DVD+R and DVD-R; What was that about?

Technology Connections2 minutes read

Computers previously used removable optical discs for data storage, but the rise of the internet and flash media has made disc usage obsolete. The format war between DVD+R and DVD-R led to technical differences, eventually resolved by DVD Multi drives supporting both formats.

Insights

  • The evolution from CDs to DVDs in the late '90s marked a significant shift in data storage technology, with DVDs offering larger capacities and sparking format wars between companies like DVD+R and DVD-R.
  • The technical discrepancies between DVD+R and DVD-R, such as wobbling frequencies and recording methods, led to compatibility issues initially, eventually resolved by the introduction of DVD Multi drives supporting both formats, showcasing the importance of standardization in technology advancements.

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Recent questions

  • What were the differences between DVD+R and DVD-R discs?

    DVD+R discs utilized ADIP for precise writing, while DVD-R relied on land pre-pits for positional references.

  • Why did DVD+R discs tend to be cheaper than DVD-R discs?

    DVD+R discs were cheaper due to simpler manufacturing processes compared to DVD-R discs.

  • What led to the emergence of DVD+R and DVD-R formats?

    The format war between different companies led to the creation of DVD+R and DVD-R formats.

  • What were the key differences between CD recordable and CD rewritable discs?

    Compact disc recordable offered one-time storage, while compact disc rewritables allowed erasing and rewriting data.

  • How did the introduction of DVDs impact the use of CD burners?

    The introduction of DVDs in the late '90s made CD burners obsolete.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Evolution of Data Storage: From CDs to DVDs

  • Computers used to rely on removable optical discs for data storage, involving processes like sessions, burning, and finalizing.
  • The internet and flash media have rendered disc usage in PCs obsolete, but in the past, various write-once read-many discs were available.
  • Compact disc recordable offered 700 megabytes of storage, while compact disc re-writables allowed erasing and rewriting data.
  • The introduction of DVDs in the late '90s with 4.7 gigabytes of storage made CD burners obsolete.
  • DVD formats like DVD+R and DVD-R emerged due to format wars between different companies, leading to technical differences.
  • The DVD Consortium was formed in 1996 to establish technical specifications for DVDs, including DVD-RAM.
  • The DVD+RW Alliance, led by Sony, Philips, and Thomson, aimed to create a better writable and rewritable DVD format.
  • DVD+R and DVD-R differed in wobbling frequencies and methods of recording addresses on the disc.
  • DVD+R utilized ADIP for more precise writing, while DVD-R relied on land pre-pits for positional references.
  • The format war between DVD+R and DVD-R led to compatibility issues with existing recorders, eventually resolved by DVD Multi drives supporting both formats.

13:14

DVD+R vs DVD-R: Manufacturing and Technical Differences

  • DVD+R discs were cheaper due to simpler manufacturing processes compared to DVD-R discs.
  • DVD-R discs had more complicated land pre-pits, making them more expensive to produce.
  • The format war between DVD Plus and DVD Dash was mainly due to technicalities and not consumer impact.
  • DVD Plus claimed advantages like increased power calibration events and potential reliability over DVD Dash.
  • Practical differences between DVD Plus and DVD Dash were minimal once data was written, with technical nuances being the main distinction.
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