HP CD-Writer Plus 8100i

HP CD-Writer Plus 8100i

There's almost nothing more aggravating when working on a presentation or backing up data than a "disk full" error. You can't save it to a measly 3.5" diskette, and you don't want to lose your information in the branches of the directory tree of your hard drive. Now, even the most cash-strapped law offices have an affordable new option for storing data: CD writers.

CD writers are less expensive than just a few short years ago, and could prove to be a worthy investment in many law firms. I recently looked at Hewlett Packard's CD-Writer Plus. It can come to your rescue with its ability to save presentations or store data on CD-Recordable (CD-R) and CD-Recordable/Writable (CD-RW) media. And since laptops and desktops now come standard with a CD-ROM drive, a CD writer is a valuable asset to your hardware team. Working on a PowerPoint presentation? Easy. Save the entire presentation to the CD and make it readable for your laptop.

The HP CD-Writer Plus 8100i is equipped with several key features you'll want to have available to you. First, you have HP Fast Format, which can compress an hour's worth of formatting of CD-RW discs to write within five minutes -- a huge time savings. And forget about backing up to tape or zipping up information to several diskettes -- the HP Disaster Recovery utility can quickly restore your hard drive, files and operating system. To index your information, the HP Simple Trax can track and locate multiple versions of files on CD and easily back up files to CD. In addition to these features, the HP CD-Writer Plus can record audio, video and multimedia creations to share with your clients, partners and opposing counsel.

The HP CD-Writer Plus includes software that will automatically recognize the format of the CD in the HP CD-Writer Plus and walk you through the CD creation process. When done, the software helps you finish your CD by asking you whether it should be readable or available to accommodate more writing or recording.

If you're comfortable with the task of installing new hardware such as an internal IDE device, HP provides a simple "quick-start" poster to guide you. If you are not comfortable, I recommend you pay a local computer vendor to install it for you. Configuring the proper drive assignments can be a tricky process for the novice.

Toshiba Corporation
Hewlett Packard
(800) 810-0134
www.hp.com
PC

$325

Reviewed by Milton Hooper, litigation support specialist, Macon, Ga.

Apr/May '99 Issue

PROS
Use is almost fool-proof.

CONS
Installation can be tricky. Hire a professional if in doubt.

VERDICT
Great option for almost every firm.