Difference between CD, DVD and Blu-ray disks

Compact Disk (CD)

The CD (Compact Disc) is a disc that can store digital data. It is limited to 700 MB. There are two main types:

• CD-R you burn data, so that ultimately you can not erase the CD.
• CD-RW you can erase the disc and rewrite data on it.

Replacing vinyl, we can distinguish the audio CD used for music industry and the CD-ROM can store any data. This disc can be read on CD players.

Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)

The DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) is another disc that has the same features as the CD but it requires appropriate players and it can hold more data. A normal DVD can hold 4.7 GB, it has the possibility of being double-layered or double-sided rising capacity to 8.5 GB It may also be twice which provides about 17 GB but it is the maximum.

This disc is used to distribute the Movies. Many copy protection systems have been implemented without success because they were always broken by hackers.

It is therefore possible to rip the movies but it is illegal if distributed.

The new Blu-ray disk

There is also the new Blu-ray which allows even greater capacity of 50 GB. It can store HD videos (High Definition Videos) that take up space. It is necessary to have readers those are expensive right now.

Sony’s PlayStation 3 is compatible with Blu-ray which is normal since the Japanese company is one of the creative format. Some higher models of Laptop computers have Blu ray readers by default.

To summarize

• The CD is mainly used for distributing music.
• The DVD can store more data and therefore used to distribute movies.
• Demanding more HD space, the Blu-ray disc can hold up to 50 GB