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All modern computers are equipped with an optical
drive. In optical drives, data is read by the help of a laser beam,
hence the term optical drive. Optical disks are very popular because
they are removable, can hold a large amount of data; they are less
vulnerable to magnetic fields and shocks and they can operate over a
variety of temperatures. Optical drives have
two basic types CD (Compact Disk) and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc).
A CD has much less space about 650 MB to 700 MB, as compared to a
normal DVD, which has a minimum 4.7 GB capacity (in case only one
layer is used). Initially the DVD was intended for storing videos
but with time, software suites are also growing in size they have
started production on DVDs. The software’s available on DVDs range
from PC and Sony PlayStation 2 games to latest versions Microsoft
Office, Visual Studio.NET etc.
There are different recording formats: CD-R, CD-RW,
DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R and DVD+RW. Different recorders are able to
record different formats so you should see the recorder’s full
specifications to see which formats are supported by it.
Some DVD burners in the
market support dual-layered format or DL, which enables them to use
a DVD to its maximum capacity, off course you will need a dual layer
media to record on.
There is still a clash going on between Toshiba
(supporting HD-DVD) and Sony (supporting Blue-Ray) for the future of
optical disk format. HD-DVD is an advanced form of normal DVD (High
Definition DVD), it offers less storage capacity and low level of
copy protection than a Blue-Ray, but it is cheaper to produce.
Blue-Ray uses a blue-violet
laser beam for reading and recording purposes. Blue-Ray disk can
hold relatively larger amount of data but it is bit expensive. Sony
announced that their new PlayStation3 will include a Blue-Ray drive.
Blue-Ray also offers DRM (Digital Rights Management) facility will
add much better encryption technique.
Both Blue-Ray and HD-DVD are
competing hard to win this war; both are at equal power right now.
HP has announced its support for HD-DVD format by incorporating the
drive in their computers, while Philips and Apple are opting
Blue-Ray drives.
As the HD-DVD and Blue-Ray war
is still going on and also their drives are very expensive it is
recommended that you should wait till a format is decided, because
both these formats are incompatible with each other, which means a
Blue-Ray cannot read a HD-DVD disk. |
