All About DVD Part 2: The Mess With Formats

DVD

Probably everyone nowadays had a need to transfer information between several PC's or make a backup copy of favorite movie. Recordable DVDs (DVD-Rs) serve this purpose very well, but it could be quite hard to get familiar with all the different types of them. While in CD era there were only two formats, namely CD-R for recordable and CD-RW for rewritable disk, for DVD it is not that simple. The fight between manufacturers to enforce their own formats led to the mess of the biblical scale. Besides DVD-R and DVD-RW, in most shops it is possible to encounter DVD+R, DVD+RW and even mysterious DVD-RAM. And there is no guarantee that your DVD drive will be able to work with newly purchased disk.

In this article we will try and help users to get familiar with this mess.

DVD-ROM

(DVD Read Only Memory). Generic factory-printed DVD. All mass-production DVDs with movies, software etc are printed on DVD-ROM.

DVD-R

(DVD-Recordable - pronounced as "DVD Are" or "DVD Dash Are"). This is the first format for recordable DVDs. It was developed in 1995 by Pioneer and was approved by DVD-Forum as a main standard for recordable DVD. Basically, this formatis direct analogue of CD-R but with bigger capacity and, respectively, smaller track size. As with CD-R, record is made by altering the structure of organic polymer in reflective layer with powerful laser. DVD-R can be recorded only once, but it is compatible with most DVD players and computer DVD drives. Properly stored and unscratched DVD is believed to remain readable for hundreds of years.

Initially DVD-R was only single-layered, but recently double-layer DVD-R DL (dual layer) becomes available. They are also known as DVD-R9, however, they are still uncommon and they can be recorded only on newest models of DVD burners. Trying to record these disks in non-compatible drive can actually lead to the DVD burner damage.

There are two types of DVD-R disks: DVD-R Authoring (DVD-R (A)) and DVD-R General (DVD-R (G)).DVD-R (A) type of disks appears first and was used only for professional needs. This type of disk allows recording of anything, including hidden area and keys, which means that It can be used as a master-copy for mass-production.

Devices and disks compatible with DVD-R(A) are professional equipment and therefore very expensive and uncommon.

DVD-R General (G) is much more common. It was developed later specifically for the needs of common users. This type of disks does not allow making a full copy of protected DVD - no keys will be recorded and resulting disk simply will not play. On the other hand, there are lots of devices and blank DVD-R son the market for this type of disks, and they also quite inexpensive. DVD-R (G) devices can read DVD-R (A) disks but cannot record anything on them.

Unlike CD-R, DVD-R shave a special copy protection called CPRM, which stands for Content Protection for Recordable Media. Each blank DVD-R has inerasable encrypted entry (lead in) in hidden area of the disk, which contains information about type of medium and manufacturer. When backup copy of protected DVD is made, copy program will re-encode the information again, but this time using this hidden information, so twill not be possible to copy the resulting disk again as it will require hidden information from specific medium. This type of copy protection also supported by other DVD-Forum formats, namely DVD-RW and DVD-RAM.

DVD-RW

DVD-RW (DVD ReWritable) was also developed by the Pioneer and essentially is the same DVD-R with only difference that reflective layer's state can be transformed by the laser more than once. The specifications for DVD-RW states that each DVD-RW medium should withstand up to 1000 rewriting cycles. The reflectivity of DVD-RWs is much less then of DVD-R and some DVD drives can mistake them for dual-layer DVD. For this reason DVD-RW are compatible with only approximately 70% of existing DVD players.

Early models of DVD-drives required DVD-RW to be finalized in order to read it properly; however, with the appearance of new drives this is not necessary anymore in most cases. It is also not necessary to write at least 1 GB on a disk. Files of any size, no matter how small can be recorded now.

Dual layer DVD-RW, called DVD-RW DL with capacity up to 8.54GB of data is about to appear soon. Currently it is being developed by Ricoh; unfortunately, it won't be compatible with current DVD-drives and for this reason is unlikely to ever become popular. Besides, high capacity Blue-Ray and HD DVD are also coming soon.

