Difference Between DVD-RW & DVD-R

by Mike Southern
DVDs provide back up for large files.

DVDs provide back up for large files.

dvd image by Jaimie Duplass from Fotolia.com

Compared to CDs, which hold 700 megabytes, and floppy disks, which can typically store 1.44MB, DVDs are capable of storing huge amounts of data -- about 4.7 gigabytes. There are several different types of DVD formats, the most common being DVD-RW and DVD-R.

Difference

Both formats are recordable, but the DVD-R was the first type to become available and was designed to be recorded on only once. The “R” stands for “recordable,” to differentiate them from normal read-only DVDs, called DVD-ROMs. A DVD-RW can be recorded, erased and re-recorded many times.

Price

Because DVD-R discs are designed for one-time use, they are generally cheaper. Since they are meant to be recorded only once, they are sold in bulk, in quantities of 25, 50 or 100 discs. DVD-RW discs are more expensive to produce and are frequently sold in much smaller quantities -- a pack of five is common.

DVD-R

Because DVD-R discs are so inexpensive, they are used for the same sort of jobs CD-Rs and floppy disks once performed, such as copying data for a friend or coworker. As programs and data files have become larger, DVD-Rs are a more practical medium for sharing information among users than CDs or floppy disks. Computer manufacturers have enabled this type of use by installing DVD recorders in most new computers.

DVD-R for Archiving

While the ability to reuse DVD-RW discs may seem to be a great advantage, this is not always true. DVD-R discs are best for permanent records. The medium is inherently more stable because there is less “flexibility” in the disc’s makeup. In addition, the more stable nature of DVD-Rs makes them compatible with a wider variety of DVD players. This is especially useful if you are burning your home movies to DVD and want to share them with friends.

DVD-RW for Backups

Because DVD-RW discs can be recorded and re-recorded as many as a thousand times, they are used for system backups. Their enormous capacity -- some of the double-sided discs can hold nearly 10GB -- makes them appropriate for the kind of large-scale backup operation required by the large hard drives on modern PCs. The permanence of the DVD-R makes it unsuitable for this purpose, and DVD-RWs are a more cost-effective approach.

About the Author

North Carolina native Mike Southern has been writing since 1979. He is the author of the instructional golf book "Ruthless Putting" and edited a collection of swashbuckling novels. Southern was trained in electronics at Forsyth Technical Community College and is also an occasional woodworker.

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