Which DVD-format to buy NOW ?

[kenma]

Hello DVD-burning-professionals :)

I'm wondering if you could tell me which DVD-format (DVD- or DVD+) to choose. I want to get a dvd-burner now, but the format-question on the market is not solved yet, i guess.
Do we know which format will be supported in the future by the industry ?
Which DVD+/-R format does have the highest compatibility ?
Which DVD ReWritable format does have the highest compatibility ?
Which burners are the cheapest and which are the best ?

[Doom9]

always the same question. You will never get a good answer to this question (see forum rule12 http://forum.doom9.org/forum-rules.htm which even forbids that line of questioning).
Every happy DVD-R user will tell you to get a DVD-R
Every happy DVD+R user will tell you to get a DVD+R
You can find facts supporting both of the above categories and facts to contradict them.

So, look at it from this angle: By the time one format may have disappeared you will have bought at least 2 DVD burners so right now you can't possibly go wrong. Pick whatever you feel is best for you. www.vcdhelp.com has a big DVD player compatibility database, look up your player and see if it doesn't support a certain format (most players support both formats.. compatibility rate for DVD-R and DVD+R is roughly the same, at around 90% give or take a few).

And if I knew what the industry is going to support in the future I'd be a very rich man and wouldn't waste my time here.. rather I'd buy and sell stock until I have more money than Bill Gates :devil:

[Gil T Pleasure]

Another option is to get a dual format drive like the Sony DRU500. Of course, it'll cost you more. ;)

[kenma]

@Doom9: I'm sorry that I broke that rule, but I'm not sure which drive to buy now. Has there been a poll how many users are using dvd-r or dvd+r ?

@Gil T Pleasure: I heard about this drive, but it makes no sense to me buying a drive supporting both (or better all four) formats and writing always only one format, because of buying a few blank discs at once (not piece by piece).

Thanks for your answers anyway!

[mudda_t]

Everything you ever wanted to know is right here (http://www.thedigitalbits.com/officialfaq.html).

Have fun reading!

[Gil T Pleasure]

kenma,

The Sony DRU500 is designed primarily for people who are hesitant to get a burner for fear of choosing the wrong format. If you feel comfortable getting either DVD+RW or DVD-RW drive, then good for you. Get the cheapest drive that supports the highest speed to date (2.4x DVD+RW, 4x DVD+R; 2x DVD-RW, 4x DVD-R) like the Pioneer 105.

-Gil

PS: here's a poll (http://www.dvdrhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=113424) showing a breakdown of DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW/RAM and DVD±R/RW owners. Notice how many people own the DVD±R/RW drive even though the Sony DRU500 was just recently launched.