Few stupid DVD questions

[BOOGIEMAN]

- What is the difference between DVD-R i DVD+R empty DVD's ?
What does +/- stands for, for the same price is it better
to buy empty DVD-R or DVD+R ?
- What is DVD-RAM ?
- What DVD recorder do you recomend me (under 80 $)
(my friend tells me to by Pioneer DVR-108D) ?
- What DVD Player can you recomend me (I have choice between
LG, Sony, ASUS, MSI & PHILIPS) LG and Philips are cheapest
are they confident enough ?
- What is average lifetime of burned DVD's ? I want to keep backup
files on them. Is it better when I burn DVD's slower (for example
4x instead of 8x or 16x)

I hope you have some time to help me with theese before I buy anything,
thanks in advance

 

[cowboyz]

- What is the difference between DVD-R i DVD+R empty DVD's ?
What does +/- stands for, for the same price is it better
to buy empty DVD-R or DVD+R ?

It is the way the data is burnt to the disc. With some editing and data
recording +R offers some (minor) advantages but at the end of the day it
really makes no difference to the end product. Either a +R or -R disc can
be read on a DVD player.

- What is DVD-RAM ?

it is a different format to +R or -R. It allows the disc to be written
without use of 3rd party software, in effect giving you a 4.7GB floppy disc.
Waste of time in my opinion but others may find a use for it.

- What DVD recorder do you recomend me (under 80 $)
(my friend tells me to by Pioneer DVR-108D) ?

Such a loaded question... Nothing wrong with Pioneer. I've had a Ricoh
which I was happy with and now have a LG which I am also happy with.

- What DVD Player can you recomend me (I have choice between
LG, Sony, ASUS, MSI & PHILIPS) LG and Philips are cheapest
are they confident enough ?

Again, YMMV. I have an ASUS which is slow to pickup the disc but works fine
otherwise.

- What is average lifetime of burned DVD's ? I want to keep backup
files on them. Is it better when I burn DVD's slower (for example
4x instead of 8x or 16x)

I have heard it is 100 years but I doubt it. If stored properly there is
no real reason why they shouldn't last.

 

[ftran999]

- What is the difference between DVD-R i DVD+R empty DVD's ?
What does +/- stands for, for the same price is it better
to buy empty DVD-R or DVD+R ?
- What is DVD-RAM ?
- What DVD recorder do you recomend me (under 80 $)
(my friend tells me to by Pioneer DVR-108D) ?
- What DVD Player can you recomend me (I have choice between
LG, Sony, ASUS, MSI & PHILIPS) LG and Philips are cheapest
are they confident enough ?
- What is average lifetime of burned DVD's ? I want to keep backup
files on them. Is it better when I burn DVD's slower (for example
4x instead of 8x or 16x)

I hope you have some time to help me with theese before I buy anything,
thanks in advance

In addition to what Cowboyz said certain DVD players read one format better
than others. If you have an idea what model player you will be playing the
burned DVDs on that should influence your choice between DVD-r or DVD+R.
Here's some info from the Vidohelp.com website that should be helpful:
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers

 

[Vaughn]

It is the way the data is burnt to the disc. With some editing and data
recording +R offers some (minor) advantages but at the end of the day it
really makes no difference to the end product. Either a +R or -R disc can
be read on a DVD player.


it is a different format to +R or -R. It allows the disc to be written
without use of 3rd party software, in effect giving you a 4.7GB floppy disc.
Waste of time in my opinion but others may find a use for it.


Such a loaded question... Nothing wrong with Pioneer. I've had a Ricoh
which I was happy with and now have a LG which I am also happy with.


Again, YMMV. I have an ASUS which is slow to pickup the disc but works fine

I have heard it is 100 years but I doubt it. If stored properly there is
no real reason why they shouldn't last.

On this point I have heard that UV/Sunlight can, after a time, make CDR
disks unreadable.

Loaded question here, is this true?

And are DVDs also damaged in the same way?

Cheers Vaughn

 

[Dave C.]

On this point I have heard that UV/Sunlight can, after a time, make CDR
disks unreadable.

Loaded question here, is this true?

And are DVDs also damaged in the same way?

Cheers Vaughn

UV/Sunlight is just a form of radiation, so high in frequency that some of
it is actually visible light. We know radiation can and does damage CDR and
DVD media. Want to erase something quick? Throw it in the microwave where
it will be exposed to radiation. So we know that radiation of a type CAN
damage CDR/DVD media. Why would UV/Sunlight be any different? Heck, even
the package of some disks warn you not to store them in sunlight, so there
must be something to it. -Dave

 

[John Doe]

Want to erase something quick? Throw it in the microwave where
it will be exposed to radiation.

Have you ever done that?

 

[ModeratelyConfused]

Have you ever done that?

I've seen it done, and it does the trick rather nicely. The entire
reflective surface of the disk spiderwebs, and it sparks too.

MC

 

[cowboyz]

On this point I have heard that UV/Sunlight can, after a time, make
CDR disks unreadable.

absolutely true. I go through a fair few CDRs in the car because they
always get left on the dash in the heat. Thats where the "If stored
properly" comes in. I use CDRs for the car as a disposible item so it
doesn't bug me. Don't burnt your lifes work on a DVDR and use it as a
sundial and youll be right. My "proper" CD/DVDs are stored in a folder in
individual covers on a bookshelf. never had one fail yet and some of them
are 5-6 years old.

Loaded question here, is this true?

And are DVDs also damaged in the same way?

and yes. DVDs will bugger out if left in the sun.

 

[cowboyz]

I've seen it done, and it does the trick rather nicely. The entire
reflective surface of the disk spiderwebs, and it sparks too.

MC

What does it do to the microwave? That sounds like a good party trick. At
least I could blame the alcohol then....

 

[BOOGIEMAN]

Thanks all for help