First, keep in mind that this is a modification to hard drives and not DVD-like equipment. The heat pulses in the case of the article are still modifying the magnetic bits on a spinning metal disk.
Second, it seems that it's faster to generate these heat pulses than it is to switch the magnetic orientation of the write head. I haven't looked into the physics, but this is the only plausible explanation my limited imagination can fathom.
Second, it seems that it's faster to generate these heat pulses than it is to switch the magnetic orientation of the write head. I haven't looked into the physics, but this is the only plausible explanation my limited imagination can fathom.