DVD+RW

Despite the decision of DVDForum, DVD+RW (DVD ReWritable, pronounced as DVD plus R) format was founded and promoted by coalition of developers called DVD+RW Alliance. First version of DVD+RW, presented in 1997, was able to hold only 2.8 GB of data (compared with 4.7 for DVD-RW). These disks also weren't compatible with normal DVD players and, basically, all of these were the reasons for DVD Forum not to accept this standard.

later developers managed to improve both flaws but even after this, DVD+RW didn't become a standard. As a result, DVD+RW can only reviewed a potential alternative to DVD-RW. However, DVD+RW is not without some pleasant features that DVD-RW misses:

1. Lossless linking technology allows editing of the recorded disk on sector level, which means that, unlike in DVD-RW, there is no need to rewrite whole disk when only certain parts of it needs to be changed.

2. DVD+RW format has better facility for error handling. If certain sector wasn't recorded properly, it is rewritten again, more carefully. Also during the process of disk creation DVD Burner is able to determine the address of sector that is being recorded, so if the record process is interrupted, it is possible to resume it from the same position where it stopped.

3. DVD+RW format supports EasyWrite(Mt. Rainier) technology, which in conjunction with special software such as DirectCD or InCD allows using DVD+RW medium as a normal floppy or hard drive via Explorer or other file manager. The support for EasyWrite also will be included in new Microsoft Windows Vista as a standard option.

4. In addition to everything above, maximum writing speed for DVD+RW is about twice faster than for DVD-RW.

However, DVD+RW format also has some drawbacks.For example, DVD+RW is less compatible compared to DVD-RW, and the probability of running into incompatible DVD drive is higher, no matter what the press-releases and advertisements claim. Compatibility becomes even bigger issue for old DVD drives.

DVD+RW and DVD+R have a special protection system designed for them, called VCPS (Video Content Protection System for DVD+R/+RW). It has all the features of CPRM (which is for DVD-RRW) and also supports limitations in copying of protected digital broadcasts. However, such innovations are usually welcomed only by movie and video producers and generally provide only nuisance for users.

DVD+R

Although it might seem strange, DVD+R was introduced by the same DVD+RWAlliance later than DVD+RW, namely in 2002, which is the reason why it is possible to encounter DVD drives that can work with DVD+RW but are totally incompatible with DVD+R. The introduction of DVD+R was more of a step back for the developers, as the only thing they have to do to create DVD+R is to change the substance in reflective layer of DVD+RW from rewritable to the one that support only one cycle of writing. Due to this, DVD+R is actually missing some of useful features of DVD+RW, such as improved error handling. There is also dual layer version of DVD+R, called DVD+R DL or DVD+R9 (actually, it appeared earlier thanDVD-R9). In general, DVD+R does not differ much from DVD-R.

DVD-RAM

Initially DVD-RAM (DVD-Random Access Memory) was developed for back-up storage, but later it's capabilities in handling video became evident, so now there are many home DVD-RAM camcorders and DVD-RAM recorders which are aimed to replace VHS.

Although DVD-RAM format was developed by Panasonic in compliance with DVD Forum, it is much different from DVD-R and DVD-RW. The chemical part of the process is essentially the same as in DVD-RW, but the logical part more resembles the operation of hard disk drive. From the very beginning DVD-RAM is divided into several sectors. Data is recorded not in circular track as in normal DVD and CD but is directed in certain sector, without particular order. During reading of the disk this allows to find the desired file fast and easily by addressing appropriate sector. Besides, this layout allows reading and writing information simultaneously. Interestingly enough, DVD-RAM does not require any special software for recording; it can be accessed in the same manner as normal hard drive or floppy disk.

Although DVD-RAM can withstand more writing cycles (about 100000) than DVD-RW, it is substantially more fragile and have to be handled with much greater care. For this reason many DVD-RAMs are being sold in special cartridges, however, if disk is single-sided, it can be removed from cartridge temporarily as some DVD-RAM recorders have normal CD tray instead of cartridge loader.

Some DVD-RAM disks are actually sold without any case at all. These disks require extreme caution during use.

