Why do movies have multi DVDs if a DVD can hold 17ish gigs?

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
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I SOMETIMES see a double sided DVD, but most we see are single sided single layer, so why do none ever use the dual layers to double up the room? Then instead of having to have two discs for many double-disc movies they could fit it on just one and still leave the top for nice pictures.
 

Keego

Diamond Member
Aug 15, 2000
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maybe they cost less... Or maybe they're more compatible.


I don't really know!
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
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Selling point maybe. "This is a 2 set DVD" instead of "One DVD"

Same reason everything ends in .99, or "for just .XX you can fatty size that meal"
 

LOLyourFace

Banned
Jun 1, 2002
4,543
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marketing, presentation. think about it.

3 DVD set of Hannibal Lector Trilogy: Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs, & Hannibal.

or

1 DVD that has all..[/b]

It's not just about content, consumer psych is involved heavily in marketing.. ppl like shiny fancy retail boxes and extra DVDs.
 

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
22,135
5
61
because when you 'double layer' a DVD, you increase the chances of errors on disc reading.

by leaving it to a single layer, you're practically insuring a problem-free dvd.

 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: guyver01
because when you 'double layer' a DVD, you increase the chances of errors on disc reading.

by leaving it to a single layer, you're practically insuring a problem-free dvd.
i'd rather ensure no errors :eek:

 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
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Originally posted by: guyver01
because when you 'double layer' a DVD, you increase the chances of errors on disc reading.

by leaving it to a single layer, you're practically insuring a problem-free dvd.

lots of movies are double layer....

17 requires both sides. first reason is that its good to market 2 disc sets, second is that double sided dvds suck.
 

tcsenter

Lifer
Sep 7, 2001
18,933
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because when you 'double layer' a DVD, you increase the chances of errors on disc reading. by leaving it to a single layer, you're practically insuring a problem-free dvd.
That's reason 1, reason 2 is simply that 2 single-sided DVD's cost less to produce than 1 double-sided DVD. So you get more for less (in terms of data integrity).
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
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Originally posted by: tcsenter
because when you 'double layer' a DVD, you increase the chances of errors on disc reading. by leaving it to a single layer, you're practically insuring a problem-free dvd.
That's reason 1, reason 2 is simply that 2 single-sided DVD's cost less to produce than 1 double-sided DVD. So you get more for less (in terms of data integrity).
You also have to realize that early DVD players couldn't read the double layers. Early versions of movies were only single layer and you'd have to switch DVDs in the middle of the movie. I have a few like that.
 

Mark R

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,513
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Most movies are smaller than 9 GB and therefore fit on a single disc (double-layer).

Only a few films go over this limit (e.g. LOTR), and need more than one disc. Marketing departments are also keen to release 'special edition' high-priced multi-disc sets, where 1 disc is used for the film, and the other(s) for the dubious extras.

A few years ago, some studios used only double-sided discs, rather than the more expensive double-layer discs. I was rather dissapointed when one of the first DVDs I saw was 'Armageddon' and you had to flip the disc over half way through. [WB eventually saw sense and, in fact, offered to exchange the double-sided discs for double layer ones].

The small label area (making identification less obvious), and increased fragility of double sided discs, have certainly put me off them. At the same time, they offer little advantage over 2 seperate discs - you still can't watch from end-to-end without intervention.
 

ddwbi0

Senior member
Jun 22, 2002
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Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Selling point maybe. "This is a 2 set DVD" instead of "One DVD"

Same reason everything ends in .99, or "for just .XX you can fatty size that meal"

mmmmm fatty size...
 

NuclearFusi0n

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
7,028
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Originally posted by: Mark R
Most movies are smaller than 9 GB and therefore fit on a single disc (double-layer).

Only because the bitrate of the MPEG-2 encode is lowered to fit it on there. i sure would love it if every dvd came with a super high bitrate and/or a DTS-ES track :)
 

fr

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
6,408
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It's only 9GB on each side. If they used both sides, there wouldn't be a pretty label.
 

amnesiac

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
15,781
1
71
1. Consumers hate double-sided DVDs. Hence, extra features are now offered on a second disc, and widescreen / pan-and-scan are offered in separate packages.
2. Extra features generally take up a lot of room (i.e. documentaries, DVD-ROM, etc..)
3. DTS uses boatloads of space because of its high bandwidth.
 

pac1085

Diamond Member
Jun 27, 2000
3,456
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Originally posted by: dethman
hate double sided dvds. no cool picture. :D

Exactly. I got terminator 2 ultimate editon and its double sided...no cool pictures! bleh.
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
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Originally posted by: Vortex
Originally posted by: dethman
hate double sided dvds. no cool picture. :D

Exactly. I got terminator 2 ultimate editon and its double sided...no cool pictures! bleh.

i bet you guys buy all your music because the singer is good looking, too.:disgust: