Plextor 40-12/40a

Well where do I start? Cosmetically this drive is standard beige, although the do a limited version with a black bezel, it has clean lines and blue printed model name on the right-hand side but it's what's inside that counts. This is as close to perfection as you're likely to get in a drive; well for now at least.

The burn proof technology, removes a lot of the pitfalls when running a low spec system, and also aids the less technically minded of us to burn CD's without error; it's a bit like trying to drive a car over a cliff but not being able to, don't try this at home kids cars don't come with burn proof .

Speed is quick; if you couple this with a Liteon DVD Rom LTD163D, burning on the fly is easy. I have no trouble burning CD to CD in 3 min or less. The drive is quiet, tray operation is solid; it doesn't throw it out at you, it presents it like a highly trained butler might.

I have yet to find a media it doesn't like, I have tried every thing from silvers to Fuji; by-the-way Fuji are excellent and very over burnable. Go here for a media review: http://www.cdspeed2000.com/go.php3?link=cdrmedia_testresults.php3

You can have the best drive in the world, but if your software is poor then the drive is poor, buying good software is as important as buying the right drive, and from experience these are my personal recommendations in order of importance: CloneCD, CDRWin, and Nero Burning ROM, these three are the cream of burning software so buy them when you buy the writer and you will have consistent, accurate results. (Nero Burning Rom comes with the retail versions of this drive)

I have kept this review light and not technical because unless you are very technically minded you would not understand the technology, I'm not saying you don't understand it, just that; is it really that important. I think all you need to know is that this drive is great! It performs well, gives consistent results and has enough speed to cater for the most impatient of us.

Just buy it and you will not be disappointed. Highly recommended