Community Newsletter: Q&A: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats
- 1/19/06 4:38 PM
True, DVD RW has some use now as it is widely supported/sold
by deirdrew - 1/20/06 8:31 AM In reply to: RW format has it's use by coachbb94. but THE most stable media, let alone re-writable media, DVD RAM, would be cheaper in the long run if you want to constantly re-write, so I still think that is the format to go for as far as economy of your players/recorders/drives support it. Support for it is found more and more in the newer player/drive products, and in the better players and more robust player/recorder products now.
Hopefully someday consumers will get understand the formats better and it will become more common and thus more available and supported in the cheaper players and drives. 
DVD RW
by pamegant - 1/31/06 12:15 AM In reply to: True, DVD RW has some use now as it is widely supported/sold by deirdrewI think this disc format would be more widely supported if somebody could explain in basic english how to re-write as I've tried all ways to delete and/or re-write , with no success.
I'm using windows , Pentium 4 on my pc , XP Pentium 3 on my Sony VAIO laptop , and tried programmes like Nero 7.1 and VSO software with no success.
I think I speak for a fairly large portion of people that are new to computing.
Any advise would be very usefull.
Help needed here too!
by henry higgins - 1/31/06 2:16 AM In reply to: DVD RW by pamegantI can't do it either and would definitely welcome some help.
Blu-Ray Vs. HD-DVD
by tonytone305 - 1/20/06 9:23 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Word is out that a very small amount (possibly 4 models) of DVD players came out that support HD-DVD. These will be played directly at 720p or 1080i without up-conversion. The Playstation 3, is checked in to output at 1080p, and is certified to play Blu-Ray Discs. Blu-Rays are said to output at 1080p. The better the resolution, the better the details and the better the movie. 1080p resolution has TWICE as many pixels as 720p, and roughly the same amount as 1080i, but the scanning method allows it to display more smoothly.
~Tony
explanation of DVD formats
by misterdoe - 1/20/06 9:45 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Thanks for that in-depth explanation, Barry. I don't know if I'll need a DVD burner (though of course I want one) but I've long been curious as to what the different formats were all about, and why there were so many of them.
Perhaps you can answer a question for me: I've long suspected that CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and DVDs (-R, +R, -RW, +RW, -RAM, -Audio, etc.) are in fact one and the same except for a single bit somewhere on the disc that tells the player or recorder what the disc can accept. Is this true, or is there really a fundamental difference in the discs themselves?
The formats are all different
by konwiddak - 1/20/06 10:45 AM In reply to: explanation of DVD formats by misterdoeThe fundimental technology behind each disk is different. CD-R disks get permanately 'burnt' to when you write to them. CD-RW disks however are covered in a thin coating of a special crystal that changes its optical properties when hit by the laser beam. Different frequencies determine weather the coating is reflective or not.
I assume a similar technology is used for DVDs except the bit density is much higher. Also in dual layer disks there are two layers of coating. To switch between the layers the laser power is stepped up and down. As for the disks that claim to be 'audio' or 'video' only well there is no real difference from an ordinary disk apart from the price.
Wow what a revelation
by Big A - 1/20/06 11:07 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
When I say WOW ! I mean it. I actually understood this answer - well 90% of it. I recently had a DVD burner installed and was told to ensure that I only used DVD+, well that was a 'whoosh' but I followed instruction. It is good to find clarification, at 63 I need it ! I like computing particularly my pictureshows of our travel which I record and bore our friends and family with but sometimes there are things which make me feel as if I have hit a brick wall.
Thank Barry W, put your e-mail address here I have plenty of questions for you.
big A
DVD formats
by jhinkson - 1/20/06 12:28 PM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Thanks to Barry W. for the DVD format explaination. Add more please. I have a new LG VCR/DVD combo that "burns" DVDs. When did English dissappear? Can anybody write a coherent instuction manual?
I've been trying for a month to copy important family videotapes to DVDs using hardware and software in my new Gateway computer. No joy, so I bought the LG. It works, but only on DVD-R and DVD-RW media.
This has been a very trying experience! My problem is that I'm a retired electronics engineer and "understand" this stuff. Who's in charge here?
