CenDyne 8x8x32 EIDE Internal CD-RW Drive (PC Only)

Average customer rating:

Awesome

Good drive....

Are you kidding?

Accompanying software subpar

Easy to setup, use but beware Hard drive Speed

CenDyne 8x8x32 EIDE Internal CD-RW Drive (PC Only)

Manufacturer: Cendyne
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Internal Drives | CD-RW Drives | Drives & Storage | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics
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Product Features:

Internal EIDE/ATAPI CD-RW drive for PC

Writing methods: disc at once, session at once, track at once, multi-session and packet writing

2 MB of data buffer memory

Compatible with Windows 98, 2000 Professional, or NT 4.0 with Service Pack 5.0

120-millisecond access time

ASIN: B0000524QK

Product Description

CenDyne is a marketer of computer peripheral products to the computer and consumer electronics market. CenDyne is rapidly becoming a reliable and recognized supplier all around the world. CenDyne is strategically planning the implementation and development of hardware solutions targeted directly at the personal computer/consumer industry. The personal computer industry has changed not only how the business world works, but also how home users obtain information, educate, as well as entertain them. CenDyne provides products, solutions, and strategies that fit these markets, with the goal of connecting the world by providing the highest quality information, documentation and products.

Amazon.com Review

The bottom line on recordable CD drives is simple: the faster the better. CenDyne's 8x8x32 CD-RW drive delivers excellent performance for a surprisingly low price, making it a perfect entry-level CD-RW drive or upgrade for an old, slower drive. You won't get a lot of hand holding during installation, but for anyone already comfortable installing an internal EIDE drive, this unit's price/performance ratio is hard to beat.

The EIDE comes with everything you need for installation right out of the box, including an IDE ribbon cable, a cable for connecting the drive to your sound card, and mounting screws. However, although the limited documentation explains the basics of installing a CD-RW drive, it doesn't offer detailed illustrations or troubleshooting. Again, if this is your first time cracking open your PC's case and installing a drive, we recommend you get help from a more experienced friend.

Similar to Roxio's (formerly Adaptec) Easy CD Creator, the included Nero 5 CD-recording software combines a simple, wizard-based interface with some advanced features like Video CD creation as well the ability to create a CD-RW for restoring your hard drive's contents. The software's help files and the support Web site offer very good directions for using the software as well as hints and tips for successful CD burning.

Also included is the InCD UDF packet-writing software, which works just like the popular DirectCD software, essentially turning the CD recorder into a huge floppy disk drive. After formatting a CD-RW disc, you can copy files to it like any disc drive. The 8x rewritable speed makes this a painless and transparent process--no more waiting around for files to copy or backups to finish.

The drive performed extremely well in both our read and write tests. It took only 7 minutes to burn a 50-minute audio CD at 8x speed, and the CD played flawlessly on standard CD players. Packet writing on CD-RW discs was equally fast. Anyone who's had to wait for a 2x or even 4x drive to finish writing will appreciate just how useful the extra speed of an 8x drive is. Thanks to its 2 MB data buffer memory, we didn't encounter any buffer underruns (bad burns) or other recording errors.

The CenDyne 8x8x32 EIDE CD-RW drive's low price and great performance make it an excellent choice for the tech-savvy user, either as a first burner or as an upgrade for a slower drive. --Ken Feinstein

Pros:

Excellent performance
Low price
Solid software bundle

Cons:

Cursory installation instructions

Amazon.com Product Description

CenDyne's 8x8x32 internal EIDE CD-RW drive (PC only) stores up to 650 MB of critical data quickly and safely on CD-R and CD-RW discs. Working at speeds up to 32x read, 8x write, and 8x rewrite, the drive has quick disc access times of only 120 milliseconds and data transfer rates up to 3,600 KBps. Utilizing a 2 MB buffer, the CenDyne is capable of disc-at-once, session-at-once, track-at-once, multisession, and packet writing methods.

