What is a good easy to use CDRW?

[mikef208]

My aunt is looking for a CDRW drive. She has never used one before so i want something easy to use, fast is good, but cheap is good to. It has to be at least and 8 speed, but burnproof would be a plus, so that narrows it to 10 and 12x right? In the january issue of maximum PC, they said that HP 9500i was the easiest to use, but unless I can find a good deal, i would rather not pay that much. I think her maximum price would be about 175.00, give or take a few bucks. So let me know what you think or if you find any good deals on them.

On a side note for myself, I am looking to get a TDK either 12 or 16x, anybody have any reviews of the 16x or know where I can get a good price on them(I know I am about to go check the hot deals, but I posted this first). I know the 12x is a plextor and the 16x is a sanyo, is the plextor better? LMK what you think.

 

[divinemartyr]

Most people on this forum will tell you that the Plextor is the best drive available. The thing is that most burners today will do everything you want them to, especially one for your aunt. She isn't going to need to do sub-channel writing, so you should just look for the best deal on an inexpensive 8x drive for your aunt. The Sony spressa drives have had some decent specials on them lately, check the hot deals forum as you were mentioning. If you want a 12x for her, the TDK drive comes with easy-to-use Nero software, as well as an installation video. Doesn't get any easier than that. Either way, get her a burner with Nero or Adaptec Easy CD Creator. Either of these are fairly easy to use.

As far as the drive YOU want to own, you might want to look into the TDK 16x, as it has all of the features of a great burner. The Yamaha 16x does not imploy burn-proof technology, and while I don't endorse it all that much for people with decently fast PC's (600mhz and 7200rpm HDD's) it's a great technology for PC's which might have some trouble keeping up.

TDK, Plextor, Sony, HP, and similar brands will all offer similar performance and are great for most types of writing. If you're going to require using CloneCD or DiscJuggler etc, do a bit more research on what drive will work with the software you'll want to use.

dm

 

[Gunbuster]

The HP software is software is a joke since they switched off of EZCD.

It makes you pick files to put on a data CD 1 at a time, wont let you select directorys.

 

[LXi]

I highly recommend TEAC and Yamaha, or a TDK if you can find a good deal on them.

 

[formulav8]

Really its not the burner but the software that has to do with the ease

 

[mikef208]

Thanks for the help guys. She won't have to worry about installation cause that will be done my, me. I want an easy drive to use in all aspects. I don't want her calling me every time she trys to burn a CD and can't figure out how.

 

[Ausm]

I would go with a Plextor,yamaha or teac Burner in that order and have her use Adaptec EZ CD Creator which is eay to use for a beginner unlike Nero which caters to the power user.

Ausm

 

[mikef208]

Those are some expensive burners though. She would never pay that much for I one. i should have mentioned earlier that this will mainly be used to burn audio CD's.

 

[papillon]

If its only to copy audio cd's take a look at the Mitsumi 4804 TE it supports everything except safedisc2 and is very cheap at present.Comes with win on cd which is easy and excellant to use,supports clone cd and is one of the only burners able to read and write 99min cd's.Only writes at 4x max but I find I never write at anything above 2x anyway.I've burnt loads and no coasters.

 

[mikef208]

Cool, I will check it out, thanks.

 

[mikef208]

bump

 

[micron]

I have a Philips PCRW804K, it's 8X4X32 and very easy to use. You can get it for $120.00 after $30.00 mail-in rebate from Best Buy.