Rating: 
Summary: Informative but padded
Review: The authors did a great job of laying out all the technical info on how DVDs work and are produced in an informative yet entertaining way. Here are some of the ares covered:- The evolution of the format
- How DVD works
- What aspect ratios are and why they're important
- Explains the different sound formats on DVD
- Explanation of Region Codes The great thing about this information is it's either in the past or standard to DVD so it's not likely to change. This will be useful info through the life of the DVD format. Next on the list is a discussion on setting up a home theater. Everything is covered from recievers, speakers, DVD player, TV even the cables you'll need and best style of room. They're honest in how much this is going to cost and separate the guidelines into four price ranges. It helps to keep the book current in passing years by not talking about specific brands, but features that are important. As a way of describing the process of how a DVD special edition is created, the book then goes into an in-depth interview with the creator of the ALIENS QUADRILOGY set due later this year. It's a fascinating look at the hard work and amount of time invloved in creating a truly comprehensive set. Some might find it a bit distasteful that this section is all about a specific DVD, but in focusing on one you get a full picture of the process. After all this great information we get the least helpful (and by far the largest) section of the book - DVD reviews. They offer things like the best DVD sets ever, best sci-fi movies on DVD, best dramas on DVD etc. All this information though in-depth can be found on their web site and many others for free. I read 4 or 5 of these and skipped the entire section. The book redeems itself near the end when it discusses teh future of DVD. Namely HD DVD, recordable DVD and high resolution audio. This section helps you get a handle on the near future of the format, but is also the sectin with the thinnest information since they of course can not predict the future. I'd reccomend this book to those interested in creating a home theatre and those interested in learning a bit of the technical side of the DVD format. The book is most hurt by the lenghty DVD reviews that add little to the books value but much to it's length.
Rating:
Summary: A Valuable Guide
Review: The Digital Bits Insider's Guide to DVD is a great book and a valuable guide for DVD lovers everywhere. Bill Hunt and Todd Doogan have explained the hows of DVD better than anyone else. The information on how DVD works, how to build a home theatre system, how and why anamorphic widescreen is important, and how DVD's are produced is a gem. The section walking readers through the creation of Fox's nine disc "Alien Quadrilogy" is worth the price of the book alone. Bill and Todd are fun writers. They know how to have a good time. Most importantly, it is so obvious that these are just a couple of guys who love movies and who love movies on DVD even more. They aren't tech geeks, studio insiders, or anyone else with a particular angle. They just love DVD - which means they write for the rest of us who love DVD. The only reason I left off one star is because after I bought the book, it was a bit disappointing to learn that about half the book are DVD reviews. That in and of itself isn't a problem, but the reviews are almost identical to the reviews posted on their website. As a daily visitor and reader of the website, I'd effectively already read half the book and didn't even know it. One other minor complaint are the reproductions of images - they're not good at all. The images are pixelated and clearly hover around 72 dpi's. For such a fine book, these images should be a higher quality. These minor issues aside, I have no buyer's remorse. Pick up this book - you won't be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: The one book to have regarding Home Theater
Review: The guy's over at The Digital Bits have done it right with this book. Its is great reading from start to finish. I have been a fan of the web site since the beggining and I expected nothing less with there book. The only book I have bought this year.
Rating:
Summary: The website is great and so is this book!
Review: This book is excellent. It explains technical DVD terms in a manner that the average joe can understand, and it has some very informative reviews of different DVDs. If you're a fan of the Alien film series, this book has a section on the making of the upcoming Alien Quadrilogy box set, and it rocks! Their website is awesome and I recommend it and this book to any hardcore DVD fan.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book with Alien Quad Info.
Review: This book is great...and the section dealing with the Alien Quadrilogy is worth the price alone...It has all the exclusive details about the 9 disc set that I have not seen in a complete presentation like this anywhere before...You must buy this book!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A great extension to a great website
Review: This book is highly recommended for DVD pro's and newbies alike. It includes a plethora of interesting material, including an excellent section describing the differences between pan and scan and widescreen movies. Highly recommended (Especially for those folks who're wondering why the hell those black bars keep showing up on their TV when watching a movie on DVD!).
Rating:
Summary: The Best DVD Information Book on the Market
Review: This book is the perfect book for both DVD lovers and people who are looking to get into DVD's for the first time ever. Bill and Todd do a terrific job explaining how DVD works, why DVD is great, and most importantly - how to get started on your own DVD home theatre and collection. I have already recommened this book to some of my friends who are a little confused about DVD's and even though I consider myself a DVDphile I still learned more than a thing or two. If you are, want to be, or will be a fan of DVD's then this book is a must for you.
Rating:
Summary: Very worthwhile and informative
Review: This is a great guide for anyone with
questions about DVD. I just started
visiting thedigitalbits.com website
about a year ago, and always enjoy the
witty and substantial information that
they provide on a daily basis. I let
my mother read this book and she is getting
alot out of it too. The price is great
and the contest is well worth it. Very well
done Bill and Todd.
Rating:
Summary: A Must have for DVD Fans, users and gurus alike
Review: This is a MUST-HAVE book for anyone, whether you have a hardcore DVD collection or if you're still on BETA. It's a great book - very funny and well thought out. It's all written for the common man...it's honest and practical. It's very easy to flip through, and I find myself reading pages and then chapters. The guys at TheDigitalBits.com have put together this book to try and give an honest look at a rapidly chaning market. They deserve kuddos for recognizing that this kind of book is needed. I don't have a home theater system, wouldn't know where to begin. But they lay it out it very easy terms, having already done the thinking for you. I don't know what to look for when I watch a disk, but they do. and they tell me. This is a book that gives me the quick and dirty AND the nitty gritty all in one very easy to read manner. Not an easy feat, but one they do easily. MUST BUY!
Rating: 
Summary: Disapointing Book
Review: Very little on DVD technology here unless you are reading about it for the first time in your life (read the DVD FAQ online and you will learn much more about DVD). The reviews on the DVDs are pretty good, but anyone who rates "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" as one of the top DVD movies of all time loses a lot of credibility in my mind. It should have been listed under the "Great DVD, Terrible Movie" section of the book, but c'est la vie. Most of the DVD's they rate are on the money IMO.
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