Top 10 CD-RW drives

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By Melissa J. Perenson

(IDG) -- Though 20x and 24x drives now claim more than half the spots in the Top 10, 16X drives remain a compelling option for bargain hunters. Four 16X models earn places on the chart this month, including a newcomer, Samsung's SW-216. Another newcomer -- the 20X/10X/40X PCRW2010 from Philips -- debuts at number two, thanks to its strong performance and reasonable price (which is matched by three of the four 24X drives on our chart). Lite-On's 24x10x40x LTR-24102B has price and speed on its side, but its bare-bones documentation pushes it toward the bottom of the list.

Top 10 CD-RW drives

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1. TDK 24/10/40 VeloCD ReWriter: A speedy CD-R writer with top-flight performance results, the TDK 24/10/40 VeloCD ReWriter is a great choice for digital audio lovers and data users alike.
2. Philips PCRW2010K: Providing fast CD-R write speeds and application-installation times, this moderately priced drive is well suited to business use, and the daily support hours make it attractive for weekend use at home.
3. Samsung SW-216: Samsung's 16X drive features a low price and strong performance.
4. CenDyne Lightning 24x10x40: Among the least expensive 24X CD-RW drives available, the CenDyne Lightning 24x10x40 lives up to its name with excellent performance across the board.
5. Yamaha LightSpeed CRW2200EZ: The Yamaha LightSpeed CRW2200EZ packages great performance with an uncommonly strong software bundle.
6. LG Electronics GCE-8160B: LG's low price, reputation for reliability, and zippy speed make the GCE-8160B a great choice if you're in the market for performance that won't strain your wallet.
7. Sony CRX1611/82U: The Sony CRX1611/82U ranks as an adequate overall performer -- in spite of its sluggish times installing Microsoft Office and writing CD-R to an image. As a bonus, it includes back-up software, making it a good choice for data backup tasks.
8. QPS Que Internal 24x10x40x CD-RW: The QPS Que Internal 24x10x40x CD-RW is a speedy choice for a reasonable price.
9. Lite-On 24x10x40x LTR-24102B: If you need neither hand-holding during installation nor support after business hours, this speedy Lite-On model could meet your needs.
10. Iomega 16x10x40 Internal CD-RW: Easy installation and better-than-average digital audio extraction highlight Iomega's slightly pricey 16x10x40 Internal CD-RW drive.