Mailinglist Archive: opensuse (2441 mails)

[Anders Johansson <andjoh@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Wednesday 01 June 2005 02:10, Jerry Feldman wrote:
> The 1997 DVD specification called for a 4.7GB (DVD-5) data capacity
> however it did talk about dual layer (DVD-9). My point is that some
> older DVD ROM drives did not ever have the capability to read the dual
> layer DVDs. I'm not sure when DVDs with dual-layer capacity started tpo
> be included with PCS.
>  Both of my DVD readers (my laptop and wife's
> computer) were build before 2000.

This is a quote from the rec.video.dvd FAQ published in February 2000

<quote>
All DVD players and drives can read dual-layer discs -- it's required by
the spec. All players and drives also play double-sided discs if you flip
them over. No manufacturer has announced a model that will play both sides.
The added cost is probably not justifiable since discs can hold over 4
hours of video on one side by using two layers. (Early discs used two sides
because dual-layer production was not widely supported. This should no
longer be a problem.) Pioneer LD/DVD players can play both sides of an LD,
but not a DVD. (See 2.12 for note on reading both sides simultaneously.)
</quote>

This is from the alt.video.dvd from 1996 (the year the spec was made, btw, not 
1997)

http://www.dtvgroup.com/comdex/DVD/Robert/dvdfaq.html#1.18

<quote>
[1.18] When will double-sided or dual-layer discs appear? Will they work in 
all players?
Soon. Some replicators plan to produce double-sided discs, dual-layer discs, 
and double-dual discs from day one. Obviously the prices will be higher, but 
certain producers already require more space than is available on a single 
side or single layer. All players will play dual-layer discs -- it's 
required. 
</quote>

I can't seem to find the actual spec to quote though, but these sources seem 
relatively authoritative