Turn on suggestions
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
Showing results for
Which DVD should I use?
Topic Options
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Mark Topic as New
- Mark Topic as Read
- Float this Topic for Current User
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Printer Friendly Page
- Plusnet Community
- :
- Forum
- :
- Other forums
- :
- Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc
- :
- Re: Which DVD should I use?
Which DVD should I use?
14-05-2009 8:12 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
Just got a new laptop.... missus`s burnt the mobo, so I got a new one, and she got my old one !...
this one I got has a DVD writer, so IF I want to make backups of my photograps and other stuff, I can use the DVD writer.....
EXCEPT.... I don`t know which type I should buy.... + - +/- R RW,
and speed numbers too? what do they all mean?
How do I find out, is there something in the "system" or hardware file/folders on the laptop somewhere?
Do I need different type(s) for making movie DVD to making backup copies of files?
this one I got has a DVD writer, so IF I want to make backups of my photograps and other stuff, I can use the DVD writer.....
EXCEPT.... I don`t know which type I should buy.... + - +/- R RW,
and speed numbers too? what do they all mean?
How do I find out, is there something in the "system" or hardware file/folders on the laptop somewhere?
Do I need different type(s) for making movie DVD to making backup copies of files?
7 REPLIES 7
Re: Which DVD should I use?
14-05-2009 8:31 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
its a bit of a nightmare, most new DVD players take + and -, the older ones dont, but my old friend the Google came up with this http://support.gateway.com/s/dvd/shared/5502420faq8.shtml
Re: Which DVD should I use?
14-05-2009 8:36 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
Right...
On the question of going for - or + media, - media has slightly better compatibility with old DVD players etc. than + media, because it was ratified as part of the DVD specification a few years earlier than +. So this is worth bearing in mind if you're making DVDs that you'll give to people, as some of those people might have older devices.
Regarding R vs. RW, the main difference is that R discs can't be erased, so what you burn to them has to stay there for good. RW ('rewriteable') discs can be used over-and-over again. However, I do believe some standalone DVD players can have problems reading RW discs, so for movies that you hand out to people, you'll probably want to stick with R. Also, RW discs are considerably more expensive.
Finally, the speed: different DVD writers can support different maximum burn speeds, but in order for things to work, you need discs that are known to work at such high speeds - i.e. an 8x disc may cause problems if burnt at 16x. Having said that, disc burning software generally allows you to control the burn speed used irrespective of your drive's maximum speed. So if you want to save money, you can buy cheaper, slow-burning discs.
On the question of going for - or + media, - media has slightly better compatibility with old DVD players etc. than + media, because it was ratified as part of the DVD specification a few years earlier than +. So this is worth bearing in mind if you're making DVDs that you'll give to people, as some of those people might have older devices.
Regarding R vs. RW, the main difference is that R discs can't be erased, so what you burn to them has to stay there for good. RW ('rewriteable') discs can be used over-and-over again. However, I do believe some standalone DVD players can have problems reading RW discs, so for movies that you hand out to people, you'll probably want to stick with R. Also, RW discs are considerably more expensive.
Finally, the speed: different DVD writers can support different maximum burn speeds, but in order for things to work, you need discs that are known to work at such high speeds - i.e. an 8x disc may cause problems if burnt at 16x. Having said that, disc burning software generally allows you to control the burn speed used irrespective of your drive's maximum speed. So if you want to save money, you can buy cheaper, slow-burning discs.
Re: Which DVD should I use?
14-05-2009 9:15 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
Thanks to PP for the linky .. very informative.... have bookmarked it, so I can read it again, and again, and again... !
Thanks to Be3G for the short version. ! much appreciated....
Thanks to Be3G for the short version. ! much appreciated....
Re: Which DVD should I use?
14-05-2009 11:18 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
I plump for -R's personally, for the compatibility reason and they seem to burn better in my drive.
Customer / Moderator
If it helped click the thumb
If it fixed it click 'This fixed my problem'
If it helped click the thumb
If it fixed it click 'This fixed my problem'
Re: Which DVD should I use?
15-05-2009 9:18 AM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
Google the details of your drive, This is mine http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_DW_U54A_DVD_RW_drive_IDE/4507-3212_7-31296004.html?tag=nav
It shows the dvd compatibility and all the relevant speeds etc
It shows the dvd compatibility and all the relevant speeds etc
Re: Which DVD should I use?
15-05-2009 3:02 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
Thanks, santiago, have looked up my "system" information, initially to get the dvd player info to google, however it also says it can use + or - dvd`s, so I am fixed up now !
Adiewoo, thanks for the tip about - being more compatible with older equipment,
I shall remember that if I do any film stuff for "outsiders"... as original idea is to store photos and other files,
Adiewoo, thanks for the tip about - being more compatible with older equipment,
I shall remember that if I do any film stuff for "outsiders"... as original idea is to store photos and other files,
Re: Which DVD should I use?
15-05-2009 11:43 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Highlight
- Report to Moderator
The answer may be simple. Most players don't care between + and -
I decided on + because my recorder burns them faster, simple as that. I occasionally buy - if that is all is in stock wherever I am buying the discs.
I decided on + because my recorder burns them faster, simple as that. I occasionally buy - if that is all is in stock wherever I am buying the discs.
Topic Options
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Mark Topic as New
- Mark Topic as Read
- Float this Topic for Current User
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Printer Friendly Page
- Plusnet Community
- :
- Forum
- :
- Other forums
- :
- Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc
- :
- Re: Which DVD should I use?