# Could a dvd-rw disk be used for data storage? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 22, 2002, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-dvd-rw-disk-be-used-for-data-storage/115389 "2002-06-22T04:05:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-dvd-rw-disk-be-used-for-data-storage/115389/1 "2002-06-22T04:05:56Z")
I know you would need a dvd writer. But CD’s were made for audio files yet they store data files, mp3 et al, very well. Could dvd’s do the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-dvd-rw-disk-be-used-for-data-storage/115389/2 "2002-06-22T04:21:48Z")
Yes of course. I believe there is still some fighting over standards, however, so don’t expect whatever DVD data format your writer uses to necessarily be universally compatible with future DVD writers. ---
**Author:** ![Com2Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Com2Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Com2Kid)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-dvd-rw-disk-be-used-for-data-storage/115389/3 "2002-06-22T05:04:50Z")
uuuh, yah. heh. You can go out to the store and buy a (get ready for it!) DVD-RAM DVD-RW DVD-R DVD+R Drive for yourself. DVD-R and DVD+R are about the only serious contenders, I always get’em confused, one is dead, the other one works in most regular DVD players (w00t!) not that anybody would have any need for that. . . . _COUGH COUGH_ But yah, you can store data on them, DVD-RAM drives have been around for a few years now, and both Nero and Easy CD Creator have supported some sort of recordable DVD technology for about as long. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-dvd-rw-disk-be-used-for-data-storage/115389/4 "2002-06-23T02:13:00Z")
Are mp3’s recordable on dvd’s? Or will it have to in some other format? _Drools at the thought of getting his entire OTR collection on a double sided dvd…_ ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-dvd-rw-disk-be-used-for-data-storage/115389/5 "2002-06-23T03:05:46Z")
Mp3s are just data files, so I’d be _very_ surprised if any of the formats couldn’t handle them. Just to muddy the waters a bit, I’ve heard there’s a format coming out that uses a blue laser, and with its shorter wavelength it holds a staggering amount of data. I also heard that they’ve already agreed to one industry-wide standard for the blue laser type disc, so there won’t be a cluster-boink of standards like the current DVD-R standards. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-dvd-rw-disk-be-used-for-data-storage/115389/6 "2002-06-23T14:31:27Z")
OK, did a quick search on the blue laser standard, found this: [http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,17348,00.asp](http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,17348,00.asp) “The standard supports recording, playback, and rewriting of up to 27GB of data. That may sound like a lot, but it boils down to 13 hours of standard TV, 2 hours of digital high-definition TV, or a backup of one of today’s gigantic hard drives.” 9 top companies have already signed on to the format. In terms of MP3s, 27GB can hold maybe 8,000 songs. Use MP3pro or WMA, that goes to nearly 16,000 songs.