| DVD drives are available in many different speeds | | | | extra CD-ROM drive. Also, the x-factor for DVD |
| with a variety of options and formats. The main factor | | | | drives refers to a higher transfer rate: 1x DVD-ROM |
| to consider when purchasing a DVD drive is its | | | | drives transfer data at the rate of a 9x CD-ROM |
| purpose. Usually, a DVD drive is intended to play DVD | | | | drive. |
| movies and audio CDs, as well as to read DVD-Rom | | | | • Most complete systems with DVD-ROM |
| and CD-Rom discs. | | | | drives will ship with 12x or 16x DVD-ROM drives today. |
| Features: | | | | DVD-ROM drives are dirt cheap today, so don't even |
| • DVD-ROM is a newer standard than | | | | bother with plain CD-ROM drives unless you have no |
| CD-ROM, able to read 7 times as much data off of a | | | | choice. |
| typical DVD disk (4.7 GB) as opposed to the measly | | | | • In 2002, Sony and Phillips introduced the |
| 650MB a CD-ROM drive can read, and also able to | | | | DVD+R format. All DVD+R formats are compatible |
| play DVD movies with the proper decoding software | | | | with each other. DVD+R has the same capacity as a |
| or hardware. | | | | DVD-R, and DVD+RW works exactly as a DVD-RW. |
| • With fast video cards and processors | | | | This format also offers DVD+RW DL. |
| today, you typically don't need any special DVD | | | | • The DL stands for dual layer, a technology |
| decoding hardware to play DVD movies. Microsoft | | | | which allows a single disc to hold up to 8.5 GB of |
| ships a software DVD movie player with Windows | | | | information. The DVD-RAM offers more storage |
| XP that works fine. | | | | capacity, but it requires a specialized DVD drive which |
| • Consumers interested in obtaining a more | | | | is more expensive. |
| advanced DVD drive will need to consider other | | | | • The DVD-RAM format enables the disc to |
| options, such as burners, drives that support DVD-R | | | | be re-written with the DVD drive up to 100,000 times |
| technology, and drives that support DVD+R | | | | as opposed to only 1,000 times or so for an average |
| technology. | | | | DVD-RW. It can be two-sided, enabling as much as |
| • The only difference between the two | | | | 9.74 GB on a single DVD-RAM disc. This disc is best |
| formats is the way the DVD drive determines the | | | | for users with mass portable storage needs. |
| position of the laser on the disc. DVD-R discs are read | | | | A "dual DVD" drive or DVD±R with |
| by the DVD drive through special grooves on the disc | | | | DVD-RAM is very versatile, as it reads all formats of |
| known as land prepits, whereas DVD+R measures a | | | | DVD technology and is capable of writing to all forms. |
| disc's wobble frequency. | | | | Typically, a user will achieve speeds of 16x write for |
| • A consumer can also purchase a | | | | DVD , 8x write for DVD+ DL and 5x write for |
| "dual-DVD" drive that supports both the DVD-R and | | | | DVD-RAM, as well as the capacity to write regular |
| DVD+R format, typically known as | | | | CD-R at 48x with this type of DVD drive. This ensures |
| DVD±R. | | | | any format of disc will work when using the dual DVD |
| • DVD-ROM drives can read CD-ROM disks, | | | | drive. |
| so if you have a DVD-ROM drive, you don't need an | | | | |