DVD's Compared to VHS Tape

• No discounts on our shipping & handling cost because of the bulk & weight of VHS tapes.
• No DVD Bonus Videos when you order VHS tapes.
• DVD' store digital video - this means that copies are of equal quality (as opposed to analog video, where copies are not as good as originals
• DVD's store information in a physical form, unlike video tape that stores it in a magnetic form. This means that DVD data lasts much longer than magnetic tape (up to 100 years or more). Typically VHS tapes will show significant degradation in 10 years. Where original quality, environment and usage are not controlled / limited VHS tape often last only a matter of months.
• DVD's are small, light weight and have no moving parts, providing they are not scratched or damaged by heat, they are quite robust. You could store about 100 DVDs in a shoe box opposed to 12 VHS cassettes!
• DVD's do not wear out - when played there is no physical contact with the reading mechanism. Magnetic tape has some wear every time they are used.
• DVD's provide for good quality video (substantially better than VHS tapes) .
• DVDs can record at varying quality, unlike video tapes, DVD's store more by compressing more and so the picture quality decreases as the compression increases.  DVDs can contain multiple titles so that each section can be instantly accessed from the menu.
• DVDs video content can have bookmarks, where 'Next' moves immediately 5 minutes forwards. Next pressed 6 times moves you 30 minutes forward. This is far more practical than fast forward on a video tape.
• DVD's are today's technology and present the organization as contemporary, rather than old fashioned.
• DVD players start from now under $100 - the investment is very small!

Do all DVDs work in all DVD players?
NO - A recent survey indicated that there are about 10% of Older DVD players that do not play recorded DVDs (DVDs that are individually recorded).  To make sure your player can play our DVD+R format, Check your manual or Click Here   *The latest players are usually compatible with all formats.

What is best DVD+R or DVD-R discs?
There is no simple answer here! But the rules of thumb from our experience is:
If you are playing the DVD in a DVD player then the best choice is DVD+R (these should work in 95%+ players).
If you are playing the DVD in a computer DVD ROM, the best choice is DVD-R.
With the passage of time, it is likely that recordable DVDs will work in more DVD players, just as recordable CDs now work in most CD players.  *The latest players are usually compatible with all formats.
The issue of PLUS or Minus media is not particularly significant, both formats are likely to coexist into the future.