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DVD ABCs
DVD regional codes
DVD-RAM
DVD-RW
Divix
Technical support

DVD ABCs

DVD (Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) - Is the new future of computer CD-ROM drives. DVD drives became a new computer standard September of 1995 when several various organizations decided upon it. The DVD technology allows for 4.7G of storage space, compared to the 650MB of storage space of the conventional CD-ROM drive.

The DVD technology is very different from the technology used in standard CD-ROM drives. DVD uses shorter wavelength lasers to read smaller pits and lands. Discs also have two layers, the first layer is semi-reflective to allow the laser to penetrate it and get to the substance beneath it. This allows one side of the DVD to have twice the capacity. Also, DVD has the capability of doubling its original capacity by using both sides of the disc. DVD drives also spin at a base speed that is about three times as fast as a single speed CD-ROM drive.

Newer DVD players which are referred to as the second-generation or DVD-2 drives are capable of reading CD-ROM discs, DVD Disks, CD-I, Video CDs, CD-R, and CD-RW disks. The first generation of DVD drives released were not capable of reading CD-R or CD-RW discs.

Additional DVD space you may see in the near future include 8.5G, 9.4G, and 17G.

DVD-RAM

ReWritable disc which will provide much greater storage than the standard CD-R discs. DVD-RAM is still currently being worked on by the DVD Consortium. DVD-RAM will be capable of holding 2.6GB per side.

DVD-RW

Standard of ReWritable DVD discs being promoted by Hewlett Packard, Philips, and Sony. In competition of DVD-RAM, DVD-RW (also known as Plus RW) is capable of holding 4.7 GB of data. 

DIVIX

Divix (Digital video express) -  New DVD-ROM which was developed and promoted by several large companies including Disney, Dreamworks SKG, Paramount, and Universal. The idea behind Divix is to help add copy protection security. With Divix, a movie or other media would be loaded onto a disc and would be playable for a duration of time, generally two days. Each Divix player is connected to a telephone outlet which would allow the Divix player to communicate with a central server to exchange billing information.

The Divix player is more expensive than a standard DVD drive and current DVD drives do not support Divix, therefore a new player must be purchased to play a Divix disc. In addition, the Divix discs are only available through local Circuit City Stores.

NEWS: June 16, 1999 -- Digital Video Express announced it will discontinue operations, but existing, registered customers will be able to view discs during a two-year phase-out period.