Advantages: Only 1 disc, loads of features
Disadvantages: Can be slow

...I have been a fan of the Sims for many years now, but only recently recently the Sims 2 for Christmas. When I opened it up, I noticed that it said DVD-Rom. At this point I panicked, thinking that I wouldn't be able to use it. Luckily, my computer has a DVD-ROM drive. The only difference between the normal CD-ROM version and the DVD-ROM, Is that the DVD-ROM only has one disc, making installation easier and quicker. Installation As I said, because the game is held on one disc only, you don't have to sit waiting for the computer to tell you top put in 'disc 2' or disc 3' etc. This means that you can leave the computer to happily go about its business of installing, whilst you go and watch the telly. As with most games, you can choose where to install the game. To keep you occupied during the installation (if there's noting on TV... Read review

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Advantages: Fast, reliable.
Disadvantages: None

...-------- There was no software included. If you do buy a DVD-106S, keep in mind it is an OEM drive and you will have to buy some DVD software separately. Overall the drive's features get a 10 out of 10. While the DVD-106S is a new model, I was suprised that I could find it cheaper online than the older DVD-105S. The DVD-106S features the fastest DVD and CD read speeds found on a DVD-ROM drive. Pair that up with an UDMA-66 and a digital audio output and you really cannot ask for more. Overall the drive's features get a 10 out of 10. The installation of the DVD-106S was fairly easy. In my case I set the jumpers to master, attached the IDE cable on the primary chain to the drive and then hooked up the power. The BIOS saw the drive as an UDMA 33 drive when connected to the onboard IDE controller. When the computer was turned on Windows saw the drive fine... Read review

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Advantages: the film, some geat extras
Disadvantages: i wanted more

...the little red pill and then select it and off we go. What this does is explain things to you and take you through the mind bending features! ‘What is bullet time’ This explains how the scenes where the camera slows everything down was done and the way technology was used to achieve those fantastic results. All in all I was not impressed with this option, the case says ‘mysterious, mind bending extras’ but maybe that was me. This selection is all about hidden special effects documentaries, but personally I was sick of documentary type things, too many! For a PC DVD-ROM drive… Yes there are added bonuses for the lucky people who happen to be using their computer to watch the DVD this consist of: The One… This is like a mini test where you are to answer questions about the film to test your... Read review

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Advantages: People will think that you are very sharp
Disadvantages: They'll be right

...disks spin at 5400 revs per minute (RPM). Fast disks spin at 7200 RPM and the very latest Ultra133 drives spin at 10,000 RPM. The faster the disk spins, the quicker any given point on it can be accessed and read into the computer. Unless you intend doing something special like building a computer controlled sound-recording studio or video-editing suite then 5400 RPM drives will be fine. CDROM reader/writer DVD player. CD-ROM’s (Compact Disk – Read Only Memory), DVD’s (Digital Versatile Disk) and their respective players both look pretty similar however, they are not. A CD-ROM can hold about 650 Megabytes of data whereas a DVD can hold about 15 Gigabytes. That’s about 25 times more than a CD-ROM. The reading and recording principles are the same each uses a low-powered laser to record and read from the medium. At time of writing... Read review

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Advantages: hmm, read op..
Disadvantages: hopefully none, maybe too long?

..., however is that it is the one format that can unite all the entertainment fields. Whether it is video, audio or computer programs you are interested in, it can all be stored on a DVD discs. Therefore, DVD is surely one of the best inventions in terms of entertainment multimedia applications. Guide on buying a DVD title: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There are of course a lot of reasons as to why you buy a DVD titles. Apart from the obvious where you want to see the movie that you like with better quality and total enjoyment, buying a DVD has its own little tricks! Here are some of my own criteria/guidelines in choosing a DVD titles (based on my own personal experience of course!): 1. Region? Which one? --------------------- Before you buy any DVD, this is the first thing that you should know! Which region that your DVD player/dvd-rom... Read review

