DVD-RAM
A rewritable DVD disc endorsed by the DVD Forum. Using phase change technology, DVD-RAMs are like removable hard disks, and the media can be rewritten 100,000 times compared to 1,000 times for DVD-RW and DVD+RW. The first DVD-RAM drives with a capacity of 2.6GB (single sided) or 5.2GB (double sided) became available in the spring of 1998. DVD-RAM Version 2 discs with 4.7GB arrived in late 1999, and double-sided 9.4GB discs in 2000. DVD-RAM drives typically read DVD-Video, DVD-ROM and all types of CD media. See DVD, DVD+RW, DVD-RW and optical disc.
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| Panasonic Drive and Media |
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| Panasonic was the first to debut DVD-RAM drives in 1998. This Panasonic DVD-RAM drive supports both caddy-based and caddyless media. DVD-RAM discs must be placed in the caddy for writing, but all other DVD and CD media can be read bare. (Image courtesy of Panasonic Industrial Company.) |
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| Phase Change Recording |
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| In rewritable DVDs, different intensities of the laser turn bits in the phase change recording layer between a crystalline state and an amorphous state. |
DVD-RAM [
¦dē¦vē¦dē ′ram]
| DVD-RAM - Digital Versatile Disk Random Access Memory | |