Plextor PlexWriter 40x12x40 Internal IDE CD-RW Drive

by Plextor

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006394O
• Item model number: PX-W4012TA/SW
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 16, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The PlexWriter 40/12/40A combines Plextor's proven reliability with the most exceptional record, rewrite, and playback capabilities available. Recording at blazing 40x speeds, the PlexWriter 40/12/40A maintains the highest quality and stability while creating a 650 MB disc in less than three minutes. CD-rewriting is achieved at faster-than-ever 12x speeds.

With an E-IDE (ATAPI) interface and plug-and-play compatibility, installing a CD-RW drive has never been easier. You can reclaim valuable hard disk space or copy and share files with drag-and-drop simplicity within minutes of opening the box. PoweRec-II technology is a sophisticated write strategy that guarantees results across a broad base of certified media. This unique feature calibrates the media to each drive, ensuring the highest quality write using Z-CLV servo positioning.

Plextor has engineered into the PlexWriter 40/12/40A a technology called BURN-Proof, eliminating buffer underrun errors that occur in fast write modes. These are the errors that result in wasted "coasters"--CDs rendered unusable due to a failure during recording. BURN-Proof not only compensates for slower source drives, it also allows the PlexWriter 40/12/40A to be used for multitasking. You can now do other things on your PC--like send e-mail or surf the Web--while burning flawless CDs.

The PlexWriter 40/12/40A comes with a wide variety of powerful software tools to help you make the most of your creativity. In addition to CD recording/mastering software, there's an easy writing program so you can drag and drop files to CD-R and CD media.

This drive is compatible with Windows 98, 2000, Me, and XP, and comes with a one-year warranty and unlimited toll-free technical support.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS DRIVE R*O*C*K*S, May 21, 2002

By 

ramirez98 (Earth, Milky Way) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plextor PlexWriter 40x12x40 Internal IDE CD-RW Drive (Personal Computers)

This drive is by far the best CDRW drive on the market as of May 2002. Why? Several reasons. 1-the drive has Burnproof technology which prevents those dreaded buffer-underruns (hence preventing making coasters of your CDs). 2-the drive has PowerREC II, which improves the quality if audio CDs that your burn. And the most important 3-the drive supports reading and burning of that ever-important sub-channel data, which is what allows you to make fully-functioning duplicate copies of copy-protected CDROMs. I've been using Plextor drives for years, and by far, hands down, bar-none this drive is the best CDRW on the market today.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Overall CD-RW Drive, November 19, 2002

By 

Patrick Baumann (Huntington Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plextor PlexWriter 40x12x40 Internal IDE CD-RW Drive (Personal Computers)

If you're looking for a drive that'll spit out "My Favorites: Vol. 3" in under 5 minutes, this drive will do it for you. If you're looking to backup all of those digital photos of your latest family trip to Disney, this drive will do it. It does what it's supposed to do and fairly quickly and with its "BURN-Proof" technology, it is nearly impossible to waste a CD.

However, for those of you that are looking to backup your copy-protected media, this drive is already obsolete. It will read sub-channel data, but the newest protections need several other features, namely the ability to write correct EFM coding, not found on this and most other drives. If you're looking for a drive that will copy just about anything, try a Lite-On or Pacific Digital drive.

Aside from the drive itself, the package comes with a clear and concise installation manual, a full one-year warranty, free tech support, and the software necessary to burn your own discs. While some of the software (Roxio's Easy CD Creator) is a little on the flimsy side, it makes burning a basic music or data CD a simple task for even the newest computer users.

Overall, the Plextor 40/12/40A is a solid drive. It will reliably burn music and data in a relatively short amount of time. So if that's all you'll be using it for, this is your drive. If however, you like to keep back-ups of your games / software, you will find that it will become increasingly obsolete as newer protections are developed.

Pros:

-Quick
-Reliable
-Unlimited Free Tech Support
-Good Installation Instructions

Cons:
-Will not burn newest game / software protections

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Won't be obselete for years, September 7, 2002

By 

"shadowramnj" (West New York, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plextor PlexWriter 40x12x40 Internal IDE CD-RW Drive (Personal Computers)

I got this drive the moment it came out. With the CDR's that I use, I burn a completely loaded CD in 4 minutes. What people do not realize is this drive is faster than what most CDR's can be written at (even if the blank CD says 40x). If you get this drive now you will not need to upgrade for years because this drive will be able to write a full CD in 2 - 3 minutes as blank CDs catch up. Some other features include:

- 4 Meg buffer (another CD saving feature)
- Upgradeable (the drive can be upgraded to support new CD media)
- Super Cheap!
- 1 Year manufacturer's warranty
- Unlimited toll free tech support from Plextor

I promise you will not get all that from another CDRW drive!