CD ROMs and CD writers and media

ATAPI CD ROM drives and CD re-writer packages for all recent models. Most can be fitted either to the built-in IDE interface on a RiscPC, A7000, etc. or to one of our IDE cards or a Unipod.

Although we can get SCSI drives we normally only stock ATAPI (IDE). As with most things SCSI is much more expensive, so ATAPI is usually a far more cost effective choice.

All the drives listed are suitable for connection to the motherboard interface on any RiscPC or A7000, but a much better (and faster) solution is to use one of our IDE interfaces or the Unipod.. This is especially recommended for CD writers as this speeds up data transfer to the CD drive and also from the source hard drive and makes writing CDs not only faster but more reliable. For more information about CDburn see the CDburn website.

You may think you can get something better/cheaper from a PC box shifter. That might be the case, but what do you do if it doesn't work as a CD reader (not all will on a RiscPC, and we supply drivers with our drives if necessary) or there are problems with CDburn? If you buy from us you know it's going to work and if you do have problems we're here to help.

Our APDL CD driver software is available separately for £4.50. It works with many ATAPI CDs including some faster drives that don't work from the 'built in' software.

CD and DVD Re-Writers

You can use these as an internal drive connected directly to ADFS on a RiscPC etc, but it's a lot faster and more reliable with our IDE interface, either the ARCIN, Blitz or Unipod. Experience shows that with a drive connected to ADFS for reliable CD writing at 4x is usually possible, but you may have to drop to 2x for music CDs. With our ARCIN interface 6x is 100% reliable, if the drive supports it, and 8x is almost always OK. With the Blitz interface there's normally no problem up to 16x.

In the past CD writers were not recommended for everyday use as CD readers because the read/write heads were heavy and the fast head movement required during reading data CDs caused rapid wear. This is no longer the case. Modern drive have much lighter mechanisms and all these drives are perfectly suitable for sustained use as CD readers.

If you've got RISC OS 4.39 or better then you can read data DVDs so you may prefer a 'DVD Combo' drive. These are CD writers which can also read (not write) DVDs.

The 'Buy' buttons on this page are for UK customers only. Purchasers outside the UK will need to contact us to enquire about pricing.

Options	CD ROM drive	48x24x48x CD Re-Writer	52x40x52x DVD Combo
Bare drive	£14	£17	£22
Drive + CDburn	---	£67	£72

Please add £6 UK carriage.

We no longer list DVD writers. DVD writing is so unreliable using a RiscPC as to make it effectively impossible, mainly because of the slow speed of the IDE interface. Results are better using our Blitz interface but you'll almost certainly still get many more failures than successes. It's rather better on the Iyonix, although still very sensitive to the media used (we've had greatest success using Sony blanks). If you do want a DVD writer do please contact us, but because of these problems, and the difficulties obtaining the very few models which may work, we've decided to stop listing DVD writers.

We do not normally recommend using a CD writer on the A7000 because of the very small power supply in these machines. If you do fit one then you should ensure that you have a fan fitted (ask if you don't have one) and give the computer a few minutes to cool down after writing a CD before writing another. If your power supply dies don't blame us, you've been warned.

CD-Burn

The only RISC OS CD writing software still being actively developed and supported. Works with most modern SCSI and ATAPI CD writers and re-writers and also, as well as drives connected to the motherboard IDE interface, works with drives connected to the Unipod and APDL (ARCIN or Blitz) IDE interfaces.

Can make ISO images, copy or create data or music CDs in various formats including CDFS and with Joliet extensions.

Note that although we guarantee that CDburn will work with any drive we sell we cannot guarantee that it will work with any CD writer you may buy elsewhere.

Price is just £55 though you save £5 when you order it with a drive (see above).

CD media

CDR media prices are rather volatile and margins are small so although we normally do keep stocks we no longer list prices. Carriage costs are also likely to be significant if you aren't ordering a drive at the same time so it will almost certainly be cheaper for you to go to your local PC World or other store (even some supermarkets sell them now).

We also stock slimline CD cases and plastic CD envelopes (with flap). Again if you're interested in these phone or email for latest prices.

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