Read, Write, and Dance Baby Dance....

With a half hearted smile that I gave to my wife as I open this present up on Christmas morning, it took another two days for me to muster up enough courage to try and hook it up to my computer. Much to my amazement, a child with some computer knowledge could have this working in 15 minutes. It's that simple.

I am talking about this Universal Buslink 52x24x52 CD-RW burner external drive. I simply read the instructions, putting the drive component on top of my computer running the AC cord to the wall socket the leaving the USB cord unplug from my computer. Next you download the BUSlink software that comes with it.The version that came with mine was the USB 2.0 version 2 software. With Windows 98 all you have to do is go Start, then to Find, click on the "D" drive it automatically bring up all the files from the CD and just click on Setup. Setup takes less than 2 minutes.

Next you put in the Nero CD, this software is the latest 5.5/10.13 version. This CD lets you have access to all the programs that this hard drive is capable of doing. Another way of installing these programs is click on your Start icon then go to Run click on that a small windows box will pop up. Type d:/setup and you'll hear the CD begin to spin and watch it install.

This BUSlink CD-RW is compatible for Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. This Burner is set up for high speed CD recording. Easy Windows Plug and Play. It is also compliant with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed standard with up to 480Mbits per second data base rate. The buffer under run technology is makes for a evenly balance transfer from disc to disc recording. There are two power cords with this system, one that goes to your wall socket to the back of the computer and the other USB power cord that goes to the back of this unit. There is no on or off switch, but when you turn your computer off the led light blinks.

System requirements:
Pentium II 266MHz processor or higher.
Microsoft Windows, 98SE, 2000, ME, or XP.
64MB Ram, 128MB or higher recommended for the best performance.
750MB Hard disk space available to install software and to copy your CD's.
CD-Rom or DVD-Rom drive for software installation.
USB 2.0 port and Driver required to burn those CD's at the highest speed.
OEM Brand is LiteOn
Average Access time: (CD) 80 ms typical
Cache Buffer: 2MB

Now that all the computer jargon is out of the way, and you have loaded all the software, plug in the USB plug to the back of your computer. Windows will recognize to you that a new hardware device has been found and will begin making a suitable driver for this unit. After it is finished it will ask you to reboot your system, do so.

You are now ready to burn new CD's. Since I have a lot of my favorite MPG3 sounds in my music files on my computer that I workout with, I decided that would be my first goal to do. I simply went a put a new RW-CD in the BUSlink burner unit. Clicked on Start went up to Programs, down to the Nero icon.

I then clicked on Nero Express, the recording window comes up. I clicked on Audio Music, then the files came up for where I want to go get my music from. I simply clicked on the songs and the Nero software lets you know how much time you have left on the CD you are about to burn. As I completed my selections I clicked on Finished then it takes you to the copy file. I clicked on Next and it began to analyze all my selections after that was completed you click on Burn.

My newly burned CD took six minutes to complete. After it was done I put it in my DVD player in my computer and I was amazed on the exact sound quality. I did come to find out though that this CD did not work in my CD stereo though. They next few days I have made a complete filing system on disc for my work that includes data folders and sub folders. You can easily make a regular data disc or a rebootable data disc. If your CD does not turn out like you plan, just go to the more button on the bottom of the main frame and click on erase information and just start over.

I have also learned by the instruction manual how to transfer my photos to disc as well. Through the Nero programs you can also make regular video CD's or Super Video (SVCD). You can also copy entire disc's for back-up files for your computer system through Window programs such as Microsoft Money or Word Perfect. I am gonna have to build a CD library now to put all my new CD's in. When this unit is copying music at the 24x rate the noise level is quiet, when writing data at 52x the rpm level the noise is a little of an annoyance.

This Universal BUSlink 52x24x52 CD-RW comes with a one year warranty against any defects. It is also very limited so please read all the information.

For Customer service call 636-363-2500 8am to 5:30pm PST.

For online support you can go to: support@buslink.com

For their web site go to: www.buslink.com

When going to their web site you can gain access to updated drivers and software just by clicking on drivers icon.