CD drive or CD writer?

[ciphergoth]

A request for PC hardware advice...

Alison's new computer lacks only a CD drive to make it go. We could buy a bargain-bin drive from the local dodgy bargain-bin computer store (http://www.silicon-group.co.uk/) for £20. Or we could buy a PHILIPS 16x20x40 CDRW Burnproof for £70.

If we spend the extra £50, will the drive actually go? Will it reliably read and write CD-Rs and CD-RWs, rather than creating a lot of decorative coasters like my current CD-R? Is it worth spending more and getting a better one?

thanks,

Comments

[conflux.livejournal.com]

Well I'm just catching up on LJ after the weekends events. Personally, I would recommend any CD writer that calls itself burnproof or uses JustLink as these are very reliable even when doing something else with your PC. My old re-writer was not either of these and would make coasters on a regular basis, usually when I was in a hurry. There is little point in buying a re-writer that goes above 8 speed on RW at the moment because you will need special expensive fast re-writable CD's to make use of this. There can also be speed problems with cheaper burn once CD's so I'd just get the cheapest burnproof/JustLink re-writer you can find.

As to weather you need one or not I have found having one very useful. It lets me back up data, it lets me make mp3 CDs (which also play on a DVD player) so I can listen to my music at work, it lets me send people software, make normal CDs for my sister and send out pictures that would be too big for email.