| Currently there is a battle between a new standard for
rewritable DVD disks being promoted by Hewlett-Packard, Philips, and Sony. It is competing
with another standard, called DVD-RAM, developed by the DVD Consortium. The two standards
are incompatible. DVD+RW disks have a slightly higher capacity -- 3 GB per side, versus
2.6 GB per side for DVD-RAM disks. The companies said DVD+RW drives are due in late 1998.
There is no quote on media or drive prices. The coalition said the new devices will let
users read CD-RW media; this capability is not required of developers of DVD-RAM drives.
In addition, the DVD+RW drives will offer a user experience similar to using current CD-RW
drives, the companies said. For example, users will be able to record a bare disc or use a
protective caddy or cartridge for the media. By contrast, DVD-RAM drives will require
cartridge-based media recording, although the drives will be able to play bare media. For more information about the DVD technology go to: http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer/dvd summary from sony and Upgrading and repairing PC’s and: http://www.invision-tek.com/tekguide/orbit/issue1/dvd/history.htm |