Yamaha CRW-F1ZE 44x24x44 Internal EIDE CD-RW Drive (White)

by Yamaha

Product Details

Product Manual [1.29mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006HYSF
• Item model number: CRW-F1ZE
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 27, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Designed for uncompromising individuals willing to pay a few extra dollars for state-of-the-art performance, Yamaha's amazing new CRW-F1 CD-R/RW drive is quite simply one of the slickest internal CD burners currently on the market.

Apart from its striking blue/pink LED that changes color and blinks or glows steadily depending on the unit's operational mode, the CRW-F1 looks no different than any other internal CD drive. Inside, however, Yamaha's top-of-the-line burner packs a serious punch. Rated at 44x write, 24x rewrite, and 44x read, it posts sizzling numbers across the board, and especially during CD rewrites, where it outperforms virtually all its peers.

Yet the CRW-F1 is no mere speed demon. The unit features a variety of convenient amenities, including the latest edition of Yamaha's buffer underrun prevention utility, SafeBurn. We tested the system long and hard and not once created a useless CD "coaster." Of greater interest to those who regularly access and modify their data rewrites is the enclosed version of Ahead Software's packet-writing tool InCD, which now includes full Mt. Rainier support. By accessing InCD, you can format your CD-RWs and thereafter treat them as you would a regular diskette or hard drive--transferring, deleting, copying, and reading files and directories quickly and easily through Windows Explorer or any other file browser.

Two of the CRW-F1's most intriguing perks are geared strictly to the audio enthusiast. The first and arguably most innovative is Yamaha's new DiscT@2 system, which allows users to burn laser images directly onto the surface of their CDs. A futuristic alternative to traditional labeling, DiscT@2 delivers crisp, impressively professional images that unfortunately tend to be quite faint and can be etched only upon the unused portion of the disc. The second, Yamaha's advanced Audio Master Quality Recording (AMQR) system, burns larger "pits" and "lands" into the disc surface, theoretically resulting in a better-sounding, more durable CD. In our listening tests, we noticed slightly superior dynamics in the AMQR-recorded CD, but only by the slimmest of margins. In any case, we appreciate any technology that will extend the life of our discs. --Gordon Goble

Pros:

• Etches custom-designed laser images directly onto CD surface
• AMQR recording mode offers theoretically superior audio CDs
• Includes the latest version of Nero InCD
• Integrated Mt. Rainier support offers diskette-like CD-RW operation

Cons:

• More expensive than most internal CD burners
• DiscT@2 images are quite faint

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unusually persistent "Wow" factor, October 5, 2002

By 

J. Daily (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yamaha CRW-F1ZE 44x24x44 Internal EIDE CD-RW Drive (White) (Personal Computers)

To complain about the burned images that this drive can produce is like complaining that your Ferrari's sunroof opens a little too slow :-)

This drive's "Wow" factor will not wear out anytime soon. To geeks, it's incredible that this drive has finally made a consumer priced laser etching system! And to everyone, these images look sweet! If you view the T@2's like a Hologram (like the one on your Visa/Mastercard) you can see them just fine. Yamaha has rated the image quality at 250dpi, which for comparison sake is 3 times sharper than any image you find on the web. The images are faint, but not too faint, and it's totally worth the cost, in my opinion.

The best way to get the sharpest image is to use a CD with Azo dye (the data side looks blue). Yamaha sells these kind of CD's, again at a little higher price.

Even without the special features, this drive would be a winner. So for a few more dollars out of your pocket, you get all these incredible features, plus an unbeatable CD-RW drive.

Also look on Amazon for the Black colored drive, Yamaha CRW-F1ZEN. It's the same drive, it's just black to match black computers.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best CDRW I have owned, highly recommended., October 3, 2002

By 

Jon McCormick (green bay, wi United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yamaha CRW-F1ZE 44x24x44 Internal EIDE CD-RW Drive (White) (Personal Computers)

The Advanced Audio Quality Recoding Mode is very good and is really the best part of this unit. If you want your cd's to sound their best use this mode, but you are limited to 8x tops and can be used only with audio cds (no data, vcds, etc)only. This mode is said to replicate conventional recording methods. A burned audio cd-r should last longer also.

The standard mode at full speed is also very good. The unit will pick the fastest safe burn speed in any mode. Will burn on the cheap cds. No skipping in a GM deck. Sounds very good.

DiscT@2 (disc tatoo) A neat f(x) that will only work well with dark dyed media (good for those old blue verbatims). Only works on a finalized disc, because of this it is a two step process. Put your data on the cd, finalize. The area that is left over is suitable for a tatoo. The more data you have on the disc the less size from the center to the edge you will have to work with. You can tatoo images and text.

To get the tatoo to wrap: type out text in the text box, click away from text, right click on text for menu. You now have the wrap fxns. The tatoos can be very elaborate and fun to do.

I think this unit is the best cdrw out there right now. 129.99 at best buy after $20 rebate 10/2/02. Much, much better than my old Yamaha crw-2100.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My new burner, September 22, 2002

By 

Jeffrey Frieling (Lapeer, Mi. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yamaha CRW-F1ZE 44x24x44 Internal EIDE CD-RW Drive (White) (Personal Computers)

This is what I've been waiting for. It took next to nothing in time to install. The previous review covers the technical end of things quite well. The only complaint I have is the disc t@2 feature. So far, it doesn't seem to work as advertised. Tech support says to try blank media with a darker dye. Other than that, I'm quite satisfied.