Which type CD should I buy?

My new Dell i6000 is on order and I wanted to purchase some blank CDs so I could burn a copy of whatever....NOT music or photos to start with. I looked at CDs at Walmart and looks like my choices are CD-R or CD-RW. What's the difference and which should I get?

 

CD-R is the regular CD's that one uses to write with.

CD-RW is the CD's you can write multiple times, think of a floppy disc but with 700 times more space

 

CD-Rs allow you to write to them once ONLY
CD-RWs allow you to write erase and rewrite for an unlimited amount of times (theoretically). You can also, with the aid of specialized software use them like floppies (copy a certain number of files at one time and then copy some more onto the same disc during a later time)

So it all depends on what your needs are. If you will copy all your stuff at once and will want to preserve the discs forever and not erase them, then CD-Rs should be your choice. BTW RWs are a bit more expensive.

Does that answer your question?

 

Well there is really only 2 differences between the two:
CD-Rs: can be written to only once. They usually support up to 52X burning speed. However, you are able to use the disk differently by creating what is called a multi-session disk. While using this feature, you are able to write to a CD and then if you have some more files you wish to write to that CD you will be able to. The only down side to this is that once you fill your CD with data, you will have to use a new disk. These are the least expensive option.

CD-RWs: can be written to many times just like a floppy disk. You can just erase it and then burn a disk again. The speed to write is slower, but you are able to erase it when you wish. These disks tend to run a little more expensive, because of the fact that you can erase and re-write to them.

I would say that if you are going to be using these CDs to backup anything, then CD-RW is for you. Because of the fact that your data will be constantly changing, you will have to be able to erase and then write again.

On the other hand, if you want to burn BACKUP (not illegally copy) copies of say your laptop driver CD or backup your windows XP disk. Then these ar for you. If you ever want to burn music CDs then you would also want to use CD-Rs.

Given my response, you should be able to chose which CD format(CD-R or CD-RW) is best for your needs.

Good luck and best of burnin' to you!



P.S. I started writing this before anyone else here, but because of my slow typing, i was beat. So sorry for repeat information.

 

And I thought I was slow

Thanks for the detailed info!

 

I would like to correct you in the most polite of ways, a CD-RW has only 486.1111 times the space of a floppy.

ALSO: no problem for the info, just tryin to help!

 

Multi-session discs are likely to only be read in a PC drive.

 

Multi-sesson is a joke. It's practically hit or miss and most of the time it will only work in your CD drive and PC, not in anyone elses. If you need floppy functionality I recomend getting a thumbdrive. And they can be had pretty cheap -- $39 for 128MB, $70 for 512, or $99 for 1GB. I forget the price of a 256, I it's probably around $50. And theres always sales on them (Prices are for the going rate ot retail stores: bestbuy, staples, officedepot, etc)

 

I'd rather recommend a Hi-MD. Magneto-optic discs are a lot more reliable. And windows recognizes Hi-MDs as data-storage drive, just like usb memory sticks. Think of it as a floppy that's smaller, can store a gig, more reliable than cdrw or flash memory, AND plays music. Woohoo! Hourray for minidisc.

A 1gig MD costs ~7$

Though i'd say don't buy it for the sole purpose of data storage, it's main purpose is music playing.

 

A sincere THANK YOU to those answering my "newbie" questions. This is the friendliest forum I have ever found and folks treat us greenhorns with respect rather than chiding our dummyness. Thanks.......

 

What can I say. We're simply the best ... just kidding

You are welcome, and don't worry if your questions are newbieish, or sound too simple, how else can you get to know what you don't ...

so keep on asking, and enjoy your stay!

 

One piece of information i can give you is use the search function first, so you dont ask a question that has already been answered. Also, lately i have been noticing an increase in the amount of people talking about piracy. Thats not good. S as long as you follow those two rules...you should have an enjoyable time here.