What is the best DVD Recorder format? What is the difference between DVD formats?
DVD recorders may mean that your VCR is soon to be discarded, but buying a DVD recorder still involves a little thought. DVD recorders use different disc formats. That means when you burn DVDs they may not play on all machines. DVD recorders can use the following formats when they burn DVDs: • DVD-R • DVD+R • DVD-RW • DVD+RW • DVD-RAM. The first difference is that DVD-R and DVD+R can be recorded one time just like CD-Rs in the CD format.On the other hand DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD-RAM can be used and erased hundreds of times. The re-writable discs are slightly more expensive to buy. The second difference is to do with compatibility. In todays market place it is pretty safe to assume that recordings using DVD-R (The Panasonic and Pioneer formats) or DVD+R (The Philips format) are likely to play in most DVD players. The real limitations begin when you choose the rewritable discs. If you copy DVD+RW with the Philips DVD recorder then your disc will play on most DVD players. If on the other ha