| /CReWdog/ said:
|
| > I've seen so many different reasons given, both here & elsewhere, as to
| > which format is best. The whole deal sounds like another headbanger like
| > we had back in the 80's with Betamax & VHS (we all know who won that
| > one, but the fact reains to this day that Betamax was the superior
| > format).
| > I'm considering replacing my VCR (as it is on its last legs)with a DVD
| > recorder (with built in HDD). I'm wondering which side of the fence to
| > jump W.R.T + or -. I've heard that + may be the best way to go as you
| > can do multiple recordings on the same disc as the + format doesn't
| > close the disc everytime. Oh, nearly forgot, there's DVD RAM as well!
| > Anyone know of any forums or info sites that explain the differences
| > between each format in simple terms that don't put you to sleep as you
| > read them??
|
| DVD-R/RW would be a good bet now. Many modern DVD players, whether PC or
| standalone, can handle both + and -. DVD-RW has subformats of Video and
| VR as well, to add to the confusion.^ Few players are DVD- RAM compliant
| (mainly Panasonic and its licensees). Compare media pricing before you
| decide.
|
| DVD-R disks are not necessarily closed. DATA, for instance, can be
| appended. But DVD audio recordings intended for standalone players are
| usually one pass - then closed. The reason is that standalone players,
| with some exceptions, do not handle a mix of file types. The generally
| stated purpose of closing a disk is to make it compatible with various
| players.
|
| Higher recording capacity, such as dual-layer, is in store - but do you
| really need it? Is it worth the relatively high cost? Or can you wait
| until prices drop to more enticing levels?
|
| --
| For most XP answers and tweaks...
|
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
|
http://dougknox.com http://aumha.org
|
http://support.microsoft.com
Sometimes waiting for prices to drop can be an endless process, so it might
in some cases be best to just jump in and be prepared for the fact that the
technology you buy today is going to be much cheaper and possibly
near-obsolete in a short time. I bought a Sony dual format 8x DVD burner
this time last year and it cost about $200; you can buy a faster one, and
double-layer to boot, for less than half that now. NoNo makes a good point
about emerging blue-ray technology though, which is something it might be
worth waiting for. As for my Sony burner, I'm going to get a new one and put
the Sony in a USB enclosure for my college student son to use with his
laptop. Time marches on.
