DVD-R vs. DVD+R (with booktype set to DVD-ROM)

[Pooka]

Okay, I've been making back-ups for awhile now, all have been DVD-R, however with the recent issue of manufacturing outsourcing that's been going on even with brand name jewel-case wrapped media from Verbatim and TDK, one is never sure of what you're geting until getting home and reading that manufacturing code off the disc.

Anyhow, I know that before, DVD-R has always been the most compatible overall with old and new set-top players, however I was under the impression that DVD+R's supposedly have to conform to being equal to DVD-ROM's in their reflectivity.

So, the question is, with DVD+R's booktype set to DVD-ROM, does this yield better overall compatibility/functionality with set-top players?

[alexnoe]

The Panasonic RV32 seems to play *some* DVD+R with booktype DVD-ROM. It seems to work if the player doesn't have to seek around too much (i.e. Van Helsing does NOT work on DVD+ with that player even with Bitsetting, tried with CloneDVD+mkisofs+DVDDecrypter; same image file worked on dvd-r/w). In this case, i've tried TY 8x +R, MCC 4x +R, MCC 4x -R and MCC 4x -RW. Several movies did work on TY 8 +R with Bitsetting on that player, but Van Helsing continuously causes an Error 499 after selecting the language :oO

Funnily enough, the same player seems to handle DVD+R DL with bitsetting :oO

With bitsetting it is definitely working on more players than without bitsetting, but it still doesn't seem to be as compatible as DVD-, if you leave out players which intentionally blacklist DVD-, and if you leave out people trying Princo.