Coaster Free!
Written: Sep 17 '00 (Updated Sep 29 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: FAST, RELIABLE, Good Software, and Detailed Instructions
Cons: Slower than Ricoh, TOO NEW not a lot of software support.
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| hwangster's Full Review: Plextor PlexWriter 12/10/32 |
UPDATE 9/29/2000
This BURN-Proof is much more impressive than I thought. My computer crashed while burning a CD, and I thought that CD was done with. Just to play around, I used the same CD to finish the recording, and it actually worked!! This was an Audio CD, I'm not sure if you'll have such luck with another type of files.
INTRODUCTION
CD-Rs are great for a number of reasons. Creating CD mixes, backups, and for me, storing images from my Digital Camera for safe-keeping.
With the quality of CD-RWs today, making CDs has never been easier. With the improvements in technology, a uninterrupted system with decent specifications can burn CDs with little or no problem. Then you run into the lower percentages of the populations, such as myself, who have dinky computers which is always been used for one thing or another. That is where BURN-proof technology comes into play.
SELECTION
When selecting CD-RWs, I was certain that I would go nothing below a 12X Recording speed. With this spoiled intention, I narrowed down my search to the Ricoh Media Master MP7120A and the Plextor PlexWriter 12/10/32A. Both being respectable names, and provides exceptional software packages.
COMPARISON
The Ricoh is about $20 cheaper than the Plextor, but it doesn't have a paper-based manual (only electronic). But I'm sure the savings in paper did not stack up to be worth $20 bucks. Performance wise, the Ricoh bests the Plextor in every category except for CD-RW packet-writing. However, the margin for this delay is very small.
The Plextor has a very detailed manual, which Plextor is known to provide, and along with it is a +$20 dollar price tag. However, the Plextor lacks in speed due to precautionary implementations that has been made to make sure your CDs do not get ruined.
CONCLUSION
The Ricoh is damn fast without a doubt. Undoubtedly perhaps the fastest ATAPI CD-RW on the market right now. But without BURN-proof technology, there is the probability for error. Especially if you are burning disc to disc, and the machine is either underpowered, or being used, that probability rises significantly.
Although CD-Rs are cheaper than coaster almost, it is still frugal to select a reliable machines that almost 100% eliminate the possibility. I am in no hurry to have these CDs made, I can wait the extra minute. So that's why I chose the Plextor!
SIDE-NOTE
Both of these CD-RWs are exceptionally new, and I am having a hard time finding software for them. The software they provide is more than enough for most consumers, but for the hard-core users, they might run into a bit of a problem. I'm sure this will be taken care of very soon.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
hwangster
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Member: David Hwang
Location: Richland, Washington
Reviews written: 22
Trusted by: 14 members
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