'+' or '-' DVD ... what?!?

[Pacion]

Okay, as a non technie, "Jane Bloggs on the street" I need to vent! I decided to take the plunge and bought a DVD recorder to go with the television. Apparently it was only released mid year (or should I assume that release date only applies to the UK and the rest of the world had it for a zillion years before us :roll: ). It wasn't cheap, but it wasn't one of the most expensive ones on the market either.

I was debating whether to keep it or not and thankfully only opened the box (not the rest of the packaging) and discovered that only the "DVD-R" or "DVD-RW" disks are compatible! :evil: To compound to the "insult" I bought a box of disks from the store and they turned out to be of the "+" variety!!! (A member of staff had helped me select them!)

Now, would I be too much of a radical :lol: if I were to suggest a "boycott" of ALL technology companies unless they agreed to a common standard for us consumers, for all products? :twisted:

In a nutshell, if a friend sends me a DVD he/she has made themselves, it would have to be a format ("+" or "-") that is compatible with my player and vice versa. If we don't have machines that are compatible with both formats, we are (putting it mildly and politely) stuffed!

(I don't think having 2 or 3 machines is the way to go :roll: :lol: )


Vent over.

 

[peachexploration]

:lol: :lol: :lol: Unfortunately, that's the way of the technology world. Whatever you purchase now will be new and improved six months from now. Even us tech heads get frustrated so you're not alone when you feel like boycotting tech companies. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Pacion]

Peach, "new and improved" and I can handle. It is when you have two systems that are to all intents and purposes incompatible? I was vaguely aware of "+" and "-" but I hadn't appreciated the significance? Therefore, this recorder that I bought, I would have thought that it was new enough for them (the manufacturers) to make it compatible with everything? I have been googling (surprise surprise :lol: ) and there are less expensive DVD recorders that are compatible with BOTH "+" and "-" whereas this one is not (and even more expensive ones). Sigh

Its a bit like the NTSC and PAL thingy - eventually the video players were developed so that they will play both. :? So it is just a question of time. I just wish they had the standard before rather than during the selling process!

 

[peachexploration]

....Its a bit like the NTSC and PAL thingy - eventually the video players were developed so that they will play both. :? So it is just a question of time. I just wish they had the standard before rather than during the selling process!

That's also what I mean by new and improved. When the cusumers don't have to think too much before buying. Same thing with cd and cd burners. You have to always think ahead these days with all the new techology and buy what you may use it for in the future rather than exactly what you're going to use it for now. Hmmm, now it's good to be a life member of the google club, yes? I understand though. Still aggravating.

 

[peachexploration]

There are some machines that record and play both + and -. I am sure they are more expensive.

My question to those in the know is when I go to Blockbuster and rent a DVD, what format is that?

Heres a cool link:burnworld.com/dvd/primer/dvd-r.htm

 

[Pacion]

There are some machines that record and play both + and -. I am sure they are more expensive.

Not from what I can tell Larinda. I spent a lot of time on the internet yesterday trying to investigate alternatives and there are cheaper ones. They may not be [insert brand name] but they do record/play both + and -.

My question to those in the know is when I go to Blockbuster and rent a DVD, what format is that?

Larinda, I suspect that format would not be of the "+" or "-" variation but more to do with the Region coding. The "+" or "-" only comes into being when you buy bland DVDs or even some blank CDs. :|

The UK and Europe are Region 2. The US is Region 1. Therefore, if I want to buy DVDs in the US to watch them here, I have to have a player that can either play Region 1 and 2 OR a multiregional player - or, find a way to break the coding in the player so that it becomes multiregional. Some DVDs are multiregional eg. some salsa DVDs (Thank God!).

Personally, I have a preference for the US DVDs even if it is for the same film because apart from the cost, US DVDs often have more on them such as producer comments, interviews with the cast or even a repeat of the whole film with the director making comments about why they did certain things here or choose to do certain things or a "How did we do that" section. Not all of them have this but quite a few. DVDs made for the UK market often don't have those extras

 

[peachexploration]

My question to those in the know is when I go to Blockbuster and rent a DVD, what format is that?

Larinda, I suspect that format would not be of the "+" or "-" variation but more to do with the Region coding. The "+" or "-" only comes into being when you buy bland DVDs or even some blank CDs. :|

The UK and Europe are Region 2. The US is Region 1. Therefore, if I want to buy DVDs in the US to watch them here, I have to have a player that can either play Region 1 and 2 OR a multiregional player - or, find a way to break the coding in the player so that it becomes multiregional. Some DVDs are multiregional eg. some salsa DVDs (Thank God!).
(

To elaborate a little more: What are "regional codes," "country codes," or "zone locks"?
Motion picture studios want to control the home release of movies in different countries because theater releases aren't simultaneous (a movie may come out on video in the U.S. when it's just hitting screens in Europe). Also, studios sell distribution rights to different foreign distributors and would like to guarantee an exclusive market. Therefore they required that the DVD standard include codes to prevent playback of certain discs in certain geographical regions. Each player is given a code for the region in which it's sold. The player will refuse to play discs that are not coded for its region. This means that a disc bought in one country may not play on a player bought in another country. Some people believe that region codes are an illegal restraint of trade, but no legal cases have established this.

Regional codes are entirely optional for the maker of a disc. Discs without region locks will play on any player in any country. It's not an encryption system, it's just one byte of information on the disc that the player checks. Some studios originally announced that only their new releases would have regional codes, but so far almost all Hollywood releases play in only one region. Region codes are a permanent part of the disc, they won't "unlock" after a period of time. Region codes don't apply to DVD-Audio, DVD-ROM, or recordable DVD (see below for more detail).

