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DVD GLOSSARY |
Source : CNET Glossary
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6029_7-6210035-1.html?tag=txt
DVD
digital versatile disc
These high-capacity optical discs store everything from large computer
applications to full-length movies. While similar in physical size and
appearance to a compact disc or a CD-ROM, DVD is a huge leap from its
predecessor's 650MB of storage. A standard single-layer, single-sided
DVD can store 4.7GB of data. DVD also has a two-layer standard that
boosts the single-sided capacity to 8.5GB. DVDs can be double-sided,
ramping up the maximum storage on a single disc to 17GB. DVDs come in
several formats, including DVD-video, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-A, DVD-R,
DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW. Not all drives read and write to all types
of discs, but the emergence of multi-format DVD drives is eliminating
the confusion.
DVD-ROM
DVD-ROM is akin to CD-ROM: It
records and holds data on a computer--just more of it. DVD-ROM drives
can read discs holding up to 17GB of data (double-sided, dual-layer)
and can play DVD movies on a PC in conjunction with an MPEG-2 decoding
card or software.
DVD-RAM
A DVD standard for recording
and rewriting data used for computer storage. DVD-RAM drives can use
single-sided (4.7GB) or double-sided (9.4GB) rewritable discs. They can
also read and write older 2.6GB/5.2GB DVD-RAM discs. One drawback to
DVD-RAM drives, however, is sluggish performance compared to DVD-R/RW
and DVD+R/RW drives. Also, movies burned on DVD-RAM media are playable
on only a very few drives and home players.
DVD Multi
A set of hardware
specifications created by the DVD Forum that is designed to enable
compatibility with multiple disc formats. DVD Multi specifies that
drives be able to read DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM media,
although they often can read DVD+R and DVD+RW discs as well.
DVD+R
DVD+recordable
A recordable DVD similar to DVD-R in that it can be written to only once. DVD+Rs hold up to 4.7GB of data per side.
DVD-R
DVD-recordable
A DVD that can be written to only once (the data can't be erased). A
DVD-R can contain any type of material, including data, audio, video,
and multimedia content. One double-sided disc can hold 9.4GB of data.
DVD+RW
DVD+rewritable
DVD+RW is a rewritable DVD standard developed by the DVD+RW Alliance,
an industry consortium, to compete with the DVD-RW standard recognized
by the DVD Forum. DVD+RW media has a capacity of 4.7GB. Like DVD-RW, it
can be used for data or movie recording, but unlike DVD-RW, you can
write to DVD+RW media before formatting is complete. You can also burn
movies to DVD+RW, though only newer DVD-ROM drives or players can read
the discs. DVD+RW is currently the fastest rewritable DVD standard.
DVD-RW
DVD-rewritable
A DVD that can be written (recorded) to over and over again--up to 1000
times--for use as data or movie disc. The disc's capacity is 4.7GB. You
can burn movies to DVD-RW, though not all DVD-ROM drives or players can
read the discs. The DVD-RW standard is supported by the DVD Forum.
DVD+RW Alliance
An association of
computer, optical storage, and electronics manufacturers that develops
and promotes the DVD+RW format. The association includes Dell,
Hewlett-Packard, MCC/Verbatim, Philips Electronics, Ricoh, Sony,
Thomson, and Yamaha.
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