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Device type and formats supported |
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The floppy drive is dead. Its successor, the CD-RW (CD-recordable/rewritable) drive, reads standard CD-ROMs and lets you write to 530MB CD-RWs as you would to a hard disk. Or, if your prefer, you can write in sessions to cheaper 650MB CD-Rs, which, unlike CD-RWs, can be read by almost all CD and CD-ROM players. Those who need greater storage capacity have four DVD-drive options, all of which can play standard DVDs: DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD-R, and DVD-RAM. The first three formats are suitable for both archival purposes and distribution but vary in terms of cost, capacity, capabilities (DVD-Rs are writable only once), and compatibility with standard DVD players. DVD-RAM drives, which use discs in compact cartridges that can't easily be played in other DVD players, are really for archival purposes only. |
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| Maximum formatted capacity |
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CD-Rs come in 650MB or 700MB formatted capacities, and virtually every CD burner can handle either. Because they use special formatting, CD-RWs top out at 530MB. Today's DVD burners generally write up to 4.7GB on a single-sided DVD-R or DVD-RW and up to 9.4GB on a double-sided disc. DVD+RW drives currently use single-sided 4.7GB discs. DVD-RAM drives work only with cartridges that hold double-sided discs capable of storing up to 9.4GB. |
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| Write speed |
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The write speed is how fast a drive can burn a disc in a single session--usually in CD-R or DVD-R formats for drives that support them. For example, a 24X/10X/40X CD-RW drive writes to a CD-R at 24 times the original read speed of the first CD-ROM drive (3.6MB per second), which enables you to burn an entire CD-R in about three minutes. |
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| Rewrite speed |
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A drive's rewrite speed is how fast it can write to a CD-RW, a DVD+RW, a DVD-RW, or a DVD-RAM. With a 24X/10X/40X CD-RW drive, for example, you can write to a CD-RW at 1.5MB per second, or ten times the speed of the first CD-ROM drive. With a 2.4X/2.4X/8X DVD+RW drive, you can write to a DVD+RW at 3.3MB per second, or 2.4 times the read speed of the first DVD-ROM drive. Remember to buy certified, high-speed CD-RWs for use in CD-RW drives rated at 4X or faster. |
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| Read speed |
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The read speed indicates how fast a drive reads a disc. A fast read speed won't improve video or music playback because such content is written to disc in a format compatible with old, slow drives. Fast read speeds can, however, accelerate software installation or anything that involves copying huge, contiguous data files from a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM. A 24X/10X/40X CD-RW drive, for example, can read 6MB per second, or 40 times the data the first CD-ROM drive could read per second. |
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| Enclosure |
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Internal drives require an open drive bay in your PC. External drives are more or less portable, depending on their size and weight. However, they cost more and tend to be slower. |
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| Interface |
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The interface is the connection between the drive and the computer. Just about every internal drive uses an EIDE (enhanced, integrated drive electronics) interface; stay away from SCSI (small computer-system interface) drives unless your system already has a SCSI card. External drives, designed to be portable, rely on USB, IEEE 1394 (a.k.a. FireWire), and most recently, USB 2.0. If you plan to use one drive with many PCs, get a USB drive because nearly all PCs have USB ports. Otherwise, get a drive that supports IEEE 1394 or USB 2.0, which offer significantly faster throughput. You might have to add a PCI card to your PC, but it's worth it. |
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| Software |
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A CD-RW drive should come with CD-burning software. Adaptec's Easy CD Creator is generally regarded as one of the best, but Nero Burning ROM and NTI CD-Maker work well, too. Also, look for software that protects you from fatal buffer-underrun errors, such as BUrn-Proof or Just-Link. With recordable DVD drives, you have few models to choose from, so just make sure the drive comes with some sort of MPEG-2 encoding software. |
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| Warranty and support |
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Optical storage devices almost always come with a one-year warranty. Burning optical media can be complicated, so phone support, although rarely toll-free, should be available. Fee-based support for out-of-warranty products is also welcome. Before calling, always check online troubleshooting guides, where you'll find answers to the most common problems. |
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