Bits'n'Bytes

As heard on CJCD

Episode 28

DVDs were originally known as Digital Video Discs, because they were first introduced to and used by Hollywood movie companies, with the first movie put out on DVD being "Twister" with Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. Now, they're more commonly known as Digital Versatile Discs, because you can put whatever kind of file on it you like - it doesn't have to be just a video.

DVDRs are very similar to CDRs in that they're written to by using a laser to heat up the recordable part of the disc to make different colours that can be read by a DVD reader. DVDRs put the data bits much, much closer together than CDRs do, though, so you can fit about seven times more data on a disc than a CD. Also, your computer can read and write DVDs nine times faster than CDs. So you can store more and do it quicker.

What can sometimes confuse people when they buy recordable DVDs, is the plus or minus sign after the DVD. Should I buy plus or minus? - what's the difference?

Well, back in the early '90s when research on DVDs and DVDRs was starting, two different groups were formed. One group, including Pioneer and Toshiba had one format, and the other group - including Philips and Sony had another. By the time DVDRs actually came to market the two formats were very close, but not quite the same. So, Pioneer and Toshiba went with the DVD-Rs and Philips went with the DVD+Rs. Since Pioneer was the first to create a writer for the public - the dash Rs quickly became more popular. Now, most drives will write to either format - so the answer to the question is: "If you have a burner that was made in the last two years, either format will probably do. If you have an older burner - look on the face of it for a plus sign or a dash. That's the type of DVD you need".

Stay tuned next week when I talk about CD and DVD burning software.

I’m Computer Dave, thanks for your time.