What Is the Importance of an Optical Drive in a Computer?
An optical drive in a computer system allows you to use CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs to listen to music or watch a movie. Most drives also allow you to write data to a disc so you can create your own music CDs or create a backup copy of important data.
What Are the Different Optical Drive Types?
There are three main types of optical drives used in computers today.
- Digital Versatile Disc (DVD): DVD-ROM is a disc capable of storing large amounts of data on one disc the size of a standard Compact Disc. A DVD is capable of holding any data and most often stores movie data, games, and data installations for programs. To play your DVD movies, you can use a VLC since its an open-source media player that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
- Blu-ray(BD): Blu-ray was invented by Blu-ray Disc Association. Its a high definition format capable of storing high definition video signals or data capacities ranging from as low as 25 GB to over 200 GB, depending upon the number of layers on the discs. Blu-ray drives are compatible with both DVD and CD. A BD-ROM drive will allow you to only read data from discs that already have data on them, they cannot be used for removable storage. Writers or burners can be used to save data, create music CDs or video discs that can play on DVD or Blu-ray players.
- Compact Disc(CD): The storage space averages around 650 to 700 MB of data per disc. They can contain audio, data, or both on the same disc. Most hard copies of software for computers distribute on CD formats, later DVD with greater frequency.
How Can I Know if My Computer Can Play Blu-ray Discs?
- Step 1 : Look at the front of your computer. If you have a laptop, open the top to reveal the keyboard. You should see a label with your computers specifications. Almost all computers that have a Blu-ray player will say so on the label.
- Step 2 : Examine the face of your computers disk drives. Just as DVD and CD-ROM drives are labeled as such, Blu-ray drive players will include "Blu-ray" on the front of the drive.
- Step 3 : This one works for Windows. Open the "Start" menu and enter "System Information" in the "Search" field. Press "Enter." Once the "System Information" window appears and loads, click the "+" icon next to "Components." Click "CD-ROM." The information on the right side will take a minute or so to load. After it does, look under each drive for "Media Type." If you have a Blu-ray player, the media type for one drive should read "Blu-ray."
Content provided for informational purposes only. eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by Blu-ray Disc Association.