 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Burning CDs - For the Bookshelf Major Keary |
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The cost of CD burners is becoming affordable for many computer users. The
CD-R has, for many, become an essential tool for archiving, storing very large image files, and other
applications. If you are considering the purchase of a CD burner, or already own one and have problems using
it effectively, there is a good introductory book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating Your Own
CDs.
The first thing you should know is that the book is not about installing hardware; there is some passing
advice about what to look for when choosing a CD burner, but nothing about particular makes or hardware
installation issues.
What the book does address is how to use a CD burner, whether it is CD-R or CD-RW and the kind of software
you will need. There are different uses for CDs, including making backup copies of software; making extra
copies of music CDs; storing data, audio, and photographic files; creating multimedia presentations; creating
bootable CDs; and-as practice will teach you-making coasters. Each has its own requirements, which is what
the author writes about, even down to how long the process takes for various recording speeds and media
types. The inside cover carries a list of web sites that offer useful information, there is a tear-out card
of Quick Step Guides for various CD burning tasks, and a companion CD with some trial and shareware
applications.
The book's tutorial style is based on the use of Roxio's Easy CD Creator, which is described as the
most widely used burner application bundled with CD-R/CD-RW drives; locally the software is better known
under the name of adaptec. Following an overview of CD technology, which explains how the burning
process works, the book covers: Creating an audio or a data CD; making audio CDs from non-digital sources;
recording video on CDs; writing direct to CD; copying CDs; Multisession Cds; creating mixed mode CDs (audio
and data on the same CD; Creating CD labels; digital photo albums; and Troubleshooting.
A good introduction for users who want to know what's involved in burning CDs, rewritable CDs, and the
techniques for recording different kinds of media (data, photos, audio). For many it may the only reference
they will need.
| Terry Ogletree: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating Your Own CDs ISBN 0-7897-2492-8 Published by alpha books, 271 pp. + CD, RRP $49.95 incl. GST |
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Reprinted from the April 2001 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
