DVD ROMs can hold up to 17GB of information, but cannot be used more than once. They may not work with some programs and are not ideal for ongoing projects. A DVD player may be a better option for watching movies.
Although DVD ROMs are becoming more popular every day, this technology is not without its drawbacks. If you plan to buy a new computer or upgrade your current system in the near future, it’s important to understand both the positives and negatives of this technology.
A DVD ROM is a compact disc that can hold a minimum of 4.7GB of movies, music, text, or pictures, although some discs can hold up to 17GB of information. While movies from your local video store are often referred to simply as DVDs, they are actually DVD ROM discs. Access speeds for these devices range from 600 Kbps to 1.3 Mbps.
Since DVD ROM stands for Digital Versatile Disk – Read Only Memory, it should come as no surprise that the biggest disadvantage of this format is that it cannot be used more than once. Once the information has been recorded, it cannot be changed or altered. In fact, most commercially produced DVD movies contain copy protection mechanisms to prevent users from making unauthorized copies of the disc.
If you’re storing data for an ongoing project that you’ll need to change on a regular basis, a DVD ROM is a poor choice. In this case, the best option will be to use a removable flash drive or to purchase a DVD+RW/+R/CD-RW combo drive that allows you to read DVDs and CD ROMs and write to CD-R, CD -Discs RWs, DVD+Rs and DVD+RWs.
Because DVD ROM is a relatively new technology, you may have trouble getting some programs to work with the drive. For example, Real Jukebox, a music management software program, may not work with some units.
Of course, unlike a standard standalone DVD player, a DVD ROM setup requires a computer. This makes using a DVD ROM drive as the basis of your home theater system a little more difficult, although many people, including college students and people who live in small apartments, often choose this space-saving option. However, if your primary concern is watching DVD movies, it might be better to invest in a high-quality DVD player that is compatible with DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW and VCD formats to allow you to view any type of disc you choose.
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