A single DVD-RAM disk can hold 26 Zip disks on a single side, and 52 Zip disks on the overall disk. If Zip disks are still the outrageous $10 each, that means that a DVD-RAM disk should cost $260, per side, or $520 for the whole disk. But you can buy a DVD-RAM disk for just $40. Yes, that's not a mistake, not $400, but just $40.

DVD-ROM is for playing movies, not for storing your own data. The reason is because a DVD-ROM burner can cost up to $15,000; cheapest DVD-ROM burners are $5,000+. You can buy a DVD-RAM burner for $700 or under.

The Digital Imaging Technology Center has been using DVD-RAM for about two years. We have not lost a single file. Don't expect DVD-RAM to be as fast as a hard disk, they are slow, but hence sure. I have stacks and stacks of DVD-RAM disks, all Maxell brand.

The stack of drives pictured here consists of two 34 GB hard disks, one 8x CD-R burner, and one DVD-RAM burner/player. This is my "portable" set up, shown here in Antigua, Guatemala, where I was photographing in a new museum of ancient Maya art.