With many new computers offering a DVD drive as an option this Christmas, Evolution has created a guide.

This guide which was developed in association with international data storage experts Imation and Lindfield-based computer company Matmos is to ensure that readers can be sure what they are buying DVD technology is becoming increasingly popular for archiving home videos from digital camcorders, recording TV shows, backing up hard drives and saving and sharing professional video and multimedia projects.

Although the technology is catching on quickly, each recordable DVD format has different specifications, drive or player requirements.

Tracy Morrison, of Imation Europe, said: "Considerable confusion exists concerning the various DVD media formats."

The market is expected to grow 446 per cent in the next year.

Steve Parker, of Matmos, said: "New DVD writing software enables users to copy commercially-available DVDs on their PC DVD-Writer.

"The process takes about an hour. Commercially-available DVDs use a process called dual-layering to store more information than the standard 4.7Gb, which means the copy may spread onto two discs but will play identically to the original."

So those who like to watch DVDs on their laptop computers can keep the original film safe at home. But remember to read the copyright restrictions as you may burn your fingers along with the writeable DVD.

Imation DVD-R is a writeonce format that holds up to 4.7Gb of high-density data, including the combined storage of music, video and data, transfer of video or large capacity data files, internet downloads and massive archival storage.

These discs are capable of producing pre-mastering discs and are ideal for high-volume data recording, archiving and playback. DVD-R information is permanently recorded and cannot be altered or erased.

DVD-RW is a format that allows users to record, erase and re-record their own discs more than 1,000 times. Known as DVD re-recordable, it can be thought of as a rewritable version of the write-once DVDR format.

Compatible with DVD video players and DVD-rom drives, DVD-RW discs can hold up to 4.7Gb of information, ideal for long-term data archiving or the combined storage of video, audio and data applications.

DVD+R discs extend the functionality of the DVD+RW media in a write-once format.

With 4.7Gb of storage capacity, users can store thousands of digital photographs or up to two hours of digital video.

These discs are certified for 2.4x DVD recording speed, which is equivalent to 3.32Mb per second or 22x CD-R performance, the fastest recording speed of any current format. It is ideal for anyone requiring data-intensive, high-performance application needs.

Imation DVD+RW discs are ideal for storing data and video content for PC and entertainment applications.

Each disc can hold 4.7Gb of information, which translates to more than two hours of high-quality MPEG2 DVD video with excellent picture quality, while also allowing for the storing of a combination of both digital video and digital audio files on the same disc. DVD+RW discs can be written more than 1,000 times.

DVD-RAM discs offer a complete storage solution for dataintensive, high-performance applications. All data stored on DVD-RAM media can be accessed in the same manner as a hard drive, with drag and drop capabilities, and can be rewritten up to 100,000 times.

www.imation.co.uk
www.matmos.co.uk
www.cdpage.com/dvdi.html
www.research.ibm.com/journal/rd/443/ashley.html
www.dvdforum.org/forum.shtml