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Advantages: Its fun, its rewarding and is very cost effective
Disadvantages: Its downright frustrating if you have any incompatibility problems

...drive connects to the motherboard via an IDE cable. Hard drive usually come in 2 different spin speeds (5400 rpm or 7200 rpm). Of course, you will pay more for the faster 7200 rpm. You will also require CD ROM as most software is supplied in that format. The fastest CD ROM drives currently spin at 52 speed and these can be bought for as low as £30. You can pay a bit for more a CD rewriter which allows you to write to CDs. I have seen these for about £55 but for faster models, expect to pay around £120. CD ROM drives are usually connected to the 2nd IDE interface on the motherboard. DVD ROMS and even DVD writers, although not essential, can greatly enhance the overall usability of your PC. They even allow you to watch DVD films via special software. DVDs have a much higher capacity than CDs but they are more expensive. £50 will buy you... Read review

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Advantages: High Quality Picture, Audio, Special Features
Disadvantages: New Technology On The Way

...Since around 1998 a new digital format has occured into our every day lives which has changed the way we watch our films, tv shows and games. It is the DVD which has pushed aside the VCR to the attic. In the 1980s Sony and Philips launched the ever familiar compact disc format which was one of the first digital formats available. As time went on the cd expanded from a music media format to vcd, games, and cd roms. CD's can hold upto 700mb approximately which is around 155 mp3s. As time went on technology advanced and as more people bought computers people required a format for large removeable storage as opposed to a 3.5mb floppy disc. Then around the mid 90s more and more cd rewriter drives were released. In 1995 the DVD was created by Sony and 9 other companies, hitachi, jvc, matsushita,philips, pioneer, thomson, time warner... Read review

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Advantages: Authenticity, Script, Acting, everything
Disadvantages: not likely to be a third season, DAMN!

...DVD Bonus Features ----------------------------- ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME: Interactive onscreen guide prepared by the series. A TALE OF TWO CITIES: Ancient Rome was two different cities for two different classes. See how the Patricians and the Plebs differed in all matters, from jobs, to recreation, to religion. THE MAKING OF ROME SEASON 2: Take a tour of the production of the spic series, from costumes, to sets, to special effects. Plus a detailed look at the battle of Phillipi. THE RISE OF OCTAVIAN- ROME'S FIRST EMPEROR: The larger than life story of the cunning boy who became the most powerful man in Rome. ANTONY & CLEOPATRA: A revealing look at one of the most famous love affairs of all time. FIVE REVEALING AUDIO COMMMENTARIES WITH CAST AND CREW. As you can see there are a few extras to the boxed set that make it a more... Read review

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Advantages: Can be moved from PC to PC, lighweight, robust, reliable, fast
Disadvantages: None so far...

.../overwrite computer files over and over to CDs) at 16X speed CD ROM (Playback only) at 40X speed DVD ROM (DVD playback only) at 12X speed. *("Double Layer" - you may have watched some films that break for a few seconds in the middle as it changes layers - these disks hold nearly twice as much as standard ones). Although mine cost me around £120, a search on Google.com brought one up for as little as £50. Well worth it even if you only want to back up your files… Thanks for reading.... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent retelling of Roman history
Disadvantages: Lashings of sex, violence and bad language

...Rome II The big budget historical drama Rome, spread over two series, is the result of collaboration between HBO, BBC and Italian television company RAI. In common with other big budget dramas produced by HBO in the past (such as Band of Brothers) it is ambitious and produced to movie quality standards. Largely filmed at the Cinecitta studios outside Rome the series are impressive in scale and execution. The large cast is filled with recognisable faces but there are no stars, the stars are the sets and the authenticity of the production. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Series 1 Summary~ Having finally conquered the tribes of Gaul, Julius Caesar finds himself at odds with his former friend Pompey and threatened with exile. Marshalling his large and battle hardened legions he returns to Rome, in the process defying one... Read review

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