Short for Compact Disk-Recordable drive, a type of disk drive that can create CD-ROMs and audio CDs. This allows users to "master" a CD-ROM or audio CD for publishing. Until recently, CD-R drives were quite expensive, but prices have dropped dramatically.
A feature of many CD-R drives, called multisession recording, enables you to keep adding data to a CD-ROM over time. This is extremely important if you want to use the CD-R drive to create backup CD-ROMs.
To create CD-ROMs and audio CDs, you'll need not only a CD-R drive, but also a CD-R software package. Often, it is the software package, not the drive itself, that determines how easy or difficult it is to create CD-ROMs.
CD-R drives can also read CD-ROMs and play audio CDs.
Article on removable storage options This PC Magazine article, from September 1996, describes the available storage options available to the consumer today. The author makes his own personal recommendations for hard disks and CD-R drives.
Lynn Phillips CD-R home page CD-R home page of the Lynn Phillips CD-ROM publishing company. They offer CD recording services, CD-R systems, system rentals, and consulting.
PC Guide's CD-ROM reference Extensive coverage of CD-ROM drives and technology. Describes how the CD-ROM drive works. Covers CD media and the different formats, CD-recordable and CD-rewriteable technology, performance and reliability, and interface and configuration issues.
Recordable CD Format Overview Outlines the technology behind the recordable and rewritable CD formats and the associated standards which ensure compatibility with other formats. Includes graphics, diagrams and an integrated glossary. This page is from "The PC Technology Guide."
