by Gill Boyd
CD-RW Technology – Non Magnetic Storage For Your PC – A New & Interesting Solution To An Age Old Problem!
For those of us who embrace this technology, the more you use a CD-RW (Rewritable) Drive, the more difficult it becomes to define. Our goal here is to make us aware of this technological achievement in a “User Friendly”, non-technical way. We now have an optional evolutionary solution for data storage and restoration.
This includes copying files to disc, readable by almost any multi-session CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) Drive. Or the ability for compressed file storage using an application such as Seagate Backup Exec software. Thus achieving data storage capacities approaching close to 1 gig per CD disc. Need more? Store a compressed partition image on a bootable CD disc using Drive Image by PowerQuest! Outstanding!
Compatibility & O/S Requirements
CD-RW technology, even considering compatibility issues, has far more capabilities than anything presented to us thus far in this evolutionary PC chain. Instead of discussing what we can do, maybe we should consider what we cannot do! Capacity and backward compatibility first come to mind. Around 550 Megs of data, on a 650 Meg CD-R disc uncompressed or 74 minutes of audio. On a CD-RW disc, those megabytes are erasable.
The Operating System requirements could also be a problem if you need Windows 3.1 compatibility. Current operating systems supported include Win95/Win98 or NT 4 with Service Pack 4 or Unix and hardware required includes a multi-session CD-ROM Drive reader. Certain application bundles may have Windows 3.x support. Most bundles do not. Bundles such as those from Smart & Friendly and Hewlett Packard have a good software interface and are easy to use. Different components of accompanying software suites could benefit from tighter integration, especially for novice users.
The CD-RW Application Bundles
The major application bundles use a version of Adaptec Easy CD Creator Standard or Deluxe. Easy CD Creator works great even if a little confusing for beginners. Remember CD-RW drives are a new type of device we’re working with requiring a different type of software. Definitely a step forward when it works to meet your needs of data integrity. The Start Menu will receive 2 to 4 menu additions and the Task Bar will get the Adaptec DirectCD Wizard. This provides immediate access to the ability to format a disc to accept files by “drag and drop” including the right mouse click “Send To” menu, then choosing DirectCD (Drive Letter). The accompanying wizard guides you through the process start to finish. Very Cool addition! Accessibility and need for speed. Fast, simple, easy to use and fun! Toughest decision is deciding what you want to record first!
Compatibility & Capacity
Older non multi-session CD-ROM drives may not be able to read our new masterpieces. Always test for compatibility before disaster strikes! Yes, horror stories abound ranging from hardware incompatibilities to operator errors formatting discs with Adaptec DirectCD and buffer under runs from a slow system. How will you know for sure if a disc created on another PC will work on your PC? Try a disc from a friend or go to the appropriate SIG and ask questions before making that final purchase. The key is the reader, a multi session CD-ROM Drive.
Even though a CD-R/CD-RW disc can store up to 650 Megs, we must leave room to create the file structure so the disc will be readable from a regular multi-session CD-ROM Drive. On a CD-RW, we have the option to erase a file many times over. Most of us will opt to use CD-R discs most of the time due to cost considerations. With a CD-RW Drive, our options are open to either type of media.
CD-ROM Drive Progress
CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) Drive capabilities have progressed considerably since their introduction on the PC Desktop. What was once an oddity is now a necessity of reality. Almost everyone has a CD-ROM Drive. Most all applications now require a CD-ROM installation due to application size. CD-ROM discs are easier to store, archive, manage and transport. They’re non-magnetic too! CD Discs are the standard for software application installations. Now we, too, can make greater use of this media’s capabilities.
A CD-ROM disc can hold text, graphics and Music (Red Book) Audio sound. A computer CD is like an audio CD, but uses a different track format for data. Computer CD-ROM Drives are players. They read data for the installation of programs and can play audio CD’s too. Audio CD players can only play audio CD’s. We have multiple options with many choices and capabilities. Performance counts. So does versatility & flexibility. Maximize your assets. CD-RW Drives are the Media Convergence Tool today.
Drive Speed
The need for speed has also grown as application demands rise. Just how fast is a CD-ROM Drive anyway? A few definitions are in order. A Single Speed is 150 kilobytes per second; a Double-speed is 300 kilobytes per second. A Four Speed CD-ROM is 600 kilobytes per second or 4 times as fast as a single a speed. To figure out the kilobytes per second of your CD-ROM drive or recorder, multiply the speed number – ex. 24 X 150 (kilobytes per second)= 3600 k/s.
What does this matter and how does this translate into the making of a CD-R/CD-RW disc? Do the math, if time is money then a faster drive is better, especially in the creation of CD’s. That’s only one of many factors to consider in purchasing a CD-RW Drive.
Storage Access Abilities
CD-R discs can be recorded not erased. A CD-R disc can be updated up to 15 times, not erasing old data, just adding new data, hence the term multi-session. CD-RW discs can be written to, deleted from and written to again, up to 1,000 times. CD-RW Drives can write to CD-R and CD-RW discs. CD-R drives only write to CD-R discs.