The drive uses an enhanced IDE (ATAPI) interface and is compatible with PCs only. The CenDyne comes with CenDyne CD mastering software that allows you to write, rewrite, store, and transfer information on CD-R and CD-RW. Requirements for the CenDyne include a 166 MHz Pentium or faster processor; Windows 98, 2000, or NT 4.0 with Service Pack 5.0; 32 MB RAM; 75 MB hard disk space (for recording software); EIDE (internal IDE data cable and audio cable included); and a 5.25-inch mass-storage bay.

CenDyne provides a one-year parts-and-labor warranty on the 8x8x32x internal drive.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome.......2002-04-16

I had a burner that had worked fine then one day it just crapped out....This burner cause absolutely zero problems for me. It has only failed ONCE in the middle of burning a large video file onto it. I put that same CDR back in the drive and the burner (or maybe it was the software) was able to FINISH THE BURN!!! On the CDR that it had gotten the error on!! I thought that was incredible. I have and will recommend this to ANYONE looking for a great burner at a great price.

Good drive...........2001-11-07

This drive installed easily: just set the jumper to master, plug it in like the instructions say and boot up the computer. It worked 1st time out of the box, no drivers to install. Mine is reported as a TEAC CD-W58E drive in the device manager. Cendyne obviously gets these from a variety of makers. The included software with mine is NTI CD Maker 2000, similar in function to the Nero software. Cendyne has a forum for Tech Support on their website and also has helpful FAQs. My first test was to copy a CD I made on another burner, and it took about 15 minutes using the harddrive to image the CD. If you have another CDROM it would speed up the process to about 9 minutes. I recommend the Cendyne highly as a budget burner.

Are you kidding?.......2001-08-20

I don't know why everyone is giving this product such a high rating. I guess they all work for Cendyne or something. This burner didn't work in my computer. I tried really hard to make it work by messing with the jumpers and IDE cables but it didn't work. i spent hours trying to make it work before i realized that this is just a cheaply made product. my friend suggested to me that i should have spent $50 more in order to get a decent burner. i realize now that if you spend at least $150, you'll get a burner that's easy to use and you won't have to go through the trouble of returning an inferior product. In short, i learned that you get what you paid for.

Accompanying software subpar.......2001-07-19

I received the cd writer and all accompanying items in a short amount of time, installed it as directed, but when the software went searching for the hardware, it didn't recognize it! I had to go online and download (for about 1 1/2 hours) the new software. For someone who has to pay for internet time, this would be horrible. Plus I was a little mad that they would sell the product without proper support anyway.

Easy to setup, use but beware Hard drive Speed.......2001-07-10

I bought this unit three weeks ago. The install instructions were pretty clear, and the software drivers loaded right up. The Nero software is better than Adaptec for music because you can drag and drop songs, and re-compile them more easily than CD Creator. Beware, though your CD write speed may only be 1x or 2x if your hard drive cannot keep up with the music burn youll get "CD Buffer Underrun" errors. Cendyne recommends a separate disk partition for music. Overall very good for the money.

Product Description

This slim, stylish eye catcher makes big impressions with its small footprint, flicker-free performance, people-friendly ergonomic engineering and environment-friendly design. Better yet, Brilliance 150 series is a feast for the eyes, delivering superb display quality, outstanding color brightness and exceptional contrast. Designed for computer users, the Brilliance 150 series combines "best in class" performance with solid value.

Product Description

Stay informed on rugged outdoor adventures with this Urbo Tec water-resistant Personal stereo with AM/FM/weather tuner. The housing is sealed with silicon rubber gaskets for water resistance so you can tune in AM or FM stations or get weather updates even under harsh conditions. Also features a digital clock with alarm, lightweight stereo headphones and an arm strap with easy-close fastener for hands-free enjoyment.

