Iomega Super DVD

As regular readers of PCW will be aware, recording your own DVDs isn't as straightforward as it might be. Not only are there three different formats to get to grips with, but working out which media is best for a given task can be just as baffling. With the introduction of its Super DVD Writer, Iomega aims to make this burning issue a thing of the past.

The Super DVD Writer is an all-in-one drive that can read, write and rewrite any CD or DVD media, including DVD-Ram. It does it fast, too - four-speed for DVD+/-R and 24-speed for CD-RW. Although this isn't the first all-format writer we've seen, Iomega's solution has an extra trick up its sleeve. With the novice in mind, the company has created its own DVD Solutions Wizard to help users choose the right application and media to use. For example, to create a movie disc the wizard will propose using the supplied Sonic MyDVD and will recommend using DVD+/-R or CD-R discs as the storage medium.

Other tasks include creating a photo slideshow, a music or data CD or DVD, MP3 ripping and creating an automatic backup. For these, Iomega has packaged together My DVD 4, Cineplayer 1.5, Iomega Automatic Backup, Musicmatch Jukebox and Adobe Active Share.

At £185 it's not cheap, and, as more multiformat drives appear, the Super DVD Writer could find itself priced out of the market. It doesn't come with any recordable media either, so users will have the hard task of buying their own.

However, for sheer ease of use, the Super Drive is excellent. Iomega has obviously thought long and hard about educating users on recordable DVD, and its helpful wizard is a real plus point.

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

Specifications:

• DVD+RW (4x 2.4x 12x), DVD-RW (4x 2x 12x), DVD-Ram (3x write), CD-RW (24x 16x 32x)
• DVD Solutions Wizard Sonic MyDVD, My DVD 4, Cineplayer 1.5, Iomega Automatic Backup, Musicmatch Jukebox and Adobe Active Share
• Buffer underrun protection