the most players go with either DVD-R (widely available yet) or DVD+R (not much available). They will both do the job, althought they might not play on older players (this is always the case with new medium and was also true with the first CD-R's and cd players). But those two are your best bet. Use RAM, -RW and +RW for testing (without loosing a precious -R or +R if you screw up). These can be tested on your PC with a software DVD player like WinDVD or PowerDVD. If you want a rewritable format +RW is currently the best to go. DVD-RAM uses cartridges that only -RAM based equipment (sometimes!) can read. DVD+RW has a couple of advantages over DVD-RW (faster format speed, more compatible with standalone DVD players). But as I said earlier, -R and +R are your bests ways to go to make sure the most people can play/view your stuff (and not erase it again!). __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

June 7th, 2002, 06:26 AM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Just to follow up on Rob's post, a good website to explore which should be of help is http://www.vcdhelp.com/ __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

June 7th, 2002, 07:07 AM	#4
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	There is an article in the most recent issue of DV Magazine that reviews the different types of DVDs and even different brands within the same type. The bottom line was that DVD-R is most compatible but the compatiblity varys based on the brand of DVD-R media used.

June 7th, 2002, 02:17 PM	#5
Ed Smith Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hampshire, England Posts: 1,545	Mikey, As Rob pointed out no one knows which format will become market leader (unlike miniDV). However there is a good magazine called Computer Video, available from WH Smith at about £3.75 and in the June issue there is a special supplement about DVD's and the whole subject. All the best, Ed Smith