Durability aside, there are additional practical
benefits to DVDs.
First, since DVDs can be copied with no quality loss, it's
easy to make backups if you only have one disc and want additional
copies. This is not possible with videotapes, which suffer "dubbing
loss" whenever they are copied to a second tape. DVDs
store video in a digital format, like files on a computer,
which is why they can be copied perfectly.
Another related benefit is that you can make exact copies of
your DVDs for family and friends. You can copy
DVD discs quickly and easily, making them an ideal format
for sharing and archiving video. Plus, they are small and inexpensive
to mail or store.
DVDs have permeated our culture deeply, which means that you
are virtually guaranteed that whenever you give someone a DVD,
they will be able to watch it. Most folks have either a DVD player
or a computer with a DVD drive. So you never have to worry about
giving someone a video they can't watch.
By the same token, this marketplace acceptance of DVD means
that you'll be able to watch your discs for many years. While
new technologies are always on the horizon, consumers have adopted
DVDs in such a way that compatible machines will be available
for many years to come. |
