Which one is best CD-RW or CD-RW/DVD ?

[masterleous]

Hi guys,
I want to buy a new CD-Rom with RE or DVD, so i want to know about the performance of which one is best.........
CD-RW or CD-RE-DVD (Combo Drive)
Thanks

[Budfred]

I am not sure what RE is, do you mean RW by any chance???

Your best bet currently may be to get a DVD +/- RW since they handle almost all of the current formats. In the USA, they are now selling for as little as $80 after rebates. A good CDRW/DVD combo will probably cost pretty close to that amount...

[gwallen4]

Typical specs for the latest models of optical drives are given below:

A DVD drive will play/read DVD's at 16X and CD's at 40X and cost $30 US.

A CD-RW will write CD's at 52X (32X CD-RW) and play them at 52X ($15-35 US).

A DVD/CD-RW combo drive will do all of the above at approximately the same speeds for about $50 US.

A DVD writer will write DVD+/-R at 4X (8X on more expensive drives) and DVD+/-RW at 2X. It will also write CD-R's at 16X (CD-RW 10X), read CD's at 32X and DVD's at 12X ($100-130 for 4X, $150 for 8X).