I don't know about DVD-RAM, but DVD-/+ RW discs do not need to be finalized to play in players other than the recorder, however, DVD+R/-R discs do. I have played the DVD+RW discs I create on my Gateway DVDR on various players with no problems, as long as the player is capable of playing +RW/+R discs. When I first got the recorder, I finalized a +RW disc and then erased it and recorded on it again. I have never recorded over a disc unless I erased it first though. Erasing the disc takes only a few seconds on my Gateway. Recording is basically exactly like on a VCR as the recorder formats the blank disc as soon as the disc tray is closed.