The key to reading a CD-R disc we create for use on a CD-ROM Drive is the CD-ROM Drive must be a multi-session CD-ROM Drive. Most of the new CD-ROM Drives are multi-session capable. There’s even a software reader from Adaptec, which allows our CD-RW disks to be read from a multi-session CD-ROM Drive. See: www.adaptec.com
Maximize Your Capabilities
CD-RW (Rewritable) Drives can read application CD’s, play audio CD’s and read & write CD-R (Write Once) CD’s. CD-RW drives can create audio, application/data, video and mixed media CD’s using CD-R and or CD-RW media. Which type of CD recordable drive is better – CD-R or CD-RW?
CD-R discs are the more cost effective on a “per disk, one off” basis. Use the less expensive CD-R discs, most of the time, in your CD-RW Drive. Eventually, CD-RW discs will come down in price. However, if you consider the ability to write to a CD-RW disc up to 1,000 times, then CD-RW discs get more attractive even @ $10.00 per disc. The going prices for discs with coupon discounts work out as follows: CD-R discs average $1.00 each & CD-RW discs average $10.00 each. Funny how that works considering CD-RW discs only cost about $.50 more to make. Consider this a cost of participation in technology. Bummer!
What To Look For Based On Purpose & Intent
Business or Consumer oriented intended use; Mechanism Quality – Caddy or Caddyless, today Caddyless rules; Buffer size, 1 or 2 Meg, Larger buffer to help prevent buffer under runs. Buffer under runs means – “start over with a new disc”! No need to worry if your PC is fast enough; Do you need Internal or external? Interface IDE/ATAPI or SCSI; Capability of Horizontal or Vertical Installation, most are only Horizontal capable.
Creation of CD’s readable in personal computer multi-session CD-ROM drives & ability to create Audio CD’s readable in computer CD drives & audio CD players.
Performance counts. Time to complete a task. Is speed an issue? Faster is better! A powerful media tool for creation, replication, back-up and archiving information.
Firmware upgrade ability; compatibility with other CD-ROM devices you’ll encounter.
Affordability considering capacity of discs, from 1 disc to many.
Software Bundles relevant to your needs. Included Software Bundles: Adaptec Easy CD Creator Standard/Deluxe, etc.
What’s the cost per megabyte and time required for other media types? Depends on the speed of the CD-RW Drive and how many Megs are to be stored on the disc. Is a dollar per disc of 550 Megs less expensive than floppies or tape?
Brands To Look For include: Smart & Friendly, Hewlett Packard, Ricoh, Memorex, Phillips and Sony.
Operating System Requirements, Win95/98 or NT with Service Pack 4.
Test Systems:
PII-233/266, 64 Megs Ram and up, Hard Drive Partitions of 2 Gig or greater. Applications require an average of 100 to 140 Megs fully install.
Although SCSI is always preferred, most users have only EIDE/ATAPI interface to utilize. That’s what we’ve tested are EIDE/ATAPI CD-RW Drives. Smart & Friendly and Hewlett Packard are both good choices. The first is a higher end product while the HP unit is more consumer oriented. The HP has a more substantial drive caddy @ a lower price. The Smart & Friendly unit is actually a mechanism from Yamaha.
The Smart & Friendly is a 4 speed CD-RW Writer with a 2 meg buffer while the HP is a 2 speed CD-RW Writer with a 1 meg buffer. HP includes a lot of consumer software while the Smart & Friendly sticks with the business of making CD’s by supplying Adaptec Easy CD Creator Deluxe Edition and other high end applications.
Either way, both are excellent choices.
So far, no problems encountered like everyone else interviewed. Must be a user issue?
This technology just may change the way you look @ data integrity and surely makes tape less attractive for storage of small to medium capacities.
This is a great way to deliver a special message requiring more than a floppy to prospective clients.
This is a faint reminder of the “Talking Rings” from the movie “Time Machine”.
Or Gilgamesch, from an “Outer Limits” story episode, which was later made into a movie, involving the Keeper of Knowledge. Gilgamesch was the “keeper” who maintained & stored knowledge and information for another people of another time to know the past from whence they came.
Plan For The Future Now
Note: From what we’ve seen most CD-RW drives, if any, do not include a 16 bit device driver to utilize a CD-RW as a 16 bit device.
Which means, keep your existing CD-ROM drive as your master CD-ROM Drive on the secondary controller and plan on using Win95/98 or NT with Service Pack 4 or Unix. As mentioned earlier, Windows 3.1 support may be a problem.
Happy recording!
Gill Boyd is a HAL-PC director and VP Programs as well as SIG leader of the How to Build or Buy a PC SIG. He can be reached at gboyd@hal-pc.org
E-mail me at webmaster@hal-pc.org with any comments you have and tell me what you want to see here.