question about DVD's

The specs on the optical crive that comes on the computer I am getting says:
Lightscribe 16x max DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti Drive

I looked at some disks at WalMart - some of them said DVD +R some said DVD -R.

Which should I get and why?

Fay

here's a good article that explains the DVD formats:

http://www.askdavetaylor.com/whats_the_difference_between_dvdr_dvdr_dvdrw_dvdrw_and_dvdram.html

Repa,

Thanks for the link. I am still a little confused about the differences in the + and -. It seems that the - is older and maybe a bit more compatible, but other than that I am not sure.

I started looking thru the posts beneath the article, but it was a bit confusing. I saw where others had asked about the differences between the + and - but it didn't seem that the answers were directly beneath the question.

Maybe it is not that important.

Thanks again,

Fay

Its a difference in formating and the + is a litte faster. You need to verify which format your DVD player uses and the article tells you how to do that. From the information you provided when you started this thread, it looks like your DVD will play with either format, but you need to check that.

Repa,

I see where it tells how to tell on a MAC but guess I am not seeing where it gives that information for a PC. But, I don't even have my PC yet and since it has been delayed - I don't know when. But the space do seems to indcate it can use either + or - but I don't know for sure.

Fay

Fay, with a Lightscribe drive, you can burn your disk, then turn it over and burn a label on it - but ONLY if you buy Lightscribe disks. So, if that is something you are planning to do, make sure the disks you buy say "Lightscribe" on the package. They are a bit more expensive, but - a long time ago - I used to make paper labels for my disks and then lost some of them because the paper bubbled up and the disks could no longer be read. So I really like the Lightscribe ones - you can even print your own pictures on them. They are not in color, but nevertheless, they are very neat and professional. Mostly I use them for my photos and for presents. The box I have says "Lightscribe DVD+R". Your computer will (probably, like mine) come with a program installed to burn Lightscribe labels. When you (finally!) get your computer and you have questions about the Lightscribe, let me know - it took me a while to figure it out on my own, so I'll be glad to help shorten your learning curve!

Rike,

Well, I wasn't planning on it cause I didn't now about it But now that I know - I probably will want to do it. Seems like I do remember hearing something about burning labels on disk but I never even thought about it.

I haven't bought any DVD's yet, and now I know to look for the lightscribe ones.
Thanks for letting me know and I may just take you up on you offer of help.

Fay

Fay,
it's not really difficult to do. But sometimes my logic is different from the computer's logic and it takes me a while to figure out how to run a very simple program! So if that happens to you with Lightscribe, I might be able to give you some pointers since I finally figured out how to run it. Now your program might be different from the one that came on my computer; then I would possibly be dead in the water again

Rike,

Once I get a chance to try it I may be checking with you. A lot of stuff on the computer is not very intuitive and seems like most things don't come with printed manuals anymore. Reading on the computer is fine for some things, to look up something, but to learn how to do something I would rather be able to sit down with a manual and flip back and forth and highlight stuff.

I just feel that I am on brain overload a lot of the time. Work pretty well keeps me mentally drained - and now I have set myself up to having to learn a new OS, e-mail etc.

I am really glad you mentioned the things about looking for DVD's that said lightscribe!!

Thanks,
Fay