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So what?
The advantages of DVD technology

In short, the extra space in DVDs not only allows an entire movie to fit on one disc, but it can also include the audio track and subtitles in multiple languages, out-takes, different camera angles for specific scenes, wide-screen format (like in the movie theater) and whatever else the producers want. Overall, a DVD could potentially hold up to eight hours of high quality video, according to DVD Video Group. DVD Video Group is an industry-funded nonprofit corporation that exists expressly to promote consumer awareness of the benefits of DVD Video.

"It's definitely awesome if you have the right setup. The extras are what makes DVD the coolest," said Nathan Martinez, a student at Butte College.

Nathan's roommate, Chico State student Stephen Krok, owns a DVD-ROM player. However, Nathan recommends a DVD Video player for most people, because the primary use is for DVD Videos.

DVD doesn't just have extra "stuff," it has digital reams of quality. Digital video and sound bring VHS to its entertainment knees. Imagine having a flawless pause on all your movies. Okay, we admit it. That's not very thrilling, at least not until you get the chance to see "The Fifth Element's" Milla Jovovich lying naked inside a glass tube. Even with the DVD zoom feature, she appears genetically perfect. DVDs can also skip from one scene to another like CDs do with audio tracks. DVD Videos have high resolution video (up to 500 lines per screen).

The audio capabilities surpass those of CDs and could rival movie theaters, given the right set-up. They have Dolby Digital Surround Sound and those with DTS have six channels for dramatic vibes to reach your ears.

Translation: If you have two front speakers, two rear speakers, a sub woofer and a center speaker all hooked up to a surround sound receiver, each speaker will have its own dedicated channel of independent sounds.

However, if you're just hooking up your player to a mono (not stereo) TV with a 13-inch screen and you don't plan to upgrade anytime soon, buy the cheapest DVD player available. You'll still be able to enjoy all the extra stuff, but the audiovisual quality probably won't be very distinguishable from VHS tapes.

Though DVDs have primarily held movies and music videos so far, their potential goes way beyond. DVDs have so much space, one student suggested, a professor could fit an entire class curriculum, including readings and videos that students would normally have to get from the library and perhaps some video clips of especially important lectures.

"You could basically publish a class on there," said Joe DiFalco, a CSU, Chico student and sales associate at AS.ComputerWorks. "In terms of learning, [DVD] takes it a step further than a VCR. Now the learning experience can be fully interactive."

Though CSU, Chico's curriculum is not currently implementing DVD, there is hope that students involved with digital video production will soon have this technology at their disposal.

DVD Intro