DVD-RAM/DVD-Burner FAQ

Why are there different formats for DVD and which format is best?

There are different DVD formats designed for different applications and purposes.  The 230+ member DVD Forum which is the core DVD industry organization for establishing DVD format standards has agreed and ratified the following DVD formats:

• DVD Video. For viewing movies and other visual entertainment. The total capacity is 17 gigabytes if two layers on both sides of the disk are utilized.
• DVD-ROM. Its basic technology is the same as DVD Video, but it also includes computer-friendly file formats. It is used to store data. This product should supplant conventional CD-ROMs in the near future.
• DVD-R. Its capacity is 4.7 gigabytes and it is a write once format and is the most compatible format for playing on consumer DVD players and DVD-ROM drives.
• DVD-RAM. This makes DVD a virtual hard disk, with a random read-write access. Its capacity is 4.7-gigabyte-per-side. It can be re-written more than 100,000 times.
DVD-RW. Similar to DVD-RAM except that its technology features a sequential read-write access more like a phonograph than a hard disk. Its read-write capacity is 4.7 gigabytes per side. It can be re-written up to about 1,000 times.
• DVD Audio. The latest audio format more than doubles the fidelity of a standard CD. It is expected to become the most popular audio disk.