Product Description

The MINUTEMAN PRO1100E is a 1100VA/770W 120 VAC line-interactive UPS with 6 battery backup/surge outlets, USB and RS232 communication ports, MINUTEMAN SentryII power management software and diagnostic software, and RJ45/RJ11 network/modem surge protection.The built-in double-boost and single-buck AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator) function compensates for broader range of low AC voltage situations like brownouts and sags as well as high AC voltage situations like surges and spikes saving internal battery power for blackouts and extending the life of the batteries. The Independent Battery Bypass allows the UPS to provide voltage regulation with surge and spike protection on utility AC power even when batteries are weak or dead. The MINUTEMAN PRO1100E includes MINUTEMAN SentryII power management and diagnostic software to provide added control and allow unattended PC shutdown (for use on individual PCs or multiple workstations on networks).

MinuteMan PRO-E Series PRO1100E UPS System, 1100VA/770 Watts

Average customer rating:

MinuteMan PRO-E Series PRO1100E UPS System, 1100VA/770 Watts

Manufacturer: Minute Man
ProductGroup: CE

Uninterrupted Power Supplies | Batteries, Chargers & Power Supplies | Accessories & Supplies | Categories | Electronics
Product Features:

PRO1100E
1100 VA/770 Watts. Six outlets with battery backup and surge protection. 6-3/8w x 16-3/16d x 8h.

ASIN: B00070PX46

Product Description

MinuteMan® PRO-E™ Series UPS Systems. Provides complete protection from spikes, surges, sags, brownouts and blackouts. Independent Battery Bypass™ provides voltage regulation with surge and spike protection on utility AC power even when batteries are weak or dead. SentryII™ power management and diagnostic software provide added control and allow unattended PC shutdown for individual PCs or multiple workstations on networks. Manufacturers three-year limited warranty. $50,000 connected equipment guarantee. Designed for protection of PCs, telephone systems and data communications. Built-in double-boost and single buck AVR compensates for broader range of low AC voltage

Product Description

With Panasonic's PV-C1341 13-inch combination TV/VCR you can watch and record your favorite movies and videos. This model also has an FM radio with auto-scan as well as an alarm clock and a sleep timer that will automatically shut off the television. It can also turn the TV/VCR on as a wake-up call. The PV-C1341 has a number of useful playback features. Index search allows you to locate specific places of your movie or taped program, while program end search is helpful for those tapes that have several shows and movies on them. Commercial skip allows you to record programs without commercial interruption. In case the power should go out, the PV-C1341 has a 24-hour power backup and automatic clock set that will save you the hassle of figuring out how to set the time.

Customer Reviews:

No TV/VCR Combinations For Me!.......2002-02-04

I have always been a believer in Panasonic products, but I am rather disappointed in this one. Not too long after the warranty ran out (of course!) I started having problems with the VCR. It did not want to play Long Play or Extended Long Play tapes. You would hear a continuous clicking sound and the picture would jump between the tape and the blue screen. At first I thought the tapes were causing the problem, but they played fine in several other VCRs. I decided to check the VCR for any visible causes. What a nightmare! The VCR is directly under the picture tube and considerable disconnecting and removal steps were necessary just to be able to get the VCR out for an examination. Then the entire procedure had to be repeated in reverse before its operation could be checked. If Panasonic had designed this unit so the VCR was placed above the picture tube, as was the case with their previous 20" model, the procedure would have been greatly simplified. After several unsuccessful attempts at repair, I finally gave up and rented a VCR so I could rerecord my tapes in Standard Play just to be able to use my VCR. The important lesson for me is never to purchase a TV/VCR combination again! Keeping them separate makes life a lot easier.

Panasonic 13" TV/VCR.......2001-10-15

The picture is excellent. However, the sound quality is poor, especially for the VCR. When using the VCR, the sound must be turned up to near the maximum volume to adequately hear tapes. Upon stopping the tape and returning to the television, one is subjected to a blast of volume.

