OK, what I'd like to know is, which is better DVD- and DVD+ and what works best, what brand is the best to burn on, what burner and type (+/-) do you have
The format doesn't mean a whole for the DVD-RW drive itself.Most of the 16x dvd writers are dual format. The main difference between both the plus and dash format is compatability on stand alone players/game consoles/and other pc dvd drives.That is where most dvd backups are going to be viewed. Those will tell you which format,if any that they will play.Some will play both/dash/plus/or none from your DVD-RW drive.If they don't like a certain format from your burner,you'll get some sort of no disc or dirty disc error.It's best to try both formats in those players and see which format that they prefer.
Myself: I bypass both the plus and dash format and booktype my backups with quality plus media to dvd-rom. Dvd-rom is the more universal format for all dvd drives.This booktyping fools those drives into recognizing them as actual dvd-roms. My backups play just about anywhere I want to use them in, that come from both my benq 1620s.
Only the plus format can be booktyped to dvd-rom.
Not all burners support this booktyping feature. Benq/plextor/Lite-on/LG are quality burners that support booktyping.Pioneer and NEC have to have special hacked firmware to achieve booktyping.
Some of the lower quality burners with the booktyping ability are still far from being compatable in stand alones.That is where the burner quality comes in.
One of the most important things about backing up dvds,you want quality media along with a quality burner.Media quality is critical and the quality media will save you many headaches.
If you want to take your backups with you and play them on many different stand alones and pc drive,then booktyping should be considered.
Just a few tips I'd throw in there so you don't do what I did.I have 3 other DVD-RW drives just laying around because the compatability of their backups varied considerably.I'd have to work up special recipes like different format,different brand names,very slow burn speed just to play in certain stand alone players.By getting a second benq 1620,those compatability issues were solved and no more worrying about where those backups are going to be played.
Not only not worrying about which format,I can now just keep the plus format discs and not worry about having to have some dash media laying around.
