Convenient, powerful, versatile…it’s easy to see why CD-ROMs have been a staple of home computers since the early 1990s. The larger capacity of CDs (650 to 700MB versus 1.4MB for floppy disks and 250MB for standard Zip disks) is ideal for the storage of multimedia content such as music, photos, and digital video. And since CDs can be read by any computer operating system, they are ideal for sharing saved files with others.
If you're ready to start burning your own CDs, here’s all you need to know to pick out the CD writer that’s best for you.
Get the “write” disc
Keep in mind that the process of burning CDs involves two separate components: the drive (or burner) and the media (the CDs). CD writers require specially manufactured CDs, which means you can't just reuse your old music CDs. In addition, there are two different kinds of CD writers, and each uses a unique type of media. When purchasing CDs, you need to be sure that you’re getting the correct CD for your drive.
CDs for all
Do you want to create engaging photo archives to share with relatives near and far? Perhaps you’d like to create powerful multimedia presentations for clients. Or how about making custom music mix CDs for your car, to provide the perfect soundtrack to your busy life? Then a CD-Recordable (CD-R) is probably ideal for your needs, since the format is universally compatible with all CD-ROMS and audio CD players.
First, last, and always
CD-Rs can be read by any CD player and are relatively inexpensive at roughly a buck apiece. The biggest disadvantage for CD-Rs, though, is that they can only be written once.
Some CD-R drives have what is called "multi-session" ability, which means that you can come back at a later time and record again, but only on the areas of the CD that were previously unrecorded. Older CD players, however, may not be able to read anything recorded after the initial session.
Write until it’s right
Like the name implies, CD-Rewritable (CD-RW) drives are capable of both writing and rewriting the same CD over and over again. Because CD-RWs can be used repeatedly, their cost of US $10 to $20 each is easier to bear.
If your primary intent is to use your CD writer to create backups of your hard drive, than a CD-RW is ideal. HP, in conjunction with Philips Electronics, has developed a standard called MultiRead, which enables ordinary CD-ROMs and audio CD players to read CD-RW media Only newer machines, however, are equipped with this technology.
The ABCs of buying CD drives
If your HP Pavilion PC already has an internal HP CD-Writer Plus drive, you are ready to burn both CD-R and CD-RW discs. If you don’t have such a drive, here are three specifications to keep in mind when shopping for a CD writer.
Interface: The interface you choose for your CD-R or CD-RW drive depends a lot upon whether you want an internal or external drive. If you have an empty drive bay and are comfortable opening up your computer (or you can pay someone to do it for you), then an internal drive is probably preferable. The most common interface for internal drives is called IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics, the standard for mass storage devices). You might also find reference to EIDE, which indicates an enhanced version of the IDE specification.
If you choose an external drive, which allows you to move your drive from computer to computer, several options are available:
- USB: Thanks to the true plug-and-play nature of USB connectors, this type of interface is the easiest to set up. However, USB connectors are not designed for super-fast data throughput and therefore are slower than other types of drives.
- FireWire: Like USB, FireWire interfaces are easy to set up, but they are designed for rapid transmission of data. FireWire devices are more expensive, and not all computers are equipped with FireWire drives, though this is rapidly changing.
- SCSI: A SCSI interface is comparable in speed to an EIDE, and is often faster and less prone to errors. However, it is harder to set up and may require the installation of a SCSI card inside your computer.
Speed: CD-R drives come with two speed ratings, one for writing and one for reading, while CD-RW drives come with an additional speed rating for rewriting. CD drive speed is expressed as a numeral followed by an “x,” where the “x” stands for 150k/second. Therefore, a speed rating listed as 4x/4x/6x means the drive writes and rewrites at a maximum throughput of 600k/sec and reads at a maximum throughput of 900k/second. Keep in mind that you may seldom see such rapid throughput, as these ratings refer to speeds under optimal system conditions.
The higher the speed of your drive, the faster you can burn CDs. While a 4x writer/rewriter takes about 20 minutes to create a full CD, an 8x writer takes half as long. But since faster drives have a higher price tag, you will need to decide whether it is more important for you to save time or money.
Buffer: The final specification to consider when looking at CD-R and CD-RW drives is the size of the buffer. CD writers have buffers to protect against slowdowns in the data transmission, which can occur if you are doing other tasks on your computer while burning a CD. If an interruption occurs and the buffer is emptied completely, then the writing halts and usually the recordable CD is damaged. So the larger the buffer on your drive, the more protection you have against damaged CDs.
Most home CD writers can be purchased for under US $200, with most DVD writers under US $400. While comparing options and prices, be sure to check out what comes with your drive. Along with the standard accessories (such as cables, screws, and hopefully one or two blank CDs), you should also expect to receive some CD creation software.
Specialized software is available for the creation of music CDs, photo archives, and computer backups. Be sure that your CD writer comes with all the software you need to get the job done. And once you’ve selected the appropriate CD writer for your needs, get step-by-step instructions for Burning Your Own CDs.
CD or DVD?
If you want your digital life to be both seen and heard, then perhaps a DVD Writer is for you. HP DVD Writers are a flexible investment: not only can you listen to your favorite audio CDs, but you can also watch and burn DVD movies on your PC. Here’s an example of the cool things you can do with an HP DVD Writer:
- Create custom video and music DVDs and share those DVDs with friends and family who own a DVD video player or DVD-ROM drive.
- Create original DVD movies with the ability to jump to specific scenes without fast-forwarding or rewinding.
- Transfer analog or digital video directly from a camcorder or VCR to a DVD.
- Store large amounts of data on both CDs and DVD media that can be overwritten and, consequently, reused.
- Record up to three hours of video or store up to 4.7GB of photos, music, or data files on one DVD+R or DVD+RW disc. That’s equivalent to seven CDs, 47 100MB Zip disks, or 3,263 floppy disks.
Read more about the benefits of the HP DVD Movie Writer. And to get a handle on all of your data storage options, read the informative article All about storage devices. Whether CD or DVD, you have the right to write your own media!
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