detail information

Positive:

⋅         Retail package.
⋅         Retail package includes both one CD-R and one CD-RW disc.
⋅         Supports 48X CD-Writing speeds and 24X CD-Rewriting speeds.
⋅         SMART-BURN buffer under-run prevention technology to prevent buffer under-runs.
⋅         SMART-X technology to reduce noise when listening at music or watching VCD movies.
⋅         Good read speed for most types of CD and DVD-discs.  
⋅         Very good media compatibility and write quality.
⋅         Supports DAO-RAW writing.
⋅         Supports reading and writing of CD-Text information.
⋅         Supports reading and writing of full SubChannel Data.
⋅         Can read and write 99 minutes discs.
⋅         Good at extracting data from protected audio discs.
⋅         Good and fast at backing up protected games, supports 'Correct EFM encoding of regular bit patterns".
⋅         Good Mount Rainier performance.
⋅         Drive is very short and will not use more space in your case than absolutely needed.
⋅         Attractive price compared to competing brands.

Negative:

⋅         Lower CD RE-Writing speed than the competition due to its slower CAV writing technology.
⋅         CD-RW disc reading locked to 40X. 
⋅         Small 2Mb buffer
⋅         Retail package do not include printed manual and IDE cable.
⋅         Only Nero Express included, we would prefer the full Nero version.
⋅         A bit noisy when reading certain discs.
⋅         Do not support reading DVD-RAM discs.

Conclusion:

 We can't really find much to put our fingers on as the drive performs just as it should according to the specifications. It's a very good all-rounder as it also supports reading DVD-Discs. We can't really see any reasons why you should not get this drive if you are in the market for a combo drive, as the few negative things is not important for most of us. The retail package is pretty good with both programs and empty discs included, and then when we also consider the media compatibility and write quality of this drive along with its great backup capabilities of both protected games and music discs we do have a clear winner drive here.

And then when you consider the price of this drive compared to other similar drives you won't be disappointed either as it goes for as low as $ 52.75 USD (Price from Pricewatch per 5.10.2003 ). Then you end up with a rock solid performer able to handle whatever you want it to do at an attractive price. Actually we like this drive so well that we award it the Best Value award.

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Introduction