My goal for this article is to help simplify your decision when you decide to purchase a DVD burner, and the discs to go with that new device. Leave it to the geeks to make a simple thing so complicated. I think it’s because we crave attention. Remember the VHS / Beta thing? No matter what we tell you, geeks crave the spotlight and DVD format debates serve to provide that. Okay, enough about the geeks. Let’s get back to the main event.

While there are many DVD formats I will dicuss only the more common ones consisting of:

So what do all those abbreviations mean? Did you ever wonder why “abbreviation” is such a long word?

• DVD: digital video disc (also digital versatile disk)
• R: recordable – can be written to only once
• RW: re-writable – can be written to multiple times but cannot be erased.
• RAM: random access memory - can be written and erased multiple times
• ROM: read-only memory – this is the format of commercial software, and videos that you rent or purchase.
• DL: dual layer – these discs store twice as much information on one disc.
• + and - : “plus” and “dash” are essentially just different formats

The most common question I get about all these formats is “Which one should I buy?” The easy answer is to buy a drive that supports both (+ and -) types. By spending a little extra money on a multi-reader/writer drive you can completely avoid the concerns about which format will be the winner. Different models support different combinations of the formats listed above so be sure to read the box. My preference is to always select recognized name brands. If you haven’t heard of the brand, chances are you’ll have problems.

DVD-R discs have historically been the most common although the other formats are gaining in popularity. DVD+R discs are rapidly becoming more common. DVD-RAM discs are the least compatible discs but are becoming more common due to their increased use in stand-alone DVD-RAM units in home theatre systems.

When it comes to buying discs it doesn’t really matter which format you choose. The “dash” disc typically cost less than the “plus” versions and tends to be the most compatible. Most modern readers can support either format. As far as brands, I recommend sticking with names you recognize to avoid problems.