CD-R drives make great authoring tools, but wouldn't they be much easier to use if you could access, save and delete their files just like the files on hard disks or diskettes? The Sony Spressa 940 CD-R drive lets you do just that.

The drive incorporates Sony's CD-R file system technology to use CD-R drives as if they were hard disks or diskettes. The CD-R drive seamlessly integrates into the operation system. The drive records at dual speed and reads at quad speed. The Spressa drive has a 1MB data buffer to reduce data buffer under runs. In case of data-transfer interruption, a disc recovery algorithm seals off the disc section in which the error occurred, and the drive can use the rest of the disc. Such errors can ruin a disc with other CD-R equipment.

The Spressa CD-R drive has an embedded SCSI-2 interface, a SCSI terminator, audio cable, a disk caddy, Corel CD Creator, and three blank CDs (five with the external version).

Internal, under $1,000; external, under $1,200
Sony Electronics
800-352-7669, 408-432-0190

If you like single-drive PD/CD-ROMs, you should enjoy the Panasonic PD/CD-ROM Libraries four times as much.

The libraries access rewritable 650MB PD discs and CD-ROMs at quad speed. The Panasonic LF-J50A supports up to two PD/CD-ROMs to hold up to 50 discs and 33.4GB of data. The Panasonic LF-J100A uses up to four PD/CD-ROMs, and stores up to 100 discs and 66.8GB. The libraries' 10-disc magazines hold either CD-ROMs or naked (without protective cartridges) PD discs. Their drives' micro-optical head automatically differentiates between a CD and PD (hence the name phase dual). Both models have SCSI-2 interfaces.

LF-J50A, $5,995; LF-J100A, $9,995
Panasonic Computer Peripheral Co.
800-742-8086 xPD, 201-348-7000

The TEAC CD-R50S CD-R drive writes as fast as it reads. While most CD-R drives read at quad speed and record at dual speed, the CD-R50S performs both in quad speed.

The drive has a 220ms average access time, 1MB buffer and Fast SCSI interface. It can process 650MB of data in around 15 minutes. The internal drive features a caddyless power tray for disc loading and supports all standard CD-ROM formats.

Price unavailable at press time
TEAC America
800-888-4923, 213-726-0303

The CMS Interact-4 CD-ROM changer holds four discs in a portable magazine, giving you access to up to 2.6GB of information. You can buy additional magazines to store more CD-ROMs. The quad-speed changer fits into a half-height 5.25-inch bay with an IDE interface, and features a typical disc access time of 210ms and a 600KBps data-transfer rate. The Interact-4 can swap CDs within two seconds.

$299
CMS Enhancements
800-327-5773, 714-517-0915

Samsung offers an eight-speed CD-ROM drive with a sustained data-transfer rate of 1.2MBps. The Samsung SCR-830 supports host transfer rates up to 11.1MBps. It's MPC Level 3-compliant and features an enhanced IDE interface. The SCR-830 has an average seek time of 145ms and a 128KB cache memory capacity.

$299
Samsung Electronics America
800-SAMSUNG, 201-229-4000

Aimed at the SOHO market, the Sony QTR-1SL minicartridges are Travan technology-compatible and hold 200MB native and 400MB compressed storage. The cartridges are based on the quarter inch cartridge (QIC)-80 format. Their protective backcoating guards against static, interlayer slippage and speed variation. They also have dual-layer antistatic drive belts.

$18.95
Sony Electronics
800-226-9433, 201-599-3533

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