Understanding DVD burners

[shoerose]

I got a new LiteOn drive but I do not know much about how everything works. Looking for some help.

Here's what the box says:

DVD+R/+RW
DVD/CD ReWritable Drive
4x DVD+R
4x DVD+RW
40x CD-R
24x CD-RW

I know about audio and data CD burning but am new to DVDs. What does all of the + and - signs mean?

Any help will be greatly appreciated

[ipdave]

You can search this forum (or google) for details on the differences, but for DVDs, the skinny is this:
- The first recordable DVDs were made by Pioneer and were called DVD-R (like CD-R, CD-Recordable) for DVD-Recordable.
- When they could be erased and ReWritten to, they were called DVD-RW like CD-RWs.
- Other companies came up with a newer and supposedly better standard (kinda like Beta vs VHS for Video tapes), and called it DVD+R and +RW because it added ( + ) more whatever.

-- Older home DVD players play DVD-R and often DVD+RW, but NOT DVD-RW and sometimes DVD+Rs.

---> This is why many people buy drives that do DVD-R, +R, -RW, and +RW. There are 2 standards right now. Neither one is " THE " standard. I have the Pioneer 106 recorder because it does all 4, and is a proven reliable drive (and only $147 with free shipping in the USA - see pricegrabber.com).

[shoerose]

Thanks for the info. Am I reading correctly? I should only use +R and +RW disks?

I haven't bought any disks yet but the drive came with two... One of each and I have burned both of them and both played in my and my neighbors home players.

Any suggestions on where to buy the disks? Like a 50 or 100 pack for cheap?

[ChickenMan]

Yes, it only burns +R and +RW dvd blanks. Where to buy? suggest you first tell everyone what country you live in. Also have a read on the Media forum as 100's have already asked the same question.

Moved this to the DVD section.