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DVD burning 101

2004/11/15 10:29:01

Question

What are the different types of DVD storage media, and which ones can I use to burn DVDs on my computer that will play on my home DVD player?


-- Submitted by: Charles Silvestro,
via e-mail

There are five main types of recordable DVD media:
  • DVD-R
  • DVD-RW
  • DVD+R
  • DVD+RW
  • DVD-RAM

Early PC burners tended to handle only one format or the other, but most newer models are multiformat burners that can record to the +R/RW and -R/RW formats, if not to DVD-RAM as well.

The good news: Except for the comparatively obscure DVD-RAM format, most newer set-top DVD players will play -R and +R discs equally well.

The bad news: Older players have much spottier -R/+R compatibility.

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