However, despite being extremely fragile, DVD-RAM has most reliable error checking. If error is discovered during burning process, data is simply recorder in different sector; while in any other DVD format disk will become completely unreadable.

Speaking of compatibility, any DVD-RAM recorder will have no troubles reading DVD-R and DVD-RW formats. However, only few drives will be able to read DVD-RAM format. Unfortunately, DVD-RAM is much less common compared to other formats of recordable DVD's and therefore the price for both drives and disks is still relatively high.

DVD+VR, DVD-VR

DVDs can be recorded in two modes - Video Format and Video Recording Format (DVD-VR). First one is compliant with DVD-Video standard and is compatible with any equipment (this format is used for factory DVD-Video disks and for video data on DVD-R). DVD-RV mode can be altered after recording and does not require copy to hard drive in order to edit disk contents. It is possible to add, cut and delete video data for the disks written in DVD-VR mode, it is also possible to add more chapters or change menu. This can be done for both DVD-RW and DVD-RAM (for DVD-RAM it is actually the only available mode).

For DVD+RW there exists slightly better version of DVD-VR called DVD+VR. Some of the positive differences from DVD-VR are the possibility of creation of full-fledged menus up to 30megabytes in size, while DVD-VR can only generate standard play-lists. It is also possible to delete data from DVD+VR anytime, while in DVD-VR it has to be done only prior to recording of new data. And the most important thing - DVD-VR disks can only be played on DVD Burner or home DVD Recorder, while DVD+VR can be viewed on any device capable of reading DVD+RW.

Not long ago the selection of preferred format was an important question, as after selecting, for example, DVD-R compatible device the user have to live with the fact that the device won't be able to read or write DVD+R. It was also dangerous to use DVD-RW or DVD+RW as a floppy to transfer data, because, unlike CD-RW, there was a chance that there will be incompatible drive in other computer.

Luckily enough, these problems are now gone.

Summary

After the appearance of first multi-format device on the market, any modern DVD drive now supports almost all of available formats, and the selection of desired type of DVD can be made several times a day, depending on particular task. The only sad thing that the mess with DVD formats was sorted too late, as completely new formats of disks are already emerging.

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Custom Gaming Laptops - Five Things You Must Consider When Building a Gaming Laptop

 Gaming Laptops

Gone are the days when you would have been laughed at if you walked into an all-night LAN party carrying your trusty laptop and expecting to hang with the giant computer towers standing at everyone's feet. The gaming laptop computers of today sport huge, crisp LCD screens, cutting-edge video cards and full-size keyboards. Not only can these gaming laptop computers hang with the standard clunky computer tower, but they can also be ordered fully custom to meet the exact specifications of any gamer.

Since there are so many customizable components in these laptops, a standard practice has been to create what some call a "system builder." This is the page where you get to add and subtract components through drop-down menus in order to create the best gaming laptop computer for your needs and your budget. This type of page can be overwhelming to someone just starting the gaming laptop shopping process, but it is very manageable if you take it just one component at a time.

The Gaming Laptop GPU

This is the heart of a gaming laptop computer. The GPU (graphics processing unit) is a component that will make or break your gaming experience. If your GPU isn't up to snuff, your games won't play.

Without getting into specific models since they change all the time, the key is that the graphics card not share resources with the computer. A gaming laptop video card must have its own memory on board. Generally speaking, standard off-the-shelf laptops will not have this feature. The two current makers of laptop video cards are nVIDIA and ATI.

Without the Screen, You Don't Have Much

What good is a gaming laptop without a screen that can actually render your games? Now certainly, you can connect an external monitor, but if you can't actually play on your gaming laptop without that external monitor, then your laptop isn't all that mobile.

While the technology and terminology for LCDs (liquid crystal displays) could take up an entire article in itself, there are a few key points to keep in mind when choosing from available LCD options for your new gaming laptop computer: native resolution, aspect ratio, rise and fall time, contrast, viewing angle, and size.

Native Resolution. The native resolution is simply the setting at which your screen will render the clearest images. Since games are constantly in motion, slightly soft edges may not bother most gamers, but keep in mind that while this is your gaming laptop, you will likely also use it for other things like surfing the Internet. If the resolution isn't comfortable, you aren't going to enjoy using it.

