Recommendations for External CD R/W Drive and Software, Please!

[Sesh]

Hi, Friends,
After four years of avoiding getting a computer at home (I have 4 in my office, and 2 in the lab, so I hate the sight of them!), I finally decided to take the plunge, and ordered SBC YAHOO DSL as well.
I am now thinking of getting a good external CD R/W drive with ripping software (the kind to convert audio formats from MP3 <-> WAV WMA CDA whatever).
Nothing too fanciful or expensive. What do you guys suggest?
Thanks for your help!
Sesh

[Ozzie Bob]

I bought a Yamaha (Internal) CD R/RW drive for my PC a little while ago, it hasn't missed a beat! :) I'm very happy with it. Maybe they have external drives too :confused: If so, consider Yamaha ;)

[anubisds]

:werd:
I have an internal yamaha too. I hear windows media player is a good piece of ripping software though i've no experience with it. Right now I use itunes to do it, but before I used musicmatch on my PC. worked pretty good

[Sesh]

Thanks, guys! I'm looking at Plextor and IOMEGA. Has anyone used any of those?
Sesh

[rana]

go with plextor.....they are the best.....

[Ozzie Bob]

Originally posted by Sesh
Thanks, guys! I'm looking at Plextor and IOMEGA. Has anyone used any of those?
Sesh My dad has an IOMEGA external drive. It's noisy as all heck, but it is very good, quick too, and just like my Yamaha, hasn't ruined any discs with 'burn errors' etc as some drives do :(
Although the IOMEGA software is a bit :confused: :o. Why, well, if you are compliling a music cd from many music cd's, the process is rediculous. You have to put them in one by one so the drive can read them, then, when it comes time to burn, you have to do the same thing ALL OVER AGAIN! :rolleyes: That is the only 'complaint' I have with an IOMEGA external CD burner.

[Ozzie Bob]

Almost forgot, I have a HP external CD Burner at work. It is ok. The power supply unit 'packed it in' within the a couple of weeks, but HP sent me a complete new drive, power unit, etc within 3 days! :D
The HP doesn't have burn protection though, so it has 'chewed' a few good CD's :o But shiz happens I guess.

In short, stay away from HP cd drives (if you can) ;)

[Tinman]

Go Lacie. Their externals are the top! 140 bucks for 52X write. USB 2.0 or Firewire. I've got their hard drive and their CD-burner, with a DVD-RAM on order. Definitely worth looking into!

L8

[Kenzbenz]

use a program called audiograbber. Pretty Good and easy cd-ripper.

[Mother Russia]

i got plextor in the office. plextor is the best!

[Sesh]

Thanks, guys. I think I'm going to go with Plextor - they also supply a whole lot of software to go with it...
Appreciate your help!
Sesh