Removable Media Storage Capacity

DVD

DVD-R capacity is 4,706,074,624 bytes
DVD+R capacity is 4,700,372,992 bytes 4,590,208 K 4482 M

The two most common DVD format designations for DVDr media is DVD5 (DVD-5) and DVD9 (DVD-9).

• DVD-5 holds 4.7GB and is supported by the DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW formats. It is also known as Single-Sided Single Layer.
• DVD-9 holds 8.5GB and is supported by the DVD+R and DVD-R formats. It is also known as Single-Sided Double Layer (sometimes called Dual Layer).

Double Layer (sometimes called Dual Layer) and Double-Sided DVDs each hold more than the standard 4.7GB of a single-sided single layer DVD. Another two DVD types are DVD10 and DVD18, which are less common.

• DVD-10 holds 8.75GB and is supported by the DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW formats. It is also known as Double-Sided Single Layer.
• DVD-18 DVD-18 holds 15.9GB and is supported by the DVD+R format. It is also known as Double-Sided Double Layer (or Double-Sided Dual Layer).

DVD-R vs. DVD+R

DVD-R and DVD+R technologies are not directly compatible. DVD-R is older and somewhat more common. DVD+R is improved. Because the DVD-R format has been in use since 1997 older or cheaper DVD players are more likely to favour the DVD-R standard exclusively.

DVD-R is not called DVD minus R, but actually DVD dash R.

DVD+R is a newer recording technology created in 2002. DVD+R discs are less susceptible to write errors. DVD+R allows faster and more accurate disc recording than the existing DVD-R standard. DVD+R will perform better at high speeds due to the technique used (ADIP) to control and link different sessions. The principal user difference is that the 'header track' is not pre-written on the +R media; this allows burner software to use bitsetting, a process where the disc information written on the header is set to tell the reading drive that the disc is actually another type of disc, typically DVD-ROM.

Both types of discs come in rewritable and dual-layer formats. Most DVD readers employ a hybrid technology that reads both types of discs.

WHICH TO BUY?

If you are recording movie and video for playing in something other than a computer, either will do however older DVD players may only play the DVD-R disc. That might not even matter since the older players tend to not play DVDr (recordable) media. DVD-R tend to cost less.

For computer data application you should consider using only DVD+R. It is more reliable. DVD+R tend to cost more.

Blu-Ray

• A single-layer disc can hold 25GB.
• A dual-layer disc can hold 50GB.

HD DVD

Smaller than Blue-Ray.