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The DVD Media

DVD Optical Drive, as the price becomes more affordable now, this makes us more confused in choosing the type of drive and media (Blank DVD). For instance, there are several types of DVD media available, such as DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD-RAM. With these DVD media, we cannot only write/record large files like videos, but also back-up our hard drive efficiently. However before we decide to buy, there are the differences among these standard DVD media that we need to know.

DVD-R
The same as CD-R, this disk can be written once (with a 4.7 GB capacity). There are two types of DVD-R media: DVD-RA (for Authoring) and DVD-RG (for General). DVD-RA is intended for commercial and professional development (such as movies or songs recording) and uses a DVD-RA Drive with 635-nm laser to record. Meanwhile, DVD-RG is the option for home use. It is more affordable than the DVD-RA and available in many stationary stores. This media can also be run on the DVD-RAM and DVD+R unit.

DVD-RW
This is the erasable version of the DVD-R. To use this media, you need to buy DVD-RW Drive. DVD-RW drives can write DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-R, and CD-RW discs. The same as DVD-R, DVD-RW disks are playable in many DVD drives and players. We can write a large number of data at once. And if we want to write new data on the same disk, we can erase the existing data by formatting the disk. DVD-RW discs can be rewritten about 1,000 times.

DVD+R
The same as DVD-R, DVD+R has a 4.7GB capacity that can record movies and are readable in many existing DVD-Video players and DVD-ROM drives. However, a DVD+R disc can only be recorded on DVD+R drives (while DVD-R disc can only be recorded on DVD-R drives). However, now we can easily find DVD drives that can record both DVD-R and DVD+R disks (DVD±R drives). In general, DVD+R disk is better in recording computer data. But aside from that, there is no significant difference between DVD+R and DVD-R. Both of them have the same performance for recording/playing the movies, and can be rewritten about 1,000 times.

DVD+RW
This is the rewritable version of DVD+R and only playable in some latest DVD players. We can buy a DVD drive that can record DVD-RW and DVD+RW (DVD±RW drives). And the same as DVD-RW, we can re-format and re-write the disk about 1,000 times.

DVD-RAM
This DVD media has storage capacity of 2.6, 4.7, 5.2 and 9.4 GB. The same as DVD-RW, this media is re-writeable and very suitable for use in computers, because of its defect management and zoned CLV format for rapid access. However, DVD-RAM is not compatible with most drives and players.

The DVD-RAM disks (both single-sided DVD-RAM and double-sided DVD-RAM) can only be written while in the cartridge. The cartridges come in two types, the sealed cartridges and the removable cartridges (that allows the disc to be removed). Different from DVD-R media, DVD-RAM can be rewritten more than 100,000 times and are expected to last at least 30 years.