Aspect Ratio. As you probably know, a movie theater screen and a TV screen have different proportions. Likewise, there are widescreen format gaming laptops and there are laptops that have a standard aspect ratio -- like that of a TV. A widescreen format gaming laptop (a 16:10 ratio) has advantages and disadvantages. Many games today do not have a widescreen mode. This means that the game may stretch across the screen and become distorted or you may run it with black bars that fill in the sides. There are ways to get around this, but if you want an out of the box perfect experience, the widescreen format may not be for you.

That said, a widescreen LCD does offer plenty of screen real estate for web surfing and other type of computer activities, and a game played in a wide format setting offers an expansive field of view. For this reason, there are some very loyal widescreen-loving gamers out there.

Do your best to find a balance between current and future technology and what your computer habits are beyond gaming. Even with its limitations, the widescreen format is found on most of the best gaming laptop computers.

Rise and Fall. The phrase 'rise and fall time' is used to describe how fast the LCD can respond to changes. In the past, LCDs have been plagued with the inability to render images as fast as computer games can spit them out. This presents a major problem for laptop gamers because if they can't see the images properly, they can't play the game properly. This lag can mean the difference between playing to win and barely playing.

Fortunately, gaming laptop LCDs have come a long way and they are only getting better. While once it was impossible to game on a laptop screen, the gaming laptop LCDs of today offer 25 milliseconds or less rise and fall time while generally off-the-shelf laptops have 40 milliseconds or less rise and fall time.

Contrast. If a gaming laptop LCD has poor contrast, that means that the black areas aren't quite as black as they should be and the white areas aren't quite as white. This is important to a laptop gamer because you have to see the game properly -- as it was intended to be seen -- in order to compete effectively. Look for a contrast ratio of 400:1 or higher in a custom gaming laptop computer.

Viewing Angle. This is an often-overlooked LCD feature, but it must be considered if you are building a gaming laptop computer. Many high quality LCDs on the market are difficult to see clearly at any angle other than straight on and at the right height. This can be a big drawback to gaming on a LCD screen because a screen with poor viewing angles won't allow others to watch the screen as you play and also hurts your view when doing something as simple as adjusting your seating, which can require you to then adjust to position of your laptop screen to see it properly again.

But gaming on a laptop does not mean that you are doomed to have poor viewing angles. There are LCDs on the market that have amazing viewing angles -- up to 120 degrees. These screens not only allow gaming onlookers, but they also allow you to use that giant, crisp screen to do things like play movies and even make presentations.

Size. In a gaming laptop computer, size is everything. Most gaming laptops are large, robust pieces of electronics. Having a machine of this stature means you also get to have a large screen. The best gaming laptop computer LCD screens out there are at least 15 inches. A crowd favorite is a 17 inch widescreen (even with the challenges that widescreens present). Largr 19 inch laptop screens are just starting to be talked about with consumers expecting to see 19 inch or even large models on the market in the near future.

The best way to really get a feel for what laptop LCDs are all about is to take a trip to a local box store and play with the LCDs on the display laptops while keeping in mind what you have read here. While these laptops are not custom gaming laptops, you can see what the sizes really look like, what different resolutions look like, and what the viewing angles truly are so you can start to develop your own preferences.

The RAM - What Type and How Much?

The RAM (random access memory) found in laptops is called SODIMM (small outline dual inline memory module). The RAM is responsible for your processing power. If you are shopping for a custom gaming laptop, you will generally be offered DDR2 RAM with the choice of how much you want in your computer. Most high-end games being released today need 1GB of RAM for optimum, lag-free game play. Some people are going with 2GB to ensure that they can run multiple applications along with the game and not experience any slow down in response time. This is a large investment and you want to be able to use this gaming laptop for some time in the future. Most custom laptops are user upgradeable, but this should be left up to professionals.

