disk types?

I just got a new computer with the windows XP home operating system.I have only had it one day now and am still playing with it to see the difference between it and windows 98 SE.
I have a CD writer in this unit I dont know how it works yet.
My question is are all CDs the same when you buy the blank one?Thanks a million for all the past help.

 

Hi michael van,

If you have a new CD writer it is more than likely a CD-RW instead of the CD-R. So if it is a CD-RW you can use the CD-R for permenant coppies & the CD-RW that can be reformated and rerecorded. The CD-R can be read on any Computer with any old CD ROM, while the CD-RW can only be read on another CD-RW or one of the new Multiread CD ROMs.

I buy the Imation CD-Rs in bulk for about 45 cents a piece. The 10 CD-RWs I bought cost $2.00 ea. I just really have no need for the CD-RWs & right now most Computers still have the old CD ROMs that can't read the CD-RWs

I have seen Music CDs, but I copy all my music on a CD-R & think the Music CDs are a trick for more money. So just Stock up on CD-Rs in the bulk packs & store them in those break proof soft plastic CD indivual storage boxes, from Fellowes you get 10 for $3.49.

The best place to learn how the CD-Rs & CD-RWs work is @ www.howthingswork.com They have a tour with pictures that shows you just hoe it works. Have fun with 600MB of media to copy music back up every month it's really nice

Marturo

 

Ok thanks for the quick response.If I understand it there are two types one is a CD-r that you can use on a CD player like in your car but can only be used one time.
And the other is a CD-rw that can be used over and over, kind of like a floppy disk but not used for a Cd players such as in your car.
So It seems like I need both kinds is this correct?

 

A few cd-rw's around come in very handy at times. Shop around and you can catch them on sale somewhere. You will find out as you use them. Keep in mind that not all cd-roms will read a cd-rw. Some get the idea to move info from one PC to another. Well, that don't always work.

 

I have read that CD-RWs will play in a lot of noncomputer CD players. But then what good is that? Here dear, I say to my wife as I give her the latest Music CD-RW for this week . Then over the weekend I format and copy some new music for her the next week. No, I just use a CD-R and label it for her.

The concept of a CD-RW is good but Computers that are a few years old can't read the CD-RWs.

Let's say I was working on a web & used the CD-RW as a correctable backup that I could change for editing and those last minute changes before uploading the web. Sounds good since you have 600 MB to work with. I have run into problems such as it wants me to format the whole CD-RW before I can make a correction.

It does not always do this, but it has happened. Well what if you have your last 2 webs on that CD-RW? So I just work the web on my hard drive and after I upload the web I back it up on a CD-R.

Don't let me stop you from buying a few CD-RWs and playing around with them. You may find a use for them that I have not. It is nice to have a CD that you can correct a mistake, but remember as cheap as the CD-Rs are you can afford to grab another and recopy another one. Just don't expect ZIP disk performance from a CD-RW

Marturo