INTRODUCTION
Purchasing a CD-ROM drive is generally a relatively easy task however can involve some considerations when purchasing.

TECHNOLOGY
Before considering purchasing a CD-ROM it is also good consider the other available options.

CD-R - CD-R or CD Recordable drives allow you to do everything that a standard CD-ROM is capable of doing however at the same time allows you to create your own CD's for backup. An excellent solution for anyone that is in need of a CD-ROM / backup solution.

CD-RW - Like a CD-R drive a CD-RW or CD Read/Write drive allows you to do everything that a standard CD-ROM is capable of as well as read and write to a CD-RW disc thousands of times instead of once like a CD-RW drive. While a little more expensive this is another great solution for backups..

DVD - DVD or Digital Versatile (video) Disc allows a computer to not only do everything that a standard CD-ROM drive is capable of doing but at the same time is capable of reading DVD Discs and DVD movies. For users who plan on playing games or watching movies on their computers this is an excellent addition.

INTERFACE
The first and foremost important consideration when purchasing a CD-ROM is the interface that the CD-ROM utilizes, such as IDE, SCSI, USB, Parallel or PC-Card.

IDE/EIDE – The most commonly used interface with IBM computers IDE/EIDE/ATAPI interface is found on all IBM compatible motherboards. This interface allows for a total of four devices to be connected.

When considering purchasing and IDE/EIDE/ATAPI CD-ROM drive it is important to verify that you have the available connections for the device.

SCSI – The only method with Apple computers and commonly used interface with IBM computers the SCSI interface allows for a total of seven devices to be connected to the computer and is a faster solution then the IDE/EIDE interface.

If you are user of an IBM compatible computer it is important that you ensure your computer has a SCSI interface already present in the computer. If not present you will need to install a SCSI card before being able to install a SCSI CD-ROM drive.

USB – A new solution for the PC and Mac the USB interface allows a user to quickly and easily install a device and supports up to 127 devices.

Before you can install a USB CD-ROM drive it is important for both IBM and Macintosh users to verify that a USB port is present on the computer. If not present a interface card will need to be installed.

Parallel – Solution available for PC computers, Parallel CD-ROM drives allow users that may not have the available resources or may have a portable computer to easily connect a CD-ROM drive.

PC-Card (PCMCIA) – Excellent solution for users utilizing a older laptop that does not have a CD-ROM drive to connect a CD-ROM drive to their computer.

TRANSFER RATES
Transfer rates can sometimes be a misleading when looking at purchasing a CD-ROM drive. The transfer rate of a CD-ROM drive is how fast a CD-ROM drive may be able to access the data from a CD. This speed is generally only going to be noticeable when installing a program or copying large amounts of data from a CD.

PRICE RANGE
For a CD-ROM drive, not to be confused with a CD-R, CD-RW or DVD drive can vary depending upon the speed and the interface the CD-ROM drive uses.

READY TO BUY
Once you have reviewed the appropriate information and believe that you are ready to make a purchase of a computer CD-ROM ensure that the source which you plan on purchasing the CD-ROM from is a reputable source and you have reviewed our section on what to look out for when purchasing over the Internet.