What is CD-R and CD-RW?
CD-R is short for "CD-Recordable." Recordable CDs are WORM (Write Once, Read Multiple) media that work just like standard CDs. The advantage of CD-R over other types of optical media is that you can use the discs with a standard CD player. The disadvantage is that you can't reuse a disc.

A related technology called CD-Rewritable (CD-RW) allows you to erase discs and reuse them, but the CD-RW media doesn't work in all players. CD-Rewritable drives are able to write both CD-R and CD-RW discs. All CD recorders can read CDs and CD-ROMs, just like a standard CD-ROM drive.

How much information can a CD-R hold?
About 74 minutes of audio, or about 650MB of data. Some CD-R blanks can hold 80 minutes of audio, or about 700MB of data. There are also specialty CD-R products such as Mini CD-R (which hold 180 MB data) and Business Card CD-R (which hold 50 MB data).

What is DVD-R?
DVD-R discs are the recordable version of the popular DVD format. DVD-R discs have the same physical size as CD-R, but can hold as much as seven times the amount of data. Current DVD-R format allows for 4.7GB of storage. The increased storage capacity lends itself to applications like media presentations, data archiving, and large volume data distribution. You must have a DVD drive in order to read a DVD-R disc.

What is the difference between a DVD-ROM and a DVD-R copy?
DVD-ROM discs are produced by physically stamping encoded information onto a poly carbonate substrate. As with the CD-ROM, data is transferred to a master stamper and replicates are produced by pressing the discs from the master. DVD-R discs have a recordable dye that, when exposed to a concentrated laser beam, allows information to be encoded or burned into the disc.

Can all DVD-ROM drives read the DVD-R copies I need to distribute?
At this time, industry surveys suggest that 98% of all DVD-ROM drives can read DVD-R copies. Early generations of DVD-ROM drives have compatibility issues which prevent the DVD-R format from being 100% compatible. To achieve the highest level of playability in the field you should use the highest quality media available and apply stringent copy and verification procedures when duplicating your discs.

I see several different types of DVD recordable drives on the market. What are the differences?
At this time the DVD-R is the clear choice for small run data and content distribution. Runs with larger quantities and longer lead times should still consider the DVD-ROM replicated discs. The remaining formats have specialized applications including the ability to record and re-write multiple times to the same disc. Below is a listing of the various DVD drive and disc offerings. It is meant to provide a simple overview of the many different types of DVD media currently available to consumers. If you require a specific answer to a question, please contact Double-Data. We'll be glad to help.

Terms & Definitions

DVD-R - General purpose is the clear choice for data and content distribution.
Authoring format is used for providing masters when making DVD-ROM discs.

DVD+R - Write once variation of DVD-RW+ introduced in early 2002.
Promises increased compatibility in DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives.
Requires DVD+R drives and media designated as DVD+R for recording.

DVD-RW - Format allows for applications requiring rewritable media.
Not as compatible with DVD-RIM drive as DVD-R.
Typically must be erased before re-writing.

DVD+RW - Format allows for applications requiring rewritable media.
Has the ability to rewrite without erasing contents of the entire disc.
DVD-RAM

Format typically used for data storage and retrieval, not data and content distribution.
Incompatibility issues reading from drives other then DVD-RAM drives.