The video discusses the concept of DVD-RAM (DVD Random Access Memory), an optical disc format that was designed to function as removable storage in the late 1990s. Unlike traditional DVDs, DVD-RAM discs were structured like hard drives, with data recorded in concentric rings, allowing for true random access and native file system compatibility.
Despite its advantages, DVD-RAM failed to become a widely adopted standard due to several factors, including:
1. Speed: DVD-RAM write speeds were initially slow, and even with newer media, they couldn't match the speeds of other formats.
2. Compatibility: DVD-RAM discs were not compatible with standard DVD players, which led to confusion among consumers.
3. Competition: Other formats like DVD-R, DVD+R, and DVD-RW gained popularity and offered similar storage capacity at lower prices.
4. Flash memory: The rise of flash memory and USB drives made DVD-RAM less necessary for everyday data storage.
However, DVD-RAM found a niche in set-top DVD recorders, where its re-writability and native file system compatibility made it an ideal choice. The video concludes that while DVD-RAM was a great idea, it ultimately failed to gain widespread adoption due to a combination of technical and market factors.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. DVD-RAM (DVD Random Access Memory) is a variant of DVD designed to function as removable storage.
2. DVD-RAM discs are structured as if they are a hard drive platter, with data encoded on physical tracks and sectors.
3. DVD-RAM discs do not require special formatting, and files can be added to or erased from them on the fly.
4. DVD-RAM discs behave exactly like a 4.7 gigabyte USB storage device, with native file system compatibility.
5. The first version of MacOS to support DVD-RAM natively was 8.6.
6. DVD-RAM was first standardized in 1996, and the first DVD-RAM discs and drives were available in 1998.
7. DVD-RAM discs have an estimated life of 30 years or more, and can withstand being re-written upwards of 100,000 times.
8. Early DVD-RAM discs were stored in caddies to prevent damage.
9. DVD-RAM drives and discs were more expensive than other storage options, such as Zip drives, in the late 1990s.
10. The cost of DVD-RAM media dropped over time, with 4.7 gigabyte discs becoming available in 2000.
11. DVD-RAM discs were not compatible with DVD players, which limited their adoption.
12. The development of faster DVD-RAM discs was stifled by the fact that their most prominent application, set-top DVD recorders, did not require faster speeds.
13. DVD-RAM discs were used in set-top DVD recorders, where they were well-suited for recording TV shows.
14. Most DVD multi-drives made from the mid 2000s onward can read and write to DVD-RAM discs.
15. DVD-RAM discs have incredible longevity, making them suitable for archiving data.
16. DVD-RAM discs were not widely adopted, despite their advantages, due to a combination of factors including speed, compatibility, and confusion.
17. The rise of flash memory and hard drives ultimately made DVD-RAM obsolete for everyday data storage.