Seven regions (also called locales or zones) have been defined, and each one is assigned a number. Players and discs are often identified by their region number superimposed on a world globe. If a disc plays in more than one region it will have more than one number on the globe.
1: U.S., Canada, U.S. Territories
2: Japan, Europe, South Africa, and Middle East (including Egypt)
3: Southeast Asia and East Asia (including Hong Kong)
4: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean
5: Eastern Europe (Former Soviet Union), Indian subcontinent, Africa, North Korea, and Mongolia
6: China
7: Reserved
8: Special international venues (airplanes, cruise ships, etc.)

From: http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html#1.11

 

[peachexploration]

..You have to always think ahead these days with all the new techology and buy what you may use it for in the future rather than exactly what you're going to use it for now.

For future DVD purchasers, some good questions to ask before buying:
Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

Do I want selectable sound tracks and subtitles, multiangle viewing, aspect ratio control, parental/multirating features, fast and slow playback, great digital video, multichannel digital audio, compatibility with Dolby Pro Logic receivers, on-screen menus, dual-layer playback, and ability to play audio CDs? This is a trick question, since all DVD players have all of these features.
Do I want DTS audio? If so, look for a player with the "DTS Digital Out" logo. (See 3.6.2.)
Do I want to play Video CDs? If so, check the specs for Video CD compatibility. (See 2.4.5.)
Do I want to play recordable DVDs? If so, check the specs or compatibility reports for ability to read -R, -RW, +R, and +RW formats . (See 4.3.1.)
Do I need a headphone jack?
Do I want player setup menus in languages other than English? If so, look for a multilanguage setup feature. (Note: all players support on-disc multilanguage menus.)
Do I want to play homemade CD-R audio discs? If so look for the "dual laser" feature. (See 2.4.3.)
Do I want to replace my CD player? If so, you might want a changer that can hold 3, 5, or even hundreds of discs.
Do I want to play discs from other countries? If so, beware of regions (see 1.10) and TV formats (see 1.19).
Do I want to control all my entertainment devices with one remote control? If so, look for a player with a programmable universal remote, or make sure your existing universal remote is compatible with the DVD player.
Do I want to zoom in to check details of the picture or get rid of the black letterbox bars? If so, look for players with picture zoom.
Do I have a DTV or progressive-scan display? If so, get a progressive-scan player. (See 1.40.)
Do I want to play HDCDs? If so, check for the HDCD logo. (See 2.4.13.)
Does my receiver have only optical or only coax digital audio inputs? If so, make sure the player has outputs to match. (See 3.2.)
Do I care about black-level adjustment?
Do I value special deals? If so, look for free DVD coupons and free DVD rentals that are available with many players.

Also from: http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html#1.11

There are references in this list as well. If anyone is interested, there is some good info there. I need coffee now, brain overload... :lol:

 

[Pacion]

:? I think I am going to go back to one of those projector things with the movie on a reel :?



:lol:

 

[tj]

Welcome to the wonderful confusing world of modern day video, Pacion!

There are ways around any and all of these issues but most require a computer to circumvent them. Unfortunately, the + & - problem is one that you won't be able to get around unless you get one of the players that can handle both. It's akin to the Betamax vs VHS formatting problems in videotapes back in the 80's. The majority of DVD players that I see nowadays, seem to be able to do both. That sucks that yours won't. But prices are coming down on most players. I just got a progressive scan player for <$40 a few weeks ago, for example.

Maybe you could arrange a trade with friends so that you can get rid of those blank DVD+R disks?

 

[Pacion]

:lol: Thanks TJ but it is not a total disaster. I can still return it to the shop! :lol: As for your getting a player for <$40, if you were trying to make me feel better, you didnt'

"Traditionally", you just had to swop the currency symbol and that would be the price of the equipment/books or what ever it was. Therefore, <$40 would be <£40 for me which at last year's exchange re (pre Iraq) would be about $60. Now, it is closer to $70-80! Looking at it another way, pre Iraq, that $40 would be about £28 and post Iraq, that same $40 would be about £20. BUT products have not been getting cheaper for us.

Sadly, I have no plans to return to the US before Christmas

 

[tj]

:lol: Thanks TJ but it is not a total disaster. I can still return it to the shop! :lol: As for your getting a player for <$40, if you were trying to make me feel better, you didnt'

"Traditionally", you just had to swop the currency symbol and that would be the price of the equipment/books or what ever it was. Therefore, <$40 would be <£40 for me which at last year's exchange re (pre Iraq) would be about $60. Now, it is closer to $70-80! Looking at it another way, pre Iraq, that $40 would be about £28 and post Iraq, that same $40 would be about £20. BUT products have not been getting cheaper for us.

Sadly, I have no plans to return to the US before Christmas

Ouch. On top of that, who is to say that if you got a US player, it'd work with your tv?

Hmm... If they are compatible, does that mean I can trade DVD players for lodging? :wink:

 

[Pacion]

Ouch. On top of that, who is to say that if you got a US player, it'd work with your tv?

Hmm... If they are compatible, does that mean I can trade DVD players for lodging? :wink:

That is one thing I have to check, but I think the television is compatible with both NTSC and PAL.

:eyebrow: Trade DVD players? Ya gat ya ticket yet! :tongue: Between you and Sabor, ONE of you is going to turn me grey :lol: