Rahul wrote:
> "Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in
> news:#YpoGn#3IHA.3500@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl:
>
>
>> The plus (+) and minus (-) are write formats. Either writer
>> requirement doesn't really matter. In the end, both can read both
>> formats if worth their salt.
>>
>> In the early days, there were DVD players for the TV that could only
>> read the plus or minus versions. Now, that's not really an issue.
>> Stamped DVDs is not an issue in any case. For both DVD players and
>> DVD burners, media quality and reflectivity can determine the outcome
>> of a readability and burner recognition.
>
> Thanks Dave! I just dug into the specs. for my Dell Inspirion Laptop: "8X
> DVD+/-RW Drive for Inspiron 6400/E1505"
>
> So I guess it can write to both + and - types I assume.

That may depend on the particular drive you have.

> They both seem to
> be equally cheap. Any reason to buy one over the other?

DVD-R's tend to be more compatible (esp. with older models), since it's been
around a lot longer.

I've had some problems with DVD+Rs working on some older models, but not
with the DVD-Rs.

I don't use (nor will I ever use) any R/W discs. Only the basic discs
(like DVD-R, or DVD+R), using the DAO (disc-at-once) mode, and NO packet
writing garbage.

That means that when you write (or burn) the disc, it's done. If you want
to change things, you need to get a new disc. But at least it's RELIABLE.

(The same cannot be said for the R/W packet-writing based stuff. Like
InCD (in Nero), and DirectCD (in EZCD) for example (assuming you installed
those packet writing modules).