- DVD vs. CD
- Capacity confusion
- Questions to ask yourself
- Comparing DVD standards
- Who supports which standard
- Other Considerations
- Questions to ask the retailer
- The future of DVD
Who supports which standard
In case you are in any doubt, each DVD standard maintains its own list of supporters from some of the most influential industry players.
DVD-RAM is backed by Hitachi, Toshiba, Panasonic and Samsung, and is also endorsed by the DVD Forum. DVD-RAM was the first standard developed by the DVD forum, and the first format used both in PC drives and in DVD recorders for the living room.
DVD-RW is also endorsed by the Forum, and is backed by Pioneer, NEC, Sharp and Thomson. This format also features in systems by Apple and Compaq. The Forum also supports the write-once DVD-R format, which is recognised as the DVD equivalent of CD-R media. This is the most versatile standard, as all DVD writers except the DVD+RW will operate with this format.
DVD+RW is not endorsed by the DVD Forum, but does have the support of the DVD+RW Alliance. This Alliance consists of Hewlett-Packard, Philips, Sony, Yamaha, Verbatim, Ricoh and Dell. Microsoft also announced its intention to join the DVD+RW alliance in February 2003. Like the DVD Forum, the DVD+RW Alliance has developed its own write-once format, DVD+R, which claims to offer a level of drive compatibility similar to that of DVD-R.