Thanks. Chaos rules!
DVD Demystified
by hameiri - 1/20/06 12:44 PM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
An excellent reply.
Two things I might have expanded on:
1. DVD-RAM can be written over many more times than RW disks. Also, it's not quite dead. My father purchased a DVD recorder less than a year ago (a DVR with a DVD burner), and it can use DVD-RAM. Excellent for recording Oprah, or Dr. Phil over and over.
2. DVD-HD and BR are almost here, and really neccessary for recording high-definition TV or movies. Therefore, I would have probably promoted consideration of waiting and purchasing BR for it's high capacity and HD recording capability. These things will become more and more attractive in the near future. Of course, the fact that the first ones will be expensive should also be considered.
Different DVD's
by wht - 1/20/06 12:57 PM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Thank you for taking the time to explain the difference. I never knew one from the other. Can this description be applied to a CD player/Burner?
CD formats
by bpglenn - 1/20/06 1:35 PM In reply to: Different DVD's by whtAs far as I know all CD burners are R/RW and the discs come in various speeds. If you do a lot of CD burning and want to use a DVD burner then it would be wise to check out what speeds the CD burner can handle.
RW discs, speed, media brands, upgrading firmware
by bpglenn - 1/20/06 1:00 PM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I keep about 10 RW discs around for temporary use. Once the disc has been assembled the way I want then I transfer it ot a R disc.
I have three burners one is +R/RW and the other two are +/-R/RW DL burners. I learned the hard way that just because the blank disc is rated at 8x you can't count on getting the fastest speed with all brands of media. For important data I burn at half the maximum rated speed. Also be aware that an +/- burner may burn faster using + discs that - discs. At least this is the case with my two dual format burners. I have also learned that certain brands of burners do better with certain brands of media.
One friend with a +/- burner claims that he upgraded the firmware and that it now does Dual Layer. I do know that some burners with problems can be fixed by simply upgrading the firmware. There is an excellent freeware program called ''DVD Identifier'' avaiable at:
http://dvd.identifier.cdfreaks.com/
that tells you what formats your DVD burner can handle and identifies the manufacturer of DVD discs and what speeds they can burn.
With my machines I have found that Taiyo Yuden makes the best media. I have burned 200+ discs without a single coaster. Some were burned at the max speed. But, that said, your machine may do better with another brand. I plan on replacing the internal DVD burner in my notebook soon.
DVD-RW
by lavoiep66 - 1/20/06 1:24 PM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You say that one should avoid DVD-RW disks because they fade and lose data over time.
I read that they can be rewritten about 1000 times, that they do fade over time (60 yrs) compared to 100 yrs for DVD-R
What format is one supposed to be using when doing daily backups other than DVD-RW? I should point out that I have an LG DVD RW Rewritable drive.
Can anyone shed more light on this?
Thank you
Using DVD/CD RW media
by WAArnold - 1/20/06 2:17 PM In reply to: DVD-RW by lavoiep66I have heard this debate since I first bought CD-RW media 10 years ago. I have the original RW CD media I recorded to at that time and still good. The problem I did find is the software. Originally there was Adaptec easy CD writer that dominated the market. The current Roxio is the recipient of that. However, Roxio has screwed it up so much the original program is still much better. Nero, ATI, and others came along to give Adaptec competition and win users to their program. The problem sprang up with the packet writing to the RW disks and that has been the main problem with the rewritable disks, not the inability of the disks to store/keep the data.
Like you, I too backup my data onto CD/DVD RW media for later updating.
Disagree somewhat about the reply to DVD formats
by reggie818 - 1/20/06 1:27 PM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Although most new devices are multiformat. This is misleading. IT is true that they can play all formats but they don't record in all formats. Secondly, the R+ media is easier to find and their are more brand choices. I have noticed that large chain stores carry few media discs in the R- format. In fact most of these stores sell the R - media at lower prices because they are trying to get rid of them. There is even growing trend in consumer electronics supporting R+ format. There are more compatability problems when you try to play R- discs on both PCs and home electronics. I would not recommend any buying a burner or recorder that only records and/or play in R- format.
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