DVD versus VHS: format comparison and adoption

DVD vs. VHS

DVD Comparison with VHS

After a brief introduction on the history and quality of videotapes and DVD, an analysis of how & why DVD has replaced VHS and considered to be more standardized by means of culture and social ways is discussed in the paper (Magazine Archive). This is done by means of listing pros and cons of both. Followed by the comparison and weighing pros and cons, the difference of quality, convenience etc. is further discussed by an analysis in the conclusion section (Magazine Archive).

The developments of DVD began in 1994, launching the format in 1996 as by that time new formats and revisions have come into view. It began in 1994 as two competing formats, Super Disc (SD) and Multimedia CD (MMCD). The replacement with VHS among many other reasons is an agreement by both camps on a single standard in order to meet the necessities of all the different industries involved (Magazine Archive).

Although DVD started off as the Digital Video Disc but today due to ample demand it has become versatile disc, a multi-application family of optical disc formats for the purposes of read-only, recordable and re-writable applications (Magazine Archive).

On the other hand, a VHS tape has always been a great mean to use for filming, but at the same time it is poor in preserving memories. The videotape after every viewing deteriorates, as less as five years after saving movies on VHS tapes (Magazine Archive). These tapes looses its original quality, while a DVD will not only last for generations, but also hold its original quality regardless of the number of times it has been viewed (Tiny Nibbles, 2003).

DVD vs. VHS

DVD Pros

500 lines of screen resolution

Has a high quality digital audio and video

Large storage capacity

Simple navigation, having track numbers and headings.

Durable

Optional Sub-titles

Interactive menus comprising many extra features.

Multi-Channel audio tracks

Played on computers

Compact

Life of DVD last for longer DVD cons

Take up less space

Unlike videos, DVDs' don't get chewed up in player

Magazine Archive)

DVD Cons

Player & disk a lot more expensive

Player costs approximately $49-$2,500, while disk $10-$30

Easy and fast to find scenes.

Not everyone has access to one

Fairly new technology & in developing process

Few slow problems (Magazine Archive)

VHS Pros

Resolution of 220 lines

Lots of videos available

Costs much less: videos $4.99-$19.99 and player $9.99 - $999

Quite old technology and so well researched

Magazine Archive)

VHS Cons

Less VHS movies being made dying technology

Lower quality sound/audio

Wear out after many viewings or in other words, fades over time

Manual rewind and fast forward

Only 220 lines of resolution

Not many special features on a VHS tape

Magazine Archive)

Comparison

DVD is higher quality growing technology with a wide range of features. On the other hand, VHS is a fading technology comprising fewer features. In order o view ones ' favorite parts, while watching videotape it needs to be rewind or fast-forward. However, a DVD allows to going directly to a specific part of disc, known as chapter links, and is far more convenient than the video option (Garden Web, 2003).

The reason why DVD exceeds the quality of a video is because a VHS allows around 200-300 vertical lines of resolution, while a DVD not only allows 480 lines of vertical resolution but also 540 lines of horizontal resolution, resulting in a sharper and more detailed picture (Garden Web, 2003).

The reason why DVD formats unlike videos does not deteriorate in the long run is because the media is used in order to store the images (Garden Web, 2003). The media for video is magnetic and can be affected to the extent that it can also be erased by means of magnetic devices like speakers, TV's computer monitors and other magnetic field that produces devices (Forever DVD. Com).

The other reason is indexing. One can locate the scene(s), which is wanted without having the problems of recalling the counter number where the scene was located. The VHS picture at the top is a little fuzzier and more distorted, while the DVD picture at the bottom is a much more clear and less distorted (Forever DVD. Com).

Along with many other reasons for DVD to be considered as more standardized than VHS is because DVD discs offer much higher capacity than VHS for high quality video, audio and software and it is due to this high quality of video and audio that has helped DVD-Video to replace VHS for pre-recorded titles as well as increase the video market on the whole in most regions (Forever DVD. Com).

Through statistics, it is shown that DVD has, and is still growing faster than any other consumer electronics format in the United States as well as in Europe. Personal Computers with DVD capability are selling more, along with a rapid increase in the multimedia and games applications. The arrival of new games consoles using DVD has helped it to accelerate further sales (Forever DVD. Com).

Since 1997, DVD-Video and DVD-ROM hardware and software have been available. While, in 2000 DVD-Audio was launched. Now DVD writers and DVD video recorders are available at reasonable prices (Forever DVD. Com).

Conclusion

Thus, it is evident that DVD is a winner in quality yet; simultaneously it is far more expensive to buy the gear than VHS or any other player. As VHS lacks a little in quality, this particular format's quality a lot depends on the VCR that is being used. By machine, the quality of the picture is determined and not by the tape, coming down to the amount of cash one has (Tiny Nibbles, 2003).