The DVD-ROM specification supports disks with capacities of from 4.7GB to 17GB and access rates of 600 KBps to 1.3 MBps. One of the best features of DVD-ROM drives is that they are backward-compatible with CD-ROMs. This means that DVD-ROM players can play old CD-ROMs, CD-I disks, and video CDs, as well as new DVD-ROMs. Newer DVD players can also read CD-R disks.

DVD-ROMs use MPEG-2 to compress video data.

Dolby Laboratories home page
Offers links to company information, news and products, as well as technical information about Dolby Digital, DVD, and Dolby Surround and multimedia.

DVD technical notes
Provides a comprehensive array of technical notes about DVD technology. Sections include: general, physical, applications, files, standard density CD, and other Web resources.

DVD: Hard or Soft?
Is DVD the best optical storage choice?

DVD: Set Top or DVD-ROM Drive?
In this age of high-tech gadgets and consumers with money to buy them, is it any surprise to find out that DVD player sales are nearing the three million-unit mark?