DVD R Vs. DVD RAM
Digital Versatile Discs, or DVDs, make for a convenient data-storage solution. Each stores about 4.7 gigabytes of information in a product the same size and shape as an audio CD. However, information on a DVD may be written in several different formats, each of which requires a DVD disc that is specially designed for that format.
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DVD-R
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DVD-R discs are capable of having data transferred to them once. The data is stored in a non-volatile manner, making the format useful for archiving. Discs are rated for speed, and burners must honor that speed; a disc rated for 6x speed can only have data transferred to it by a burner that can write at 6x, although most modern burners will write at the maximum speed of the media.
DVD+R
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DVD+R discs are capable of data transferred once. They are similar in use and specification to DVD-R discs and burners, except that the two formats--having been developed by competing manufacturers--are incompatible. A DVD-R disc cannot be used in a DVD+R burner.
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DVD-RW; DVD+RW
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DVD+RW and DVD-RW are rewritable DVD standards that allows for one DVD disc to have information transferred to it more than once. The two standards are similar, except that a different sponsoring organization manages the technical specifications. From a user perspective, there is little difference--and most computers ship with a DVD+/-RW drive that accommodates both formats seamlessly.
DVD-RAM
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DVD-RAM is a rarer form of DVD; it acts more as a removable hard drive and is not compatible with most DVD-ROM burners and DVD video players. In addition, the DVD-RAM discs are more difficult to find in some communities and the media are more expensive than DVD+/-RW. The format is more prevalent in video cameras.
Double Layer
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Double-layer discs allow for a second layer of information to be encoded on the disc--in essence, doubling its capacity. Only a double-layer disc, burned in a DL-capable recorder, can take advantage of this newer technology. Any DVD format can be used with a DL-capable disc.
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References
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