LaCie Portable DVD±RW •
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Helpful Technical Information
User Manual
page 17
4.1. File System Formats
When writing DVD±R/RW and CD-R/RW discs, you will have the
option to assign the disc a particular file format (the way in which
a computer names and organizes files for storage and to manage
data exchange).
There are essentially three file system formats to be concerned with
when using a LaCie DVD/CD Drive:
✦
Universal Disk Format (UDF)
✦
ISO 9660
✦
Mac OS Extended (also known as HFS+)
✦
Hybrid discs (Mac & PC)
UDF –
This specification, developed by Optical Storage Technolo-
gies Association, is the predominant file system that allows compat-
ibility across various Bluray, DVD and CD applications, hardware
platforms and computer operating systems.
ISO 9660 –
This is the standard file system which allows media to
be read on a Mac, PC or other major computer platform. Published
by the International Organization of Standardization, this standard
defines a file system for DVD-ROM and CDs. It supports Micro-
soft Windows, Mac OS and operating systems that follow the Unix
specification, but doesn’t support custom features of Mac file sys-
tems such as long file names or icon options. Microsoft created an
extension to the format, called Joliet, which allows for Unicode file
character names and file names up to 64 characters in length (twice
as many as the ISO 9660 Level 2 and 3 specifications).
Mac OS Extended –
Also known as HFS+, this is the file system used
by Macintosh. If you will be using your disc only on Macs, this is the
preferred file format.
Hybrid discs (Mac & PC) –
Mac users can also choose to create
hybrid discs which contain two partitions: one to be viewed by Mac
users, one by Windows users. Toast Titanium does allow this file
system choice.
4. Helpful Technical Information
