Pros and Cons of CDs and DVDs

For that matter, each development in the digital storage world is supposed to remedy flaws that existed in older formats. So, the CD had more storage capacity than the floppy, was less virus infection-prone, and had other advantages as well. The DVD, in certain aspects, is a one up on the CD, offering greater space, higher flexibility of sharing, more tolerance towards various file types and enhanced reproduction quality. Digital Video Discs were brought to the market almost exclusively for the incredibly fast growth in the audio visual sector. Like all inventions, they are mixed blessings. Let us discuss their pros and cons below.

Advantages of Optical Discs
Some major advantages offered by CDs and DVDs have been listed below:

• They are really cheap. Once upon a time, HP CDs were the cheapest among all recognizable brands while Sony and Samsung were unaffordable for the domestic user if anyone wanted to buy more than half a dozen at a time. The price tags of DVDs were awe-inspiring when they came. In fact, the DVD RW is still not really cheap. However, the cost of mass manufacturing plummeted with the massive increase in demand. Now there are a large number of companies making CDs and DVDs, and selling them at very competitive prices. This has forced the bigger brands to get into the universally affordable bracket as well.



• Optical discs are extremely user-friendly. Easy to burn, play, share, store, and carry around, their plastic cases are available everywhere, and the attractive albums can be fashion statements. Burning software like Nero or Roxio is well suited for first time users, with simple instructions and attractive interface.



• Multi-session discs changed the very history of optical discs. Every little bit of space on a CD was being used now. The DVD RW offers enough space for several feature films to fit in on one disk. Chapterisation is also possible in DVDs, making it ideal for storage management and movie marketing. It has successfully replaced the tape for libraries and small editing suites. Audio storage and marketing, as well as preservation have benefited immensely from optical discs.



• The CD and the DVD are not as delicate as pen drives, offering more resistance to dust, water, sunlight, shock and, most importantly, incorrect removal. Unless they get stuck in the tray of the drive, optical discs do not suffer data loss from being pulled out.



• Multi-session CDs have revolutionized the portable digital data market. There is still some doubt as to the fate of the DVD RW, and it is priced higher too, but it will probably evolve more.

Disadvantages of Optical Discs

Like all formats, this too has some inherent flaws that result in data loss.

• The shiny surface on which the data is written is exposed to the elements, and can easily get scratched. This will physically damage the data for good.



• If wrongly inserted, the optical disc will not just get stuck in the tray, but damage it also. Exerting pressure or using sharp objects to pry out a disc not only scratched the surface of the disc, but may also damage the lens and the mechanism inside. This will only end up in making us incur a greater expense than we thought.



• Mass production has caused a considerable downgrading in the quality of optical discs. You may discover that the CD or DVD is just unable to support the file formats after saving data on them, as the files will refuse to open and become corrupt.



• The CD and the DVD have been the two major culprits responsible for giving birth to a booming movie and music piracy industry spanning continents. As it is with all inventions, optical discs are mixed blessings too.

Data Loss from Optical Discs

Data loss can happen from CDs and DVDs in the following ways:

• If the disc is of inferior make, it will damage and corrupt files stored on it, and these will not open readily.



• As stated above, the surface can be scratched, it may get stuck in the drive, and affect other hardware.



• Like all digital devices, there may be data loss through accidental deletion, formatting, forced shutdown, virus, and hardware failure.

About the Author

James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are concerned about data loss and would like more information on Data Recovery see http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk


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