Why did I wait so long to get one?.......2001-08-18

I am so pleased with the one I just purchased that I am getting a second one. People told me not to buy a combo in case one system breaks. Dispite the comments, at this price I didn't think I would lose that much, so I purchased my first combo a month ago. No more cable hook-up hassles, no more awkward VCR placement on top of the TV, it is so easy to use. Just plug it in and you're ready to go. I just gave it to my 4 year old so he can watch his video's, he mastered the controls in 5 minutes. It's light weight and easy to move around. I appreciate that this four head was only a little more then the 2 head. I'm going to buy another one and take it to work.

Excellent Very Crisp Picture.......2001-05-31

This series continues to have one of the finest combination TV-VCRs I have seen. Panasonic and Sony both make the best 13inch TVs. One reason is the incredible picture quality it has for this size screen size. A smaller picture tube always delivers a superior picture. The picture is crisp and sharp. It makes VHS tapes look incredibly good.

Average customer rating:
MaxTech X 793CF - C 400 MHz - RAM : 64 MB - HD : 4 GB - CD - Win98 - 14.1" TFT

Manufacturer: Gentek Marketing
ProductGroup: Personal Computer

Notebooks | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics
ASIN: B0009MI0TM

Product Description

GVC Corporation has created the ultimate forward-thinking machine, the X 700 series, designed to meet the needs of a wide range of users and to support many tasks, from mid-range processing to the most intensive top-end applications.The X 700 series offers an entry level notebook computer of exceptional value for money with all the features, performance and quality you expect from GVC Corporation. With a performance that beats many desktop computers, the X 782 offers a real alternative to a desktop computer, and all the benefits of mobile computing. An all-in-one notebook solution, the X 700 series offers truly flexible computing with the latest and fastest processor and exceptionally clear, bright and large screen. Go for the power and speed you need to achieve high performance productivity in an economical, fully dependable notebook. You will not find a notebook of this specification and quality at such competitive prices. This is a notebook with an all-in-one desktop convenience with a price to challenge value-end desktops.

Product Description

The Mamiya 645E is the ideal way to step-up to medium format from 35mm, representing a triumph of camera design and technology that emphasizes economy without compromising performance. It accepts the current system of over 19 Mamiya 645 manual focus lenses and interchangeable film inserts. An optional Rapid Wind Grip makes handling and advance easierFor a complete compatibility list please refer to the original manufacturer's web site.

Average customer rating:
Lenovo ThinkPad X40 2372 - Pentium M 1.2 GHz LV - Centrino - RAM : 512 MB - HD : 40 GB - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : 802.11b/g - Win XP Pro - 12.1" TFT 1024 x 768 ( XGA )

Manufacturer: Lenovo
ProductGroup: Personal Computer

Notebooks | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics
ASIN: B000EWLUJE

Product Description

The thin, light, newly redesigned IBM ThinkPad X40 notebook with Intel Centrino Mobile Technology (select models) is perfect for staff on the go. It features long battery life and the optional ThinkPad X4 UltraBase Dock for a choice of drives and connections.Like air bag technology, the new IBM Active Protection System features built-in motion sensors. When a fall is detected, this innovation helps protect the hard disk drive. That makes it less likely data on your hard disk drive will be lost from some crashes, such as being dropped or knocked off a desk. To help decrease expenses, look inside for IBM ThinkVantage Technologies and ThinkVantage Design elements. You'll see how to work more confidently and efficiently - and gain more time to focus on strategic goals.

Product Description

A 30-pack spindle of audio CD-R discs that support 80 minuters per CD

Customer Reviews:

Awful.......2005-04-04

I bought these, thinking that the CD-Rs would enhance the music, and a 30-pack was a great deal.

Not really...

First, I've had more burn failing than anything else. So, I've had many times when the CD would do only part of a CD I wanted to burn.

Secondly, they have a hard time reading in my truck, and in some other CD-R compatible players.

Thirdly, where is the album track thing, were you right the track, artist, and time. Almost every Music CD-R pack has this.