The CPU - Not Just Mobile Technology

The CPUs (central processing units) found in many custom gaming laptops are identical to those found in desktops. These chips require a great deal of cooling power, which in turn can make your laptop louder than light weight, lower power ultra portables when the fans kick on and it can become somewhat warm to the touch. Don't be alarmed by this -- it is normal. And with these desktop processors comes screaming power! Don't waste your money on the latest CPU release that likely has an inflated price tag (and that price will likely come down before long). Stick with a current CPU speed that is offered by a reputable custom gaming laptop reseller, and you really can't go wrong.

The Gaming Laptop Hard Drive

This is the final component to consider when building a gaming laptop. Laptop hard drives come in a variety of speeds and capacities ranging from 4200 to 7200 RPMs and 40 to over 100 GBs. For the most part, this is user preference. Whenever possible, go for a 7200 RPM hard drive, but if you need a capacity not offered in this speed, it's okay to go for the 5400 RPM drive. Take a look at your current computer, and buy your capacity based on this. Also keep in mind that with many custom gaming laptop manufacturers, you have the ability to upgrade or add another hard drive at a later date.

At the end of the day, gaming laptop computers are all about power. Don't expect a twelve-pound notebook with a desktop processor, numerous fans, a giant heatsink, and independent video card to last on battery power all that long. But do make sure to enjoy the jawdrops that you'll get as you walk into your regular LAN party location with your new, screaming-fast gaming laptop computer. Crack that puppy open, fire it up, and stand clear of the drool as you take on your favorite game with fellow gamers gathered around to take in the action. Gaming is not just for desktops anymore!

Laura Alter works side by side with the gaming community everyday at [http://www.pctorque.com] -- a recognized authority on custom laptop news and technology. Visit PC Torque to learn even more about building the best gaming laptop computer [http://www.pctorque.com/best-gaming-laptop.php].

Please feel free to reprint as long as article and bio stay intact.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/73074

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How to Buy a Laptop / Notebook Computer

You want to buy a laptop do you? And looking at the vast choice available you are confused.....not to worry....heres some advice.

Before I go into details, a quick recap of processors is essential. Be aware that it is the processor (cpu) that governs the price of the laptop (along with the screen size). The two major companies manufacturing CPUs are Intel and AMD (there's Apple too but lets stick to mainstream laptops). Intel makes the famous line of Pentium processors (''Intel inside'' ting tong ting tong!). For laptops you have three main cpus available - Mobile Pentium 4 (basically a desktop P4 processor), Pentium M (low voltage cpus which enhance battery life and are specially built for laptops) and the Mobile Celeron processor (poor man's P4 cpu). Wait a minute, you say, you didnt mention the Centrino processor. That's because Centrino is not a processor - it's a technology. Centrino is a combination of 3 things - Pentium M cpu + 855 chipset + Wireless Pro (802.11b). The other company is AMD - they make really good cpus that rival Intel's cpus. Traditionally AMD cpus have had heat generation problems but lately there aren't many complaints. I would advice you to stick to Intel processors which have good re-sale value.

The next Q is....what will you use the laptop for? Are you going to use it for simple stuff - spreadsheets/word processing / internet browsing? Then go in for a Celeron CPU. If you are going to do more serious computing, intend travelling frequently and want to run the laptop on its battery, go in for a Pentium M laptop. If you need wireless access go in for a Centrino laptop or a Pentium M laptop (u can add wireless technology using a pcmcia card). If you aren't going to move the laptop around much or you want a laptop for games, get a Mobile P4 laptop. But be aware that a Mobile P4 laptop is a desktop replacement - it will be heavy and will run hot.

Now that you have the CPU decided, think about the size of the screen. 15'' is today's ''sweet spot''. But you do get smaller or bigger screens. Choose the size that fits your budget. 14'' or less is a bit too small these days unless of course you want a ultra portable (read expensive) laptop. For gamers, the bigger the screen the more fun they will have. Bigger screens are also good for spreadsheet warriors and DTP professionals.

The next item on your list is RAM (temporary memory). 

Most laptops come with Windows XP which needs at least 256 mb ram to run happily. I urge you to upgrade to 512 ram for best results. The more RAM you have, the better your laptop will behave. It is said that increasing your RAM is the best and cheapest way of improving performance of any computer (i.e. without changing the motherboard/cpu).

