cd writer and burner ???????

[andyswork@beci.net]

I'm new to all this someone please explain why I would need cd writer or burner and what it is used for is it worth the money how would an every day user benifit any more help for this computer dummy would make me happy thanks andy and i love this stuff

[sea69]

hi Andy http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif


I assume that you know having a cd-r can be advantageous in Many ways.....

I use mine to copy music cd's ( or create my own mixes), back up to 700 mb's of ANY Data on your pc,transfer programs / info from one pc to another...... the list goes on>>>

(note to Pete.. will try to remember about not including the "quote" in the future)
Originally posted by andyswork@beci.net:
I'm new to all this someone please explain why I would need cd writer or burner and what it is used for is it worth the money how would an every day user benifit any more help for this computer dummy would make me happy thanks andy and i love this stuff



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lol...so I cant spell...

[Paleo Pete]

sea has just about covered it, CD burners can be very handy to have lying around the house...preferably inside your computer and attached to a cable http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

The most important use for them is back ups, the only disadvantage is unlike a tape or zip disk they can only be written once. Rewriters are now available, but from what I've heard so far I don't trust them.

Other uses:
Picture file storage: 650-750MB can be stored on one disk, instead of taking up space on your hard drive. Usually they can be viewed directly from the CD. Quite nice if you have a smaller drive like my 2.8 gigger. Unfortunately, I have no CD burner...

Music files: Same as above...

Zip files: Ever have to reformat then go search the net for all those spiffy screensavers, firewalls, picture editors, games, fonts, gifs, utilities, drivers etc you downloaded 6 months ago? Grab the CD next time. Don't unzip them before copying to CD, they can be unzipped right from it, into a folder on the hard drive. Make sure Winzip is on there!

First time you have to reinstall you'll probably figure it was worth the expense.



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Soon as I come up with all the answers...they change the questions!!

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[sleddog]

CD writers can also be used to make nice coasters to protect your valuable table or desktops from hot items http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Drexl]

Why do they call them "CD 'Burners?'" The way I understand it, you're not actually "burning" a CD, but rather coating blank CD-R's with dye that reflects the laser. Sure, they work the same way, but when you buy a CD-writer, you're not getting equipment similar to what the manufacturers of CD's (including CD-ROM's) are using.

[bassvax]

I echo the comments already posted about burners. Prices continue to drop and better software is coming out steadily. I do have to disagree with Drexl though...The CD's are actually burned. The laser heats (melts) the media enough to change it. Of course now I can't seem to remember all the gobbledy-gook about it, but an actual burn does occur.

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Jerry

[Reid]

Originally posted by bassvax:
an actual burn does occur.


Maybe on a CD-R, but a CD-RW process is a melt, since the layer is not destroyed. (I'm sure I'll be corrected) http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Here is more than I wanted to know about CD writing technology (http://www.pctechguide.com/09cdr-rw.htm).

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reido@my-deja.com

[bassvax]

I guess I was calling the 'melt' a 'burn', but yes that is exactly what I was trying to convey. I figure the diff twixt CDR & RW media is that malleability properties (of the media) are physically and permanently altered on the initial melt of the CDR media and of course not so on the RW. I suppose burn also stems from the association of early laser days when everything touched by a laser was burned (which just means the heat was raised and the effect was a burn) but on the media the heat is only raised enough to melt and not 'actually' 'burn' the media. So it is that I have semantically contradicted myself with a little push from a more articulate source (hint Reid) and must acquiesce to Drexl. Thanks for making me stop and take my foot out of my mouth and think about the right way to say it. A little 'six degrees of separation' theory was used in an attempt to savor (ok save) face. Thanks Reid http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Jerry

[This message has been edited by bassvax (edited 12-21-2000).]

[Reid]

Bassvax, I was just trying to keep the thread going and was not trying to be picky, so I'm glad you took it the right way.

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reido@my-deja.com