PC Hardware in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition

DVD-R

DVD-R (Recordable) was the first recordable DVD standard. DVD-R uses organic dye technology, and is similar conceptually to CD-R. DVD-R discs can be read by most DVD-ROM drives and DVD players. DVD-R 1.0 drives shipped in late 1997, cost $17,000, and stored 3.95 GB on a write-once DVD-R 1.0 disc, which at the time cost $80 each. TheDVD-R 1.0 standard is specified by ECMA-279 (http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/ECMA-279.HTM). DVD-R 1.9 drives shipped in mid-1999, cost $5,000, stored 4.7 GB on a write-once DVD-R 1.9 disc (which at the time cost $50 each), and could also write 3.95 GB 1.0 discs. DVD-R 2.0 drives shipped in late 2000, store 4.7 GB on write-once 2.0 discs (which are copy-protected), and can also write 1.0 and 1.9 discs. DVD-R branched into two subformats in early 2000:

DVD-R(A)

DVD-R(A) (DVD-R Authoring) drives are for professional use, and use a 635 nm laser which can write DVD-R(A) discs, but not DVD-R(G) discs. DVD-R(A) drives can read either type of DVD-R disc, as can most DVD drives and DVD players. DVD-R(A) drives sell for $1,500 to $5,000, and DVD-R(A) discs cost roughly twice what DVD-R(G) discs cost.

DVD-R(G)

DVD-R(G) (DVD-R General) drives are for home use, are particularly suited to video recording, and use a 650 nm laser that can also write DVD-RAM discs, although as of July 2003 only Panasonic has shipped combination DVD-R(G)/DVD-RAM drives. DVD-R(G) drives can use double-sided discs and incorporate CPRM (Content Protection ...