I know physical media for computer software and movies/music has dwindled in popularity with the advent of downloads and streaming, but it’s still around. And, despite upgrades in technology and storage capacity, it seems like we’re still going with the 4.7” optical disc.
CDs. DVDs. Blu-ray. Console games. All still use the good ol’ “CD” form factor after almost half a century.
What are the reasons for this? Is it just due to familiarity? Is the manufacturing and distribution infrastructure just too well established and not easy to change? Is there anything on the horizon to replace it? Or is “the disc” really just the end of the line for consumer physical media? Curious.
In: Technology
The 4.7-inch optical disc form factor, known as the DVD, became a standard due to its compatibility with existing CD technology and players. It struck a balance between storage capacity and size, making it a practical choice for distributing movies and data. This size was widely adopted, and subsequent formats like Blu-ray maintained a similar disc size to ensure backward compatibility with DVD players.
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