ROM To Spare Running out of memory? Power up with an add-on CD-ROM drive.
By David Doran
Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.
The massive file sizes of today's multimedia softwareapplications require far more storage space than the traditional3.5-inch floppy disk can hold, which is why internal CD-ROM driveshave been standard on PCs and laptops since the mid-1990s.Accordingly, most software manufacturers are now releasing theirproducts only in CD-ROM format. A single CD can store moreinformation than 300 3.5-inch floppies and is much cheaper toproduce.
If your PC or laptop pre-dates the advent of CD-ROM, don'tworry: There's no need to scrap the whole system. You can buyan external CD-ROM drive that can be cabled to your PC'sparallel (printer) port.
What if you need CD-ROM capability on the road, or a laptop isyour primary computer? A portable CD-ROM drive can be installed inan open modular drive bay (if your laptop has one) or hooked up tothe port of an internal PCMCIA card you install in your laptop(most CD-ROM drives come with one).
Many of the CD-ROM drives on the market today are adaptable toboth PC and laptop use, so no matter what kind of computer you use,you have a wider selection to choose from than ever before.
CD-ROM drives are typically rated according to speed. Asingle-speed drive (now obsolete) can transfer data at150 KBps, 2X drives transfer data at 300 KBps, 3X drives transferdata at 450 KBps, and so on. For optimal performance, softwaremanufacturers recommend you purchase CD-ROM drives with speeds of6X or higher.
Model: Synchrome Technology Maestro CD-8 (portable orexternal)
Speed: 8X
Price: $218.99
Phone: (800) 767-0085
Warranty: one year parts and labor
This drive is designed with a double-shell dust seal fortrouble-free operation even under the worst conditions. An AutoSensing feature automatically determines your computer'sparallel port configuration to streamline the setup process. Itcomes with all the software and cables you need to get started.
Model: Micro Solutions backpack bantam (portable)
Speed: 8X
Price: $249
Phone: (800) 890-7227
Warranty: one year parts and labor
Weighing in at less than 21 ounces, the backpack bantammakes a great traveling companion for a laptop. This drive isalso available with a built-in 16-bit sound card ($50) to enhancethe multimedia experience.
Model: Plextor UltraPleX (external)
Speed: 32X
Price: $339
Phone: (800) 475-3986
Warranty: two years parts and labor
The UltraPleX is a high-performance 32X CD-ROM drive that usesUltraSCSI data transfer and a large 512KB buffer. The enhancedspeed makes multitasking environments such as Windows 95 runsmoothly and also makes database searches fast and easy. Designedfor versatility, the drive can handle a wide range of CD-ROMformats, including the new rewritable CD-ROMs.
Model: Addonics PocketCD (portable or external)
Speed: 20X
Price: $279.99
Phone: (510) 438-6530
Warranty: one year parts and labor
Lightweight, portable and fast, the PocketCD's front-mountedcontrols and headphone jack allow it to do double duty as apersonal audio player. Internal rechargeable batteries won'tput a drain on your laptop's power, and Addonics offers users atoll-free technical support line to aid in installation.
Model: Panasonic KXL-783A (portable or external)
Speed: 8X
Price: $299.99
Phone: (800) 742-8086
Warranty: two years parts and labor
With two built-in 3D-Stereo Surround Sound speakers and a SoundBlaster FM sound source, the KXL-783A is a real space saver formultimedia systems. Power is supplied by six AA batteries or anoptional NI-CD battery, so the CD-ROM doesn't drain yourcomputer. To extend the battery life, a power-conserving Sleep Modegoes into effect after four minutes of inactivity.
Model: Sony PRD-650 Discman (portable or external)
Speed: 6X
Price: $299
Phone: (800) 352-7669
Warranty: one year parts and labor
Based on the sleek, lightweight design of the popular SonyDiscman audio CD player, Sony's PRD-650 comes with a PCMCIAcard and a Powerbook interface cable for quick and easy connectionsto both Windows and Mac-based systems. The drive runs on justfour AA batteries.
Model: Axonix ProMedia 10XR (portable or external)
Speed: 10X
Price: $229
Phone: (800) 866-9797
Warranty: one year parts and labor
Fast, portable and affordable, the top-loading ProMedia 10XR canread most types of CD-ROMs, including photo, video and audio CDs.Designed for easy Windows 95 plug-and-play installation, this drivedoesn't require a heavy AC adaptor for power when used with alaptop; instead, it draws power directly from the laptop'sbatteries. It goes into auto sleep mode after five minutes ofinactivity.