Another thing to look at is the graphics memory. You can either choose dedicated video memory or shared architecture. Dedicated memory means that your video card has its own memory and does not have to ''beg'' for memory from the system memory (RAM). A rule of the thumb - dedicated memory = fast performance. Gamers and DTP guys must insist on dedicated memory. Good graphic chips are ATI Mobility Radeon or Nvidia GeForce. The more video memory you have, the better it is. Try to get a laptop with at least 32 mb video memory. Most laptops use shared architecture these days which is a cost cutting measure (an example of shared architecture is Intel's extreme graphics). If you are not going to play serious 3D games or run heavy duty graphic programmes, shared architecture will be just fine. But make sure that you have enough system RAM (read 512) because the video memory is going to steal part of your RAM.

The hard drive capacity will be in the region of 30 gb and above. Get the maximum bang for your buck - don't fall into the ''I'll never need that much capacity'' rut. You will need all the hard drive space you are given so get the biggest capacity you can afford. For normal laptop users 40 gb is sufficient. You can easily increase hard drive space by buying an external USB 2.0 hard drive.

Battery life is very important for road warriors. 

Expect 3-5 hours battery life from most laptops. Mobile P4 laptop batteries will last much less. Always go in for a lithium ion battery as against a nickel hydride one.

Most laptops offer optical drives - the best value for money today is DVD-ROM + CD-RW drive. This means that you can read DVDs and read/write CDs. If you have lots of money to spend, get a laptop with a rewritable DVD drive.

Sound quality on laptops is just about acceptable for movies/songs/games - you cant go wrong with Harmon Kardon / Altec Lansing speakers.

One important factor to consider is weight. You don't want a dislocated shoulder do you? So ....the lighter the laptop, the better it is for your health! The catch is that the lighter the laptop, the more expensive it is going to be. Don't forget the AC adapter - some laptops have huge adapters which weigh a ton!

Don't ignore a floppy drive - most laptops don't have floppy drives any more. But don't worry - USB external floppy drives are cheap. Ask the salesman to give you one for free; he will oblige you if he wants to make the sale. While you are at it, ask him for a free laptop bag as well.

Get a laptop with lots of USB ports which will come in handy and will improve the versatility of your laptop. Make sure that the USB ports are USB 2 (technology which is much faster than the old USB 1.0). An external USB mouse is a must as the inbuilt pointing devices are really painful to use.

All laptops come with built in modems and usually have LAN connectivity. Some laptops offer card slots where you can read/write to memory cards (as used in cameras).

Most laptop companies offer minimum software - Windows XP and basic stuff. They won't even give you Office software. You will have to add more software yourself. To keep prices down, some companies offer Linux operating systems - unless you are seriously strapped for cash, I would advice you to stick to windows. As soon as you get your new laptop, make copies of the recovery CDs and store the original CDs safely. Carry the copies with you when travelling extensively.

Now, armed with the above knowledge dive into the market and choose the best laptop you can afford. Compaq and Toshiba make excellent laptops so check them out first. Compaq is generally cheaper than Toshiba. I used a Compaq laptop initially but later on moved to Toshiba as I found their laptops better. This is a personal choice so don't read too much into it. Compaq and Toshiba are well established in most countries so repairs are not a problem. Find out where the nearest repair centre is and keep that information handy.

A laptop is usually a long term buy - forget about upgrading laptops. So choose carefully. Check the warranty - National and International. Remember that some companies will not honour your International warranty and will tell you to take the laptop back to the country where you bought it! Make sure you clarify this point before you buy the laptop.

Take good care of your laptop. Invest in a surge protector. Don't move the laptop when it is switched on. And remember the golden rule - NEVER drink tea/coffee while working on a laptop!

I am a Merchant Navy officer living in Mumbai. When I am not sailing the high seas, I enjoy surfing the net, playing computer games, swimming, listening to music and reading books. Over the years I have picked up lots of information about computers that would be useful to non-technical people. I would love to share this information with other people and assist them in any way I can.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/70829

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