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By Jon L. Jacobi
(12/3/01)
So you thought picking up some CD-R media on the way home from work was going to be easy. Dreamer! Instead, you're standing in the store, confronted by a dizzying array of choices: discs that are gold, silver, red, blue, or even purple; speed ratings; pricier certified discs and less expensive noncertified ones; and brands ranging from household names to house labels. Are any of these differences worth worrying about, or can you just grab the color that suits your fancy and get on with your life? CNET asked the experts--and tested the actual media from four common brands: CompUSA, Imation, Sony, and Yamaha. We found that while CD-R media in general are pretty reliable, there are definite differences in quality and some easy ways to avoid bad experiences.
Media hype
Capacities, X-ratings, and kaleidoscopic colors--what they mean and what you should buy.
A CD test-spin
The differences in CD-R quality and what you can do about them.
Price and performance
See how four brands of media stack up in terms of pricing and test results.
Disc anatomy 101
What makes up a CD-R and why you should care.
Care and feeding of CD-Rs
Protect your precious data by following a few common and not-so-common rules.
