Updated November 22, 2007

With the help of www.videohelp.com, it's reported that the compatibility of the following discs are playable in DVD players, and DVD-ROM computer drives:

DVD-R: The oldest recordable format out there. Currently DVD-R is about 95% compatible with DVD players (mostly new ones manufacturered after the year 2000, and around 95% or so with DVD drives.

DVD-RW: The first re-writable format produced. The media is about 85% compatible with all DVD players, and is around 95% compatible with DVD-ROM drives.

DVD-VR: A recordable format using DVD-RW discs as a means to edit what video is on the disc. Sometimes these methods are pretty crude in editing, so I usually don't record in this format.

DVD-RAM: A rewritable format using cartridges instead of discs to write data, such as videos to a cartridge. DVD-RAM is very popular overseas, but is barely a whisper in the U.S. Not many players have the technology to write to DVD-RAM discs. More are in favor or DVD-RW discs.

DVD-R DL: Two layers of DVD-R media to create an 7.95 GB disc, instead of a single layered 4.37 GB disc. It's just barely starting to show up, and is not available yet in the United States. Other countries have it though, although the compatibility on DVD players is less than 10%, while DVD-ROM players aren't that much better. Also known as DVD-R9.

DVD-RW DL: JVC announced last year that they'd be the first manufacturer to make 2x DVD-RW DL media. It's supposed to be due out sometime later this year. It's weird that DVD-RW DL will be seen before DVD-R DL.

Compatibility is not yet known at this time, but it's expected to be low. Also known as DVD-RW9.

NOTE: THIS MEDIA IS PRONOUNCED AS DVD (DASH) MEDIA, NOT DVD (MINUS) MEDIA!

DVD+R: A second type of recordable DVD disc.Compatibility is about 95%* with DVD players, and is around 95% with DVD-ROM drives.

DVD+RW: A second type of DVD rewritable disc. Compatiblity is around 85%*, and is around 95% with DVD-ROM drives.

DVD+R DL: A recordable media starting to take shape in the United States. This disc has 2 layers to store information on, to combine the total space to 7.95 GB of space, almost double the space of one disc.

Compatibility with this disc is said to be around the same as DVD+R (95%), although that figure is highly over-rated.

Compatibility of DVD+R DL media in my opinion is around 70%*, and around 80%* in DVD-ROM drives. Also known as DVD+R9.

DVD+RW DL: A new type of dual layered rewritable disc, that's currently in testing stages right now. Initial compatibility is said to be around zero as of now, but may be changed? Maybe changing the booktype will increase compatibility? Also known as DVD+RW9.

Other media:

Mini-DVD: This is not the mini-DV tapes you're probably thinking of. Mini-DV simply means that DVD video is recorded onto a CD-R or CD-RW disc. Compatibility in DVD players is almost 0%, although compatibility in a DVD or CD player is almost 90%.

8 cm DVD: A smaller DVD format holding around 1.4 GB. The discs are currently being made in DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW formats. DVD+R has not been invented yet. Compatibility in players is listed above.

What's the difference???

Physically, not much. However, there are some key factors to think about here.

DVD-R and DVD-RW discs are slightly larger than DVD+R and DVD+RW discs.

DVD-R and DVD-RW discs are 4,706,074,624 bytes.

DVD+R and DVD+RW discs are 4,700,372,992 bytes, which makes DVD+ media about 6 MB smaller in storage space.

DVD+ media is currently faster than DVD- media by a bit, especially DVD+RW than DVD-RW.

DVD+RW discs do not need finalizing to playback on other players. DVD-RW does.

DVD+RW discs can be used for data storage, such as a floppy disc, (called Packet Writing, and the disc name changes to DVD+MRW) these types of discs have error correction built into them in case part of the disc goes bad. DVD-RW cannot do this, however not many tools work well yet, such as Nero's InCD, which is very buggy. (DO NOT INSTALL THIS SOFTWARE!), Expect that to change when Microsoft makes packet writing software as a default in the upcoming Microsoft Windows Vista due out later this year.

There is of course, lots of different media out there, and some of it is made very poorly.

For playback and burning, I'd recommend TDK, Maxell, Imation, OfficeMax, Spin-X, Fuji, and Verbatim media.

I'd avoid Memorex (THE absolute worst media EVER, that also goes for CD-R and CD-RW discs, especially 12-24x CD-RW discs), and SONY. Sony has had problems playing back in their own SONY players! The same goes for Memorex! Memorex discs have had problems playing in Memorex players! Also avoid other cheaply made DVD media.

Go to www.dvdhelp.com for more information on DVD media, recorders, compatibility, and general DVD information.

* With the data I've provided, it appears that DVD- media seems to be the winner. Not exactly! DVD+ media has an advantage over DVD- media with new technology that's just starting to come around.

When DVD recordable media is sold in stores, some data tells the DVD player/DVD-ROM drive what type of disc it is.

For instance, I have a very old GE DVD player that will play DVD-R discs somewhat, and no compatibility with DVD+R and DVD+RW media. There may be a way to overcome that!

DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD+R DL have a way to modify the "booktype" to fool a DVD player or DVD-ROM drive to make the player think it's a DVD-ROM disc (the type you find pre-recorded onto movies found in stores).

By modifying the booktype, DVD+R discs when written as a DVD-ROM have about 90% compatibility in DVD players and DVD-ROM drives, and with DVD+RW.

DVD+R DL when set to booktype is a little better, but still has some work to do. Compatibility shoots up to about 70%, but there's no guarantee that the discs will play right.

For those of you who decrypt movies, by booktyping DVD+R DL movies, there may still be some problems when playing back that type of media. Give it a few years, and it'll be good as gold!

As for DVD-ROM drives, compatibility shoots up to over 95%! I currently have 3 DVD recorders. Only one is made for modifying booktypes, and is only capable of playing DVD+R DL media. With the DVD set to booktype, I can view the DVD+R DL movie in all 3 of my DVD recorders!

DVD-R media does not have the capabilities to modify the booktype, so the DVD-media cannot be changed, and due to that, I think the DVD-R DL format will suffer immensly!

What does this mean for my DVDs?

Well, unlike people who try to copy DVD movies onto DVD+R DL discs, my DVDs do not have that problem. I have tested the DVD+R DL discs (as DVD-ROM booktypes) on 5 DVD players, and 4 of them work perfectly. Only one refuses to read it, and spits it back out at me.

DVD-R discs will remain recorded as DVD-R booktype.

DVD+R for the most part is left alone as DVD+R booktype for now, since this booktype modification is somewhat new technology, and most of my DVD+R media is left alone for now. I do have plans to make my DVD+R discs as DVD-ROM booktype later on.

DVD-R seems to be the most best seller for my DVDs. Hardly anyone has bought the DVD+R discs. It's a shame, because DVD+R is easier to obtain than DVD-R, and I don't have as many DVD-R medias to record onto.

Also, newer technology such as Lightscribe and very high grade DVD discs are only limited to DVD+R.

Other information will be added as needed.