There are almost as many acronyms for the various standards of DVD as there are companies involved in DVD development.

Ever wondered what a particular acronym stands for? Find the answer in our comprehensive reference guide to computer industry acronyms. RTFM!

100 virtual layers on a single optical disc.

The appearance of affordable DVD burners has given cause to celebration among the world's digital video makers – from hobbyists to professionals. The potential of DVD Video for corporate and wedding video makers is clear, but even the ability to present holiday videos in bite-sized, episodic and easily accessible chunks can't be sniffed at.

DVD is said to be to movies what CD was to music. Well-filmed DVD movies are better in all respects than those recorded on VHS, so the idea of a digital video camera recording direct to DVD disc would appear sound.

According to analysts at IDC (International Data Group),DVD is now the fastestgrowing consumer electronic technology ever.

We find out where the new HD formats are heading from the industry experts.

There is not a huge difference between this and the MV550E. In fact, if you put them side by side you have to look closely to see the difference in looks, which is model number in small print on one side.

HITACHI DZ-MV208E

We've tested a massive 25 netbooks to provide a list of the best and worst mini laptops, with one surprise winner. Also, see our big TV set top box guide, in the new issue of PC Authority

There is a known issue with PC Authority's recent cover discs involving Windows' Autorun feature on some systems.

Blu-ray writers are more affordable than ever. We look at four internal models to find the best way to go high-def. The last time we did a round-up of optical drives, the former war was in full swing. But now Blu-ray has at last seen off HD DVD and taken its place as the industry standard for high-capacity optical media.

Apple’s ads may be funny, but they’re woefully inaccurate. Here we reveal dozens of reasons why the PC outclasses the Mac.

The AOpen DRW4410 performed on average in both performance and features, dropping a few positions given its rather expensive price tag for a single format writer.

The Sony offers a comprehensive bundle, although it omits such niceties as IDE and audio cables.

One of only two DVD burners this month to come with a two year manufacturer warranty, the BenQ DW400A offers peace of mind should things go pear shaped.

The Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia has been a mainstay of electronic educational resources for many years: I remember it being bundled with the first 386 I bought back in the early nineties, and was impressed back then at the video and audio clips, maps and information contained on the CD.

The first Blu-ray drive to actually BE available in Australia. The massive price should fall quickly.

All readers who have had difficulty registering the full-version programs on the PC Authority September 2007 DVD, please read this updated solution.

Epic Games vice president says console enthusiasts forget waiting for next-gen hardware anytime soon. Also: Asus's media streaming box, the dark spot on Jupiter, and Moore's Law revisited