Getting DVD: Advice Required

[Minerva]

I'm thinking to get a DVD for my computer, but can't decide which format.

My computer currently has CD-RW, so my original thought (about a year ago ) was to add DVD. However, since the technology developed (as always the case), and DVD itself became really cheap as well as DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM... It's all so confusing!! Before I got CD-RW, I could see that was the way to go soon, and waited for the price to come down (so, I didn't even think about CD-R), but I really don't know if it will be replaced by DVD-RW or whatever in a year or so.

I currently want one just for games and watching comedy or such (I know it'd be better buy one for my TV, but I'm living in a shared house. Everyone else think anything in the living room are all theirs too!). I don't know if DVD+RW will be the main stream for computer soon (thus the price to drop quickly), or I should stick to the plain DVD for a couple of years or so.

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

PS. Can I actually watch DVD on computer, anyway? And, can I buy DVD in Japan (Region 2 NTSC) to use it in UK (region 2 PAL)?

[smass]

Minerva - yes you can view DVDs on your pc - most dvd players come with dvd viewing software. There are several good software dvd players available to purchase separately as well.

Are you interested in a drive that can write DVDs? If you are there are many good choices that burn to all the major formats DVDR +/- and DVDRW. Pioneer and Sony make two of the best 4x drives. Plextor just came out with a drive that writes DVDr at 8x speed. These drives can be found for around $250 currently. They write to all the major formats so compatibility is not an issue. If you are interested I can post the model numbers or PM you.

The other format you mention is DVD-RAM - this format allows you to write to the DVD just like any other drive - drag and drop files - kind of like a regular hard drive. In the US this format has not caught on yet - although it is very popular in Japan among other places.

IMHO DVD is best used now for backing up home movies, massive file storage for digital photos and music, and backing up DVDs. If you are not in need of these features and just want to view DVDs and use DVD software then I would not buy a DVD burner yet. You could pick up a decent DVD drive for around $50.

As far as PAL/NTSC and region codes - I will defer to some of our non-US resident geeks...