A CD-RW drive is an optical disc drive found on computers that can read and write CDs. CD-RW, which stands for compact disc rewritable, is a technology developed during the 1990s that allows people to crate ('burn") CDs with music, files and pictures. CD-RW drives were desirable when first released because of their ability to burn CDs, but they have lost their popularity because of the advent of DVD-RW drives.
Function
CD-RW drives are computer drives that can write CDs and copy data (music, files, pictures) from computer hard drives onto CDs. These drives use a red-light laser to write the information from the computer onto recordable discs, either CD-R discs, which cannot be erased, or CD-RW discs, which can be erased and recorded about 1,000 times.
CD-RW drives are used to make audio CDs, which can be played in virtually any CD player, or data discs, which are useful for backing up or transferring files.
History
CD-RW drives were first sold in 1997 when technological advances enabled the creation of a disc with a phase-changing alloy recording layer, which enabled writing and rewriting on the disc, instead of the unwritable polycarbonate layer found on a traditional CD. Upon creation of the CD-R and CD-RW discs, the lasers of conventional CD-ROM drives were changed to allow them to write discs instead of just reading them leading to the birth of CD-RW drives.
CD-RW drives were first included on personal computers and laptops as option accessories in the late 1990s and were standard in early 2000.
Types
The two major types of CD-RW drivers are external and internal. External CD-RW drives are connected to the computer using a standard USB cable and port on the computer. External drives portable and can easily be transported from one computer to another. Internal CD-RW drives are wired directly into the computer's motherboard and are connected into one of the computer's open expansion bays. These are not portable and are made a permanent part of the computer's hardware.
Internal and external CD-RW drivers function exactly the same although external drives cost more because of their portability and lack of installation.
Benefits
When they were first introduced, CD-RW drives had a lot of benefits and uses because they revolutionized portable storage for computer files. They could store more than floppy discs so CD-R and CD-RWs were used for file storage especially to create back-up discs of important documents. Because of its rewriting capabilities, it was easy to use a CD-RW and CD-RW drive to create a back-up disc that could easily be modified or updated.
Also coupled with the craze of music downloads CD-RW drives were used to create mixed audio CDs that could be played in any player, such as one in an automobile. This gave users flexibility to mix their favorite songs from a variety of albums onto one CD.
Potential
Though still popular, CD-RW drives have lost some of their market share to DVD-RW drives, which can perform all the functions of a CD-RW drive in addition to playing and recording DVDs. For people with older computers who do not need or want the DVD playing or recording capability, CD-RW drives can be an affordable upgrade that can give users the ability to burn data and audio CDs. But for people interested in watching DVDs on their computer or in turning uploaded home video footage into DVDs, CD-RW drives have turned into dinosaurs in the computer field.
Function
CD-RW drives are computer drives that can write CDs and copy data (music, files, pictures) from computer hard drives onto CDs. These drives use a red-light laser to write the information from the computer onto recordable discs, either CD-R discs, which cannot be erased, or CD-RW discs, which can be erased and recorded about 1,000 times.
CD-RW drives are used to make audio CDs, which can be played in virtually any CD player, or data discs, which are useful for backing up or transferring files.
History
CD-RW drives were first sold in 1997 when technological advances enabled the creation of a disc with a phase-changing alloy recording layer, which enabled writing and rewriting on the disc, instead of the unwritable polycarbonate layer found on a traditional CD. Upon creation of the CD-R and CD-RW discs, the lasers of conventional CD-ROM drives were changed to allow them to write discs instead of just reading them leading to the birth of CD-RW drives.
CD-RW drives were first included on personal computers and laptops as option accessories in the late 1990s and were standard in early 2000.
Types
The two major types of CD-RW drivers are external and internal. External CD-RW drives are connected to the computer using a standard USB cable and port on the computer. External drives portable and can easily be transported from one computer to another. Internal CD-RW drives are wired directly into the computer's motherboard and are connected into one of the computer's open expansion bays. These are not portable and are made a permanent part of the computer's hardware.
Internal and external CD-RW drivers function exactly the same although external drives cost more because of their portability and lack of installation.
Benefits
When they were first introduced, CD-RW drives had a lot of benefits and uses because they revolutionized portable storage for computer files. They could store more than floppy discs so CD-R and CD-RWs were used for file storage especially to create back-up discs of important documents. Because of its rewriting capabilities, it was easy to use a CD-RW and CD-RW drive to create a back-up disc that could easily be modified or updated.
Also coupled with the craze of music downloads CD-RW drives were used to create mixed audio CDs that could be played in any player, such as one in an automobile. This gave users flexibility to mix their favorite songs from a variety of albums onto one CD.
Potential
Though still popular, CD-RW drives have lost some of their market share to DVD-RW drives, which can perform all the functions of a CD-RW drive in addition to playing and recording DVDs. For people with older computers who do not need or want the DVD playing or recording capability, CD-RW drives can be an affordable upgrade that can give users the ability to burn data and audio CDs. But for people interested in watching DVDs on their computer or in turning uploaded home video footage into DVDs, CD-RW drives have turned into dinosaurs in the computer field.
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