Iomega CD-RW 48x/DVD

Any PC new enough to have a USB2 interface almost certainly has a CD-RW/DVD-Rom drive installed already. However, there are quite a few older machines still in use that might benefit from a new optical drive.

Iomega's CD-RW 48x/DVD-Rom drive provides good performance, running at 48-speed for reading and writing, and 24-speed for rewriting. It's compatible with both Macs and PCs, although few Macs will be able to use it because Apple generally tries to ignore USB2 in favour of Firewire.

Owners of older PCs will also need to upgrade their systems with a USB2 card to get top performance from the drive. It will still work with an older USB 1.x interface, but at little more than quad-speed.

The drive is an external unit, and is solidly built, if not elegant in design. It's a bit more expensive than an internal drive unit - which would cost less than £100 - but an external drive will be easier to install for people who aren't keen on mucking around inside their PC.

Iomega's software bundle is pretty good. Its Hotburn package allows you to create data and music CDs, and has a simple interface, as does its Automatic Backup archiving package. A DVD player and MP3 player are also thrown in, so you've got all the software you need to make full use of the drive. The installer's a mess, though, forcing you to install each program separately and restarting more times than is really necessary.

Iomega's a little slow off the mark, as usual, since there are already plenty of similar drives available. LG's Super Multi GSA-4040B internal DVD writer, for instance (PCW November), covers all five recordable DVD standards for £150. But if you need a new optical drive for your PC or Mac, this isn't a bad choice.

Contact: Iomega 020 7216 0003
www.iomega-europe.com

Specifications:

• 48x read
• 48x write
• 24x rewrite
• 16x DVD-Rom
• Compatible with USB2 or 1.1 interfaces
• 150 x 50 x 225mm (w x h x d)
• Stereo audio input and output
• Volume control