The DVD+R/RW Format

The advantages and disadvantages of using a DVD+R/RW drive.

DVD+R/RW format for DVD recorders is based on the CD-RW technology. It was released in late 2001. It is supported and manufactured by Philips, Sony, Hp, Dell, Ricoh, Yamaha, to mention just a few companies. They are bound together as the DVD+RW Alliance.

There is much controversy around this format, as it brings some pluses to the “dash” format, indeed, but also some minuses.

Soon afterwards, in the mid 2002, the write-once format DVD+R has been developed. The disapointment came when the DVD+R didn't prove to be the promised upgrade to the DVD+RW drives. That means the first DVD+RW drives did not suport the DVD+R discs.

DVD+R/RW vs. DVD-R/RW

  • The new format improved the writing speed to 2.4x the standard;
  • DVD+R/RW allows you to play the disc before it is finalized;
  • It takes just 1 minute to finalize a DVD+R/RW disc vs. 15 minutes for the DVD-R/RW discs
  • DVD+R has been reported to provide slightly less playback compatibility, around 85%, vs. 90% for the discs writen on the DVD-R drives. The re-writable format offers the same compatibility (65%) as its "dash" counterpart.

Other features for the DVD+R/RW discs

  • Capacity: 4,37 GB (4.7 billion bytes) for the one-sided discs and 8.74 GB for a two sided ones; a double-sided dual-layer disc holds 15.90 GB (17 billion bytes);
  • Price: $2 to $6 for a blank +R disc and $5 to $ 10 for a +RW disc;
  • Expected shelf life: 30 through 100 years.

DVD+RW discs should always be recorded in CLV mode. This mode allows the drive to maintain a constant data transfer rate across the entire disc. Of course, you can record in the CAV mode too, but your discs will not be read in standard DVD drives and players.

There are companies that sell DVD drives which include both formats (DVD±R/RW), also known as dual-format burners. The first in the league was Sony, with its RDR-GX7 DVD recorder.

As up to this moment none of the two formats has been accepted as the "standard", you run the risk that in the future either of them would be banned. Choosing a standalone DVD recorder that combines the ± formats is sort of an insurance in case this happens.