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    How do I know if a notebook writes to cd's

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by cosmic ac, Oct 30, 2006.

  1. cosmic ac

    cosmic ac Notebook Consultant

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    This is an elementry question but newspaper ads and manufactures web sites are no help. Do all new notebooks write to dvd's and cd's or do they just read them? If not how can I tell which ones do.
     
    cosmic ac, Oct 30, 2006
    #1
  2. coriolis

    coriolis Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Pretty much almost 90% of all notebooks have optical drives that can write to dvds and cds, but you'll need to check, but guaqranteed, 100% will read and write cds and read dvds.

    Look at the optical drive description, it should state.
     
    coriolis, Oct 30, 2006
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  3. Dreamer

    Dreamer The Bad Boy

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    Actually, the most of the notebooks can be configured with either a DVD burner/recordable (write to CD&DVD) or a CD/DVD combo (write only to CD).

    So, you should look at the specifications
     
    Dreamer, Oct 30, 2006
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  4. vespoli

    vespoli 402 NBR Reviewer

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    cd-rw means that it can both read and write to cd-roms; dvd-rom means it can read cd-roms as well as dvd-roms. cd-rw/dvd-rom combo drives (common) can read dvds and cds but only write to cds. The other common format (dvd+-rw) can both read and write both dvds and cds. The +- factor between the dvd and the rw used to be important, but no longer, as suppliers are now build drives that can write to either media. Now common are DL (dual layer) which, using special media, are able to cram even more data onto a disk.

    99% of notebooks today can at least read cd-roms and dvd-roms as well as write to cd-roms.

    Most, as coriolis stated, are able to write and read cds and dvds.
     
    vespoli, Oct 30, 2006
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  5. matt.modica

    matt.modica Notebook Consultant

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    Almost all laptops made within the past 2 years have had at least a combo drive, meaning they could write to a CD. Now, the majority of laptops also include DVD burners.
     
    matt.modica, Oct 30, 2006
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  6. drumfu

    drumfu super modfu

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    where are you looking?

    when you buy a notebook, the spec for what type of Drive it has is plainly available.

    manufacturer websites, proper, won't list the drive type because usually you have a choice of what kind of drive, but if you go to site like, for example, dell's or hp's where you can config a notebook online, it's readily available what types of drives are an option.

    if all else fails, just look at the drive and it will have logos on it telling you what capabilities it has
     
    drumfu, Oct 30, 2006
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  7. cosmic ac

    cosmic ac Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks everyone I think I got it figured out now.
     
    cosmic ac, Oct 31, 2006
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