DVD

DVD, which once stood for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc, is the next generation of optical disc storage technology. It's essentially a bigger, faster CD that can hold video as well as audio and computer data. DVD aims to encompass home entertainment, computers, and business information with a single digital format, eventually replacing audio CD, videotape, laserdisc, CD-ROM, and perhaps even video game cartridges.

DVD discs are similar to compact discs in their appearance, yet that's where the similarity ends. The capabilities of DVD dramatically increase the storage options available to industries requiring ever increasing storage capacity, as well as some industries that aren't even aware of DVD's awesome potential. Pit lengths and track spacing for DVD are reduced allowing four times as many pits as a compact disc in the same area.

It's important to understand the difference between DVD-Video and DVD-ROM. DVD-Video (often simply called DVD) holds video programs and is played in a DVD player hooked up to a TV. DVD-ROM holds computer data and is read by a DVD-ROM drive hooked up to a computer. The difference is similar to that between Audio CD and CD-ROM. DVD-ROM also includes recordable variations (DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW). Most people expect DVD-ROM to be initially much more successful than DVD-Video. Most new computers with DVD-ROM drives can also play DVD-Videos.

Over 2 hours of high-quality digital video (over 8 on a double-sided, dual-layer disc).

The digital versatile disk (DVD) holds 4.7 gigabytes of information on one of its two sides, or enough for a 133-minute movie. With two layers on each of its two sides, it will hold up to 17 gigabytes of video, audio, or other information. (Compare this to the current CD-ROM disk of the same physical size, holding 600 megabytes. The DVD can hold more than 28 times as much information!)

DVD uses the MPEG-2 file and compression standard. MPEG-2 images have four times the resolution of MPEG-1 images and can be delivered at 60 interlaced fields per second where two fields constitute one image frame. (MPEG-1 can deliver 30 noninterlaced frames per second.) Audio quality on DVD is comparable to that of current audio compact disks.

DVD is rapidly becoming a new format for films, with better sound and graphics than videocassettes or laser disc. DVD's compact disc sized technology allows for added bonuses that previous platforms have been able to deliver.

The DVD Basics
With technologies changing so rapidly, many people have some basic questions about DVD. Here's some basic information on DVD's capacity to store data using a multitude of various DVD format styles.

DVD-5 stores 4.7 Giga-Bytes and has data on 1 side and 1 layer.

DVD-9 stores 8.5 Giga-Bytes and has data on 1 side and 2 layers.

DVD-10 stores 9.4 Giga-Bytes and has data on 2 sides and 1 layer.

DVD-18 stores 17.0 Giga-Bytes and has data on 2 sides and 2 layers.

Specifications DVD-5

- 4.7 Giga-Bytes DVD

- 4.75Ó DIA Single-Layer

- Holds over 1,760,000 Pages of Text and Graphics

- 2.5 Hours of High-quality Digital Audio/Video

- Plays on any DVD Drive

- Windows 95/98, NT, MAC, OS

- Weight: 1.4 Ounces

Specifications DVD-18

- 17 Giga-Bytes DVD Double Side/Dual-Layer

- 4.75Ó DIA/DBLS

- Holds over 6,600,000 Pages of Text and Graphics

- 8+ Hours of High-quality Digital Audio/Video

- Plays on any DVD Drive

- Windows 95/98, NT, MAC, OS

- Weight: 2.8 Ounces