Finally, and most importantly, they really don't work. They are supposed to boost and enchance the quality of the music (or that is I think they should), and I haven't seen any difference from normal CD-Rs from Maxell, TDK, and Samsung.

Overall, try Maxell, TDK, and Samsung. Those seem to work perfectly fine for me, unless your burner can't handle these brands.

Very poor with stand alone CD recorder.......2004-04-23

I have a Mazantz 631 professional CD recorder embedded in my A/V system. I purchased a 30 pack of these Merorex "white label" 700MB disks. The first 5 out of the box would not record: OPC error. They cost $0.66 a piece. In this case, you get what you pay for.

Not For Computers.......2004-03-17

These CDs are are manufactured for stand-alone CD Recorders not for CD "burners" in computers. The stand-alone units will not accept computer discs, but computers will accept both. The CD-R Music (or audio) cost more because they are taxed by the RIAA to compensate artists for piracy. Computer discs do not have that tax, and are therefore cheaper. The quality of the discs differs from brand to brand, and results vary from brand to brand and CD Player to CD Player. I would not buy these CDs for a computer burner, it's not as cost effective as other CDs for computers. I do, however, reccomend the Memorex CD-Rs with the white labels over other brands. These seem to have fewer problems in car CD players and older cd players.

Slow, slow, slow.......2002-09-15

These are terrible CDRs. It says multi speed, max 40x, but when I burned them on my 20x, it only lets me burn at 12x for no reason, and my burner never has any problem burning CDRs. Then I used another burner at 16x, took almost 8 minutes for a 700mb CD. I mean, this is just not right! The only good thing is burning at such low speed so those CDs are more reliable with no picking problems. Get Imation! It's much better!!

Not much of a difference.......2002-07-19

I always figured that "music" CD-R's and "data" CD-R's were the same physically, except that companies had to pay royalty fees to recording assocications for sales of music CD-R's. The idea is that people with stand alone burners hooked up to their stereos and not a computer, can't use the excuse of "I also use my CD Writer to store my data files." I agree ... that brands matter, buying a no name brand usually means buying a flimsy, easily scatched or cracked disc. But if I'm just burning a few badly recorded MP3's that I downloaded off the 'net to listen in my car, I don't care much about the length of the disc's life. It's not like I'll want to listen to an old disc of Britney five years from now ( *ahem* not that I would listen to her in the first place).

...

Customer Reviews:

Cheaper Alternative to Apple DVD Media.......2002-12-16

Having recently purchased a iMac with a superdrive to enable me to burn DVD's, I was happy to find the ProMedia DVD-R as a nice substitude to the more expensive Apple DVD media. While Apple recommends its branded media, this worked just fine. I have used this media mainly for backup of files (which is great) but have also used it to make a DVD-movie with iDVD. Keep in mind that just because you burn a *standard* DVD, it probably won't work in most older commerical DVD playback units. This is the least expensive media I have found that works just great in the iMac superdrive.

Good product.......2002-10-24

This is probably the best option for branded DVD-R media at this time (October 2002). The price is quite low compared to other brands (like Pioneer or Sony) because of the rebate, and the quality of the discs themselves is excellent.
DVD-Rs are the best for DVD Video (DVD+R doesn't work on many devices, including the Playstation 2 - or at least, so I heard from people who tried to use it, but I don't have a DVD+R burner myself to check this), and its 4.7 GB make the DVD format a good option for backup of larger files by home users.
Just a warning: the 4.7 GB is calculated the same way the space is calculated for Hard Drives: 1 GB = 1,000,000 bytes, so 4.7 GB = 4,700,000 bytes. This means the REAL avaliable size is around 4.4 GB (but this same "logic" aplies to every other DVD format, including DVD+R/RW).

Recommended for:
1) Backup of personal data (1 x DVD = 7 x 650Mb CDs or 6.5 x 700 Mb CDs, so it saves space on your shelf)
2) Creation of DVD Video (as long as you have the hardware and software to capture and compress your video to MPEG 2, the standard of DVD Video)

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics