DVD RAM

[fuzzynavel]

Just noticed a thread on DVD RAM and have wondered for a while what exactly it is.....how does it differ from normal DVD media?

RAM for me normally means volatile storage....but in this case I think I'm wrong...Help me...

 

[CalvinHobbes]

DVD-RAM looks similar to DVD-R but it uses sector based writing (similar to a hard drive) and it's rewritable. It does need to be finalized either.

 

[fuzzynavel]

Thanks......

 

[Bluefront]

I may as well respond here....DVD-RAM is available in several media types There's a cartridge type, with the disk non-removable. (looks like a big floppy). Available 2.6mb, 5.2mb, and double-sided with twice the capicity. You have to remove the cartridge from the recorder, turn it over, to use this second side.

Then you can get the cartridge type with a removable disk.....this lets it work in machines that won't accept a cartridge.

Then there's a non-cartridge type....looks like a regular CD/DVD, also in various sizes.

Most of the Panasonic recorders, computer as well as stand-alone player/recorders, will accept the cartridge type. I prefer the cartridge type as you never touch the disk, making it perfectly safe.

You can use it just like a floppy...only it's completely reliable.

 

[Tostada]

Originally posted by: Bluefront
I may as well respond here....DVD-RAM is available in several media types There's a cartridge type, with the disk non-removable. (looks like a big floppy). Available 2.6mb, 5.2mb, and double-sided with twice the capicity. You have to remove the cartridge from the recorder, turn it over, to use this second side.

Although I'm sure it's obvious, I just thought I'd clarify that it's GB, not MB. And 5.2GB DVD-RAM is already double-sided.

DVD-RAM 1.0 is 2.6GB/side.
DVD-RAM 2.0 is 4.7GB/side.
DVD-RAM 2.1 is 1.46GB/side mini discs.

So the capacities you get are:

1.46GB DVD-RAM 2.1 single-sided mini disc
2.6GB DVD-RAM 1.0 single-sided
2.92GB DVD-RAM 2.1 double-sided mini disc
4.7GB DVD-RAM 2.0 single-sided
5.2GB DVD-RAM 1.0 double-sided
9.4GB DVD-RAM 2.0 double-sided

What you'll generally see these days are DVD-RAM 2.0 discs that don't need a caddy. The types of DVD-RAM cartridges are:

Type 1 = sealed cartridge with non-removable disc (single or double-sided)
Type 2 = cartridge with single-sided removable disc
Type 4 = cartridge with double-sided removable disc

Some cameras use the mini DVD-RAM cartridges:

Type 6 = mini cartridge with double-sided removable 8cm disc
Type 7 = mini cartridge with single-sided removable 8cm disc

The other cartridges (Type 3,5,8,9) refer to empty caddys.

There aren't really a whole lot of benefits to DVD-RAM since it's not very compatible, but if it had caught on, it would be a better floppy drive replacement than your average RW disc that either needs packet writing, multi-session, or else has to be totally erased every time you write to it. CD-RW is rated at 100 rewrites. DVD+/-RW is rated at 1,000 rewrites. DVD-RAM is rated at 100,000 rewrites. Type 6 fits 3GB and it would've been a very convenient replacement for floppy/ZIP drives. I suppose DVD-RAM might start to catch on since multi-format drives are getting popular, but these days we really don't need DVD-RAM when anybody can get a pen drive for $15 for their tiny files, and you can just use a DVD+RW (which writes faster) for huge files.

 

[Bluefront]

Heh...thanks for clearing that mb/gb typo up. Apparently very few people around here use DVD-RAM. Pity....