why are all region dvd players so expesive

The DVD-R 1.0 format is standardized in ECMA-279. It has 1-hour (10 Mbps) and 2-hour (5 Mbps) recording modes, and includes a 2-channel Dolby Digital audio encoder. It provides component video (YPbPr) and 1394 (DV) inputs (along with s-video and composite). Pioneer released a professional DVD video recorder in 2002. A few new drives write both DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW. Most DVD-RAM drives also write DVD-R discs, some also write DVD-RW discs. As of fall 2002 DVD-RW drives are selling for under $200.

Many companies now produce DVD-RW drives, all of which write CD-R/RW. The same drive (model DVR-103) was built into certain Apple Macs and Compaq PCs. By August it was available for under $700, and by February 2002 it was under $400. Pioneer’s DVR-A03 DVD-R(G) drive was released in May 2001. Version 1.0 (3.95G) discs are still available, and can be recorded in Pioneer DVD-R(A) drives.Īlthough 3.95G discs hold less data, they are more compatible with existing players and drives. 1.9 media (and old 1.0 media) can still be written in 2.0 drives.

New 2.0 media (with newer copy protection features), can only be written in 2.0 drives. (This removes the 2,500 hour recording limit.) Version 1.9 drives can be upgraded to 2.0 via downloaded software. Version 2.0 drives became available in fall 2000.

New 4.7G DVD-R(A) 1.9 drives appeared in limited quantities in May 1999 (about 6 months late). Pioneer released 3.95G DVD-R(A) 1.0 drives in October 1997 (about 6 months late). A third version for “special authoring,” allowing protected movie content to be recorded on DVD-R media, was considered but will probably not happen. The main differences, in addition to recording wavelength, are that DVD-R(G) uses decrementing pre-pit addresses, a pre-stamped (version 1.0) or pre-recorded (version 1.1) control area, CPRM, and allows double-sided discs.

DVD-R(A) discs are not writable in DVD-R(G) recorders, and vice-versa, but both kinds of discs are readable in most DVD players and drives. The general version, intended for home use, writes with a cheaper 650-nm laser, the same as DVD-RAM.ĭVD-R(A) is intended for professional development and uses a 635-nm laser. In early 2000 the format was split into an “authoring” version and a “general” version. Matching the 4.7G capacity of DVD-ROM was crucial for desktop DVD production. First-generation capacity was 3.95 billion bytes, later extended to 4.7 billion bytes. DVD-R (which is pronounced “dash R” not “minus R”) uses organic dye technology, like CD-R, and is compatible with most DVD drives and players.

Why are all region dvd players so expesive