MSI X52P

These days, recordable DVD seems to be on the tips of everyone's tongues, but there are still many people who remain unimpressed. Let's face it - unless you're into copying DVD movies, editing video or enjoy archiving gigabytes worth of data, a normal CD-writer will suffice.

The MSI X52P is a combination drive, which means it will record CDs but can only read DVDs. It's a 52-speed writer and can create a full 700Mb (80min) CD-R in a minute and a half. It can also burn a full 700Mb CD-RW in just over three minutes.

The competitively priced X52P comes with three 'activepanels' - a fancy name for fascias - in silver, black and beige, so you can get the closest match to your PC's colour scheme.

The drive also has a 'flash eye', which changes colour depending on the job in hand. For example, when playing a DVD the light is blue, when writing a CD the light is green - not essential by any means but a handy change from the norm, nonetheless.

For the £34 asking price you also get a stripped-down version of Nero for copying CDs and Cyberlink's PowerDVD 5 for playing DVDs on your computer.

Contact: MSI 020 8813 6688
www.msicomputer.co.uk