# Computer Purchase Advice Needed: CD-RW or DVD??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2000, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584 "2000-11-17T13:32:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![H8\_2\_W8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c77e96/32.png) [@H8\_2\_W8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/H8_2_W8)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/1 "2000-11-17T13:32:49Z")
It is time to buy a new computer, and many have CD-RW or DVD (or both) but I don’t know which is better, or if I need both. On the surface, I don’t think I would watch a movie on my computer, and since I cannot record to DVD (or can I on the computer?) I would think the CD-RW would be better. At least with it I could keep camcorder files and digital camera snapshots, etc. But, somewhere I read that the industry is moving towards computer programs on DVD instead of CD. True or false? Does it really matter since most programs can be downloaded from the internet anyway? Also, while DSL (and Cable Internet) is not currently available in my area, are there any computer considerations I need to make now so I’ll be ready down the road (specific network cards, ports, etc)? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![starfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@starfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starfish)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/2 "2000-11-17T14:07:33Z")
I agree that the CD-RW is the better choice if you only get one. When you get the DSL or Cable Internet, they will sell you what you need. They will be different so don’t bother now. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/3 "2000-11-17T15:20:29Z")
You can get a DVD Writer…🙂 Cost of blanks is still pretty pricey. cd writers ? Sure, they are pretty cheap, under $100 now for the slower ones. figure 30 minutes to write a cd at 2x & do the math from there for 8x, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/4 "2000-11-18T02:46:43Z")
You can have it all. Panasonic just announced CD/CDRW/DVD/DVD-RAM drive. It does EVERYTHING. it can read/write CDs, and write DVD-RAM disks (4GB, if I recall) and play back DVDs. If I had to get just one drive, I’d get a CDRW. DVDs are too expensive, both for watching movies and for DVD-recordable storage. What ever happened to those promises the studios made about $5 DVD movies? There’s nothing coming out of Hollywood lately that I’d pay $25 to watch. Prices may come down on storage media, but have you ever heard of the Hollywood movie cartel lowering prices? ---
**Author:** ![peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peace)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/5 "2000-11-18T02:53:13Z")
I do not know of a single thing CDR/W drive can’t do and DVD drive can. In short, a CDR/W can play any disk, and do any recording. That’s what mine says in the manual (I didn’t check it myself, perhaps they lie). ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/6 "2000-11-18T03:31:17Z")
> [@](#): > > In short, a CDR/W can play any disk, and do any recording. That’s what mine says in the manual (I didn’t check it myself, perhaps they lie). All CD-RW drives can read/write CD-R and CD-RW, and read CD-ROM. Some can also read DVD - you might look into one of those drives. There are even some models that write DVD-RW or DVD-RAM, like the one **Chas.E** mentioned, but we’re getting into $500 range here. (Not all DVD-RAM drives can write CD-R or CD-RW though) I agree that CD-R is more useful than DVD if you have to choose between them. There are some software distributed on DVD, but they are usually software that come with huge amounts of data, like encyclopediae and road maps. You can get that kind of information on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![DrDoom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DrDoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDoom)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/7 "2000-11-18T03:39:18Z")
Definitely agree with the CD-R/W option. Purchased a laptop PC with DVD ($700 incremental) and it is absolutely usless. Tried to watch some movies with it, really not the way to enjoy a movie. In hindsight, I don’t even know why I went for it? ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/8 "2000-11-18T03:44:58Z")
simple, buy both if you have the option – if not, what do you want to do, watch movies or copy CD’s – make your decision and you’ll know what you want to get. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/9 "2000-11-18T03:47:25Z")
Another thing to consider is that from what I hear, DVD drives are still notoriously buggy. I had a roommate that did tech support, and he said over half his calls were for broken DVD drives. Of course, my info is about 6 months old; things may be better now. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/10 "2000-11-18T07:08:44Z")
CDRW. There’s very little software distributed on DVD, although it is ramping up. Also- do you really want to camp out in front of your computer for 2 hours to watch a movie on a 17" screen, even if it is higher res? ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/11 "2000-11-18T16:42:45Z")
“Purchased a laptop PC with DVD ($700 incremental)” Yeah, they can add $1000 to a laptop. Strange, but if you get an external dvd drive for the laptop, its only about $250. But I saw one at the store for $165 (an open box). ---
**Author:** ![quasar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@quasar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quasar)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/12 "2000-11-18T18:39:08Z")
**Some questions** What is the difference between DVD-RAM and DVD-RW? Is there a DVD-R? What are the hardware requisites (video card, sound card, etc) that your computer must fulfill in order to allow you a decent viewing experience? Under optimal hardware conditions, can you reasonably expect to get as good video and audio as you would on, say, a standard Sony TRINITRON TV? * * * **Yoda** or **Yogurt**? A dilemma for the ages. ---
**Author:** ![peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peace)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/13 "2000-11-18T19:14:49Z")
I paid $180 for my Plexwriter 8/4/32/A about a year ago. It can read and write CD-ROM (data), audio(CD), video(DVD). CD-ROM drive (plain vanilla type, any PC had it for the last 10 years) can only read CD-ROMs only. If you mean DVD driver (by DVD-RAM), it can read CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs (movies). Blank CDR are less than $1/piece, CDRW, ~$3 (top quality). 4 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/14 "2000-11-18T19:17:25Z")
Some software is being distributed on DVDs, true, but by the time that it would have had a chance to catch on, they’ll have perfected the bluelight disks, and DVDs will be obsolete, too. Stick with something that you know you can use. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-purchase-advice-needed-cd-rw-or-dvd/41584/15 "2000-11-20T06:41:43Z")
I think a CD Recorder is far more useful then a DVD in a computer. I have a 17 inch monitor and a fairly comfy office chair. I also have a very cooshy couch and a 27 inch TV with surround sound. Where do you think I watch my movies? I have been thinging about DVD in a laptop mostly for travel . I could watch a movie on a plane or let my child watch a movie at night during a long car ride. Those are the only reasons I can see for getting DVD in a computer right now.