DVD-ROM and CD-R: the compatibility question answered

Emedia Professional, March, 1998 by Hugh Bennett

RELATED ARTICLE: CD-R-Compatible DVD Video Players

Manufacturer     Model

Sony             DVP-S3000

Sony             DVP-S7000

RELATED ARTICLE: CD-R-Compatible DVD-RAM Drives

Manufacturer    Model       Interface    Form Factor

Hitachi         GF-1000     ATAPI        5.25" 1/2 height internal
Hitachi         GF-1050     SCSI         5.25" 1/2 height internal
Hitachi         GF-1055     SCSI         5.25" 1/2 height internal
Panasonic       LF-D100     SCSI         5.25" 1/2 height internal
Panasonic       LF-D101     SCSI         5.25" 1/2 height internal
Panasonic       LF-D111     ATAPI        5.25" 1/2 height internal
Toshiba         SD-W1001    SCSI         5.25" 1/2 height internal
Toshiba         SD-W1002    ATAPI        5.25" 1/2 height internal

RELATED ARTICLE: The OSTA CD-R/DVD-ROM Compatibility Study

Since 1995, the CD Writable Physical compatibility subcommittee of OSTA has undertaken a program of compatibility testing for CD recorders, media, and readers. The current effort by the group is a CD-R/DVD-ROM compatibility study designed to help manufacturers assess the ability of their DVD-ROM drives to read CD-R discs.

Fourteen hardware companies are participating in the study, including Acer Peripherals, Hitachi, JVC, LG Electronics, Matsuthita Kotobuki, Mitsubishi Electric, NEC Home Electronics, Philips Pioneer, Samsung, Sanyo, and TEAC. The framework for the tests involves having DVD-ROM drives read a representative sample of fully-written 74-minute CD-R discs taken from an earlier OSTA compatibility study, as well as one pressed CD-ROM containing the same data set. Both the CD-R and CD-ROM media are played in the manufacturer's DVD-ROM drive to measure such parameters as average access time, average transfer rate, and read time, in addition to optional data verification and average error rates.

The first round of testing is scheduled for completion in February 1998, followed by a formal report. Preliminary results presented at the OSTA meeting in San Jose, California on October 21, 1997, indicated relative success. More than 70 percent of the CD-R discs displayed an average access time within 10 percent of that of the pressed disc. Additionally, more than 90 percent of the CD-R discs arrived at an average data transfer rate within 10 percent of that of the pressed disc. Since many of the products used at that time were still in development, the final results are expected to become significantly better as market-ready products are evaluated.

RELATED ARTICLE: Companies Mentioned in This Article

Eastman Kodak Company 343 State Street, Rochester, NY 14650-5019; 800/235-6325; Fax 716/253-7179; http://www.kodak.com; InfoLink #407

Hitachi America, Ltd. Computer Division, 2000 Sierra Point Parkway, MS: 500, Brisbane, CA 94005-1835; 800/448-2244, 650/589-8300; Fax 415/244-7647; http:/www.hitachi.com; InfoLink #413

LG Electronics U.S.A. 1000 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 201/816-2000; Fax 201/816-0636; http://www.goldstar.co.kr; InfoLink #415