This is not what you think. I’m not asking you which is better. I am asking you to ask which is better! Say what? Read on…
I am wondering about what the general public is told about recordable DVD formats. So I propose we do a little social experiment:
Next time you walk into your favorite retailer, be it COmpUSA, BestBuy, etc., pretend you know nothing (or next to nothing) about DVD discs and formats and ask the questions a regular consumer might ask. Questions such as:
- What is the difference between DVD-R and DVD+R?
- Which is better, which should I buy?
- Why?
- How long does 4X take to burn? 8x? 12X?
It’s especially important to follow up the answers with more questions. For example, if the sales person tells you “DVD+R is newer,” it is safe to ask “does that mean it’s better, then?” As long as you don’t pretend to know anything yourself, ask anything - “stupid questions” are actually encouraged! Also ask about set-top compatibility and any other issue you feel like. Then report here, with store, location (can be general, like “Kansas,” or specific “Joe @ Circuit City on 79th & Broadway”), etc.
Let’s see what the general public is fed. Sound interesting?