The number of different formats accessible in DVD drives can be confusing to anyone looking for one. This list is much longer, but to handle a few of the common formats, we now have DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM ,DVD+R DL and DVD?RW. Wow! This set of common formats is good enough, no wonder it's confusing!
What's with the Formats?!
The reason behind various recordable DVD เปล่า formats is the fact that no one group owns the technology and various groups have chosen to support one technology over another. There is no industrial standard for manufacturers to reference, so for the time being consumers may have a few choices.
Think about address is DVD itself, which means Digital Versatile Disc. Some may debate that the V represents Video, however with the capability to store video, audio, and data files, Versatile certainly is the keyword.
Begin with the basics
A DVD-ROM drive will be the only one we are going to address it doesn't record. ROM is short for Read Only Memory, and means the typical drive that can merely read DVDs, as well as CDs (all DVD drives can see CDs). The Lite-On LTD-163-DO-R has attributes representative of your typical DVD-ROM drive, and comes with a maximum DVD read speed of 16x as well as a maximum CD read speed of 48x.
Before getting into the different recordable formats, let's address basic principles of what the R and RW are a symbol of, regardless of whether there's a + or - in the centre. R is short for Recordable, which indicates that this disk could be recorded to simply once. RW represents ReWritable, which indicates that the disc might be recorded to over and over again, and are generally rated for 1000 rewrites under good conditions.
The DVD-R/-RW format was developed by Pioneer, the first format appropriate for stand alone DVD players. The audience that promotes the technology calls itself the DVD Forum, which is "an international association of hardware manufacturers, software firms, content providers, and also other users" with notable members including Hitachi, Samsung, and Toshiba. The DVD-R/-RW format is based on CD-RW technology and uses a similar procedure for burning discs.
The DVD+R/+RW format is a newer format, also determined by CD-RW technology, and works with a large percentage of stand alone DVD players. The +R/+RW technology isn't supported by the DVD Forum, and it is main backing comes from a group called the DVD+RW Alliance. The Alliance "is a voluntary gang of industry-leading personal computing manufacturers, optical storage and electronics manufacturers" with members for example Dell, Hewlett Packard, Sony, and Phillips Electronics.
The DVD-RAM format is based on PD-RW (Phase-Differential) drives, and actually uses a cartridge to support the media (just like its PD-RW predecessor). Some DVD-RAM cartridges are double sided, making them ideal for companies to use as system backup, hence DVD-RAM is generally found only in commercial applications, and many end-users won't ever require to use or see this type of drive. The DVD-RAM standard can also be supported by the DVD Forum just as the DVD-R/RW format. However, because of its use of a cartridge (limiting it's compatibility), and also the scarcity and value of the media used, DVD-RAM is often a distant third in comparison to the DVD+R/+RW and DVD-R/-RW technology.
The +R/+RW and -R/-RW formats offer a similar experience, and the main difference DVD+R technology has is the ability to record to multiple layers (with its new DVD+R DL format), where DVD-R is only able to record to one layer (not all +R drives are capable of dual layer burning, but no -R drives are). The Plextor PX-504U is surely an example of a DVD+R/+RW drive competent at recording single layer discs within the +R/+RW format, but also able to read discs recorded by a DVD-R drive.
What's DVD?RW?
DVD?RW is not actually a separate format, but the designation directed at drives competent at both -R/-RW and +R/+RW operation. Such a drive is normally called a "Dual Drive" (to not be confused with a "Double Layer" drive) mainly because it can write to both the +R/+RW and -R/-RW formats. The Samsung TS-H552 is a DVD?RW drive effective at reading and writing every format discussed thus far, and then some. It requires advantage of DVD+R DL (Double Layer) technology provided with the +R format, allowing the proper media to keep virtually double the amount 4.37 GB capacity of the single layer disc.
The other main thought with DVD burners is choosing correct media. Media for DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R and DVD+RW media may all look a similar, but they are slightly different to be able to match the particular recording formats. The price of media for either format is mostly the same, with RW media costing a lot more than R media of either format. Double Layer media is a lot more expensive, and is also the only way with an owner of DVD+R DL drive to take advantage of the tremendous capacity increase. Because the amount of Double Layer drives increase in the market, the price tag on the DVD+R DL media is anticipated to fall to comprehend production of the media. DVD Burners (because they drive tend to be referred to) might be picky regarding the media supported, so be sure to choose your media wisely.
DVD the bottom line is
DVD-ROM : Reads DVD discs
DVD+R : Writes to DVD+R media (may also typically email CD-R and CD-RW media)
DVD+RW : Writes to DVD+RW media (will also typically write to DVD+R, CD-R and CD-RW media)
DVD+R DL : Writes to DVD+R DL (Double Layer) media (may also typically email DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R and CD-RW media; many Double Layer drives may also be dual drives - that is, able to write to BOTH +R/RW and -R/RW media)
DVD-RAM : Writes to DVD-RAM cartridges (not in wide experience consumer market - mainly an enterprise format; can also read PD-RW discs. Won't usually create to any other format including CD-R or CD-RW)
DVD-R : Writes to DVD-R media (may also typically write to CD-R and CD-RW media)
DVD-RW : Writes to DVD-RW media (will likely typically write to DVD-R, CD-R and CD-RW media)
DVD?RW : Writes to DVD-RW and DVD+RW media (may also typically email DVD-R, DVD+R, CD-R and CD-RW media; typically called "Dual Drives" because it can burn to 2 different DVD formats)
Final Words
This article took a look at the more common formats of DVD drives as a way to shed some light on all of the choices available. The differences between them all could possibly be subtle, nevertheless the compatibility issues is often rather frustrating. The straightforward answer to anyone considering a drive would be to forget about + and - independently, and aim for universal compatibility with a good DVD?RW with DVD+R DL support.
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