Computer CD-R buying tips
Buying a CD-R
or CD-RW drive can sometimes be a confusing task. Below we have listed
important considerations to look at when considering purchasing a CD-R
drive.
Technology
Before considering purchasing a CD-R or CD-RW drive, it is also good to consider the other available options.
CD-R - CD Recordable drives allow you to
do everything that a standard CD-ROM is capable of doing with the added
ability of creating your own CDs. An excellent solution for anyone that
is in need of a CD-ROM and backup solution.
CD-RW - Like a CD-R drive, a CD-RW or CD
Read/Write drive allows you to do everything that a standard CD-ROM is
capable of doing with the ability to read and write CD-R and CD-RW
discs. While more expensive, this is another great solution for backups.
DVD - DVD, or Digital Versatile (video)
Disc, that allows a computer to read all discs including DVD discs and
DVD movies. For users who plan on playing games or watching movies on
their computers, this is an excellent addition. Tips on buying these
drives can be found on our DVD .
Interface
The first and foremost important consideration is
the Interface that the CD-R and CD-RW drive uses. If you are an IBM
user, you have a decision between an IDE, SCSI or USB interface.
Macintosh users will want to consider between SCSI and a USB interface.
IDE
Each IBM computer has the capability of having a total of four IDE
devices connected to it. It is likely that one or two of these are
already being used, one by the hard disk drive and one by the CD-ROM
drive.
IDE devices are a great solution to consider when thinking about the interface you want to use as the drives are easy to install and are relatively fast.
IDE devices are a great solution to consider when thinking about the interface you want to use as the drives are easy to install and are relatively fast.
SCSI Every Macintosh computer has a SCSI
port built onto the Motherboard or has an Interface card for SCSI
devices. Not all computers have a SCSI card, which means you need to
purchase an interface card before installing a SCSI CD-R drive.
SCSI devices are one of the more difficult drives to install but are the fastest solution of the three available interfaces.
SCSI devices are one of the more difficult drives to install but are the fastest solution of the three available interfaces.
USB
USB is a new interface available on newer IBM and Macintosh computers.
USB is a fast solution but is the slower of the three interface
possibilities. What makes USB a strong competitor is they are usually
always easy to install and are a portable solution, meaning these drives
will work with other computers with USB ports.
Software
The next important consideration to look at when
purchasing a CD-R or CD-RW drive is the included software. The software
is what allows the computer to interface with the CD-R or CD-RW drive
and be able to copy files onto the blank CD. Poorly written software can
hinder the ease of use of a CD-R or CD-RW drive and sometimes cause
errors with the CDs that are created.
Speed
The speed of the CD-R drive can also be an
important consideration, as this determines the amount of time this
drive takes to create or read a CD. Users that expect to not burn many
CDs may want to look at the slower, less expensive drives, while users
that expect to burn several CDs may want to look at the faster, more
expensive drives.
Other considerations
Some other important considerations to look at when purchasing a computer CD-R or CD-RW drive include:
Warranty How long is the warranty and what does it cover.
Support Is the technical support number a free number; is it open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Price range
For a CD-R and CD-RW drive, not to be confused
with a CD-ROM or DVD drive, can vary depending upon the speed, the
included software and the interface the CD-ROM drive uses.
Standard IDE/SCSI CD-R Drive: $100.00 - $200.00
Standard IDE/SCSI CD-RW Drive: $160.00 - $300.00+
USB CD-R and CD-RW Drive: $150.00 - $200.00+
Standard IDE/SCSI CD-RW Drive: $160.00 - $300.00+
USB CD-R and CD-RW Drive: $150.00 - $200.00+
Ready to buy
Once you have reviewed the appropriate
information and believe that you are ready to make a purchase of a
computer CD-R or CD-RW, ensure that the source that you plan on
purchasing the CD-R or CD-RW from is a reputable source and you have
reviewed our section on what to look out for when purchasing over the
Internet.
Computer Hope is ready to setup and help you
with issues you may encounter during the purchase and installation of
your CD-R or CD-RW, regardless if you purchase through us or another
vendor.
To help support Computer Hope you can purchase
directly through our well-known associate, Amazon. Click the below
browse button to begin browsing through the CD-R or CD-RW section.
CD drive installation
Additional help and information about installing computer CD drives and other computer hardware can be found through our Installation section.
No comments:
Post a Comment