Preferred DVD Format for Data Backup?

[SWS]

Is there a preferred DVD Format for Data Backup? I am only interested in data backup on a one-time recordable, 4.7G DVD, so my options are DVD-R or DVD+R. I need to buy a new spindle of blanks, and I observe that both formats seem to be equally available, cost the same, hold the same amount of data, etc. For my data backup purposes, I really don't care about write speed, which is typically 15 minutes for 4.1G of data. Note that I have successfully backed-up my data with both DVD-R and DVD+R disks. Both of these types are successfully read by other computers that I use. So now in 2007, are both of these formats equally mature so that it has become a non-issue? Or is one format going to be preferred in the future, and I just can't see that yet from what is offered in the stores today? Is there a data longevity benefit to one format vs the other?

Note that I buy a small spindle about every 2 years, so this is something that I don't have a lot of recent data about.

I have performed a search on the web on this topic and found that most sites are discussing the new DVD-HD formats, streaming video, compatibility with DVD players, etc, with barely any mention of my limited application.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Brogy]

From what i've read they're both pretty much identical, with DVD+R having a small edge in some areas that don't really matter that much. I'd go with them for the #@$%! of it, unless -r is cheaper.

 

[BillionPa]

+R has lossless linking for on the fly video recording.... other than that, whetever is easy to find.

i currently back up all my data on +R disks because they burn a bit faster.

 

[Syntec-Man]

DVD+R is better imo DVD-R is good for tv dvd players

 

[SWS]

Thanks! I appreciate your feedback!

SWS

 

[JustinH]

Whatever won't fall apart (physically).

Some of the cheap cheap media, you can scratch the coating very easy, rendering the disc useless.

 

[Master ACiD]

it really does not matter anymore which format you choose. pretty much everything is compatible with + and -.

just get the cheapest brandname media you can find.


can i ask why you do not choose a external drive for backing up?

 

[tmorris1]

Why not use the DVD+RW? Have 2 sets and alternate them for backups. This is more efficient that throwing away one timers all the time.

 

[SWS]

Wow, thanks for the responses! At work and home, I have a PCs with DVD Burners, so that's all I ever thought to use. I back-up about once / month and the data I back-up is about 4.2GBytes, so it fits nicely on 1 DVD.

I don't know much about external drives - I will look at them soon.

DVD+RW backup strategy is interesting, but I heard several years ago that they can be unreliable. That's probably not true anymore, if it ever was. Note that I keep my backups several years, and some old projects I keep only on DVD.

I know what you mean about varying quality of the media. When I am ready to discard a CD or DVD I use an exacto knife to scratch it on the top (painted) side. Then I typically fold it over to see if it will break. The cheap no-name brands are easily scratched, and will break when folded the first time. The Memorex brand seems to be much more durable. I have to bear-down with the exacto knife to scratch it and I have folded several of them over to where the edges touch and they spring-back flat! I had to repeat that several times to induce a warp. They showed no sign of breaking.