Products

Digital Video Disc (also known as Digital Versatile Disc)

An optical storage medium with improved capacity and bandwidth over the Compact Disc. The first DVD drives for computers are read-only drives ("DVD-ROM"), providing 7+ times the storage capacity of CD-ROM (4.7GBytes). Write-once DVD-R ("recordable") drives will record a 3.9GB DVD-R disc that can be read on a DVD-ROM drive.
 

DVD is INEVITABLE

DVD is the hottest consumer electronics product ever, growing faster than VCRs or CD players. The question is when -- not if -- you're going join the DVD revolution. And if it'll be from your PC, TV or both.
DVD is the successor to the CD-ROM, holding 20-times more audio, video or PC data than today's CDs. DVD comes in essentially two incarnations: The DVD player that hooks up to your TV like a VCR for watching movies and listening to music, or a DVD drive that hooks up to your computer to run software, as well as play movies and music. The technology is backwards compatible so you can keep using your old CDs. Here's how you can incorporate this hot technology into your holiday shopping.

Great TV add-on: The DVD player brings digital sound and imagery into your living room, with twice the resolution of VHS tape and Dolby sound. Players run from anywhere from $350 to over $2,000. Standard features you should look for include:

Special effects playback, such as freeze, step, slow, fast and scan
Digital audio output
Programmability
Parental locks
New PCs: If you're buying a new PC, DVD is a must. DVD drives greatly optimize the performance of graphic and multimedia-heavy programs such as games or reference works, as well as let you watch movies on your PC.

Upgrade your current system: DVD upgrade kits start at $200. If you're planning on adding a DVD drive to an existing system you need at least a 133 MHz Pentium processor and should consider:

Title availability: You'll find more than enough movies to play on your PC, but DVD-specific software titles are just beginning to pick up momentum. But remember: DVD will play your audio and software CDs. Click for more.

Installation: You can buy a straight DVD-ROM drive and mix and match with an MPEG-2 decoder board. Sound confusing? Your best bet is to buy an upgrade kit from vendors such as Creative Labs, Diamond Multimedia and Hi-Val. Click for more.

Performance: To get the most from your DVD -- especially for video -- get a kit using a hardware decoder board. Click for more.

Berst Impression: DVD is valuable, versatile and easily gets the green light if you follow the guidelines above. A year ago it was a risky venture, but now DVD is definitely ready for prime time. Warning: Don't get fooled into a Divx drive -- the DVD-like imposter is a dead technology you can only watch movies on. Click for more.

Of course, you still need to shop with care. Use the links below to buy from ValueAmerica... the most reputable firm on the web. Electronics (including DVD players)

Special thanks to:
Berst Impressions
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1998
DVD: Coming to a Screen Near You

Jesse Berst, Editorial Director
ZDNet AnchorDesk