Computer Times
March 2002

Go to front page

Backpack Triple Play CD-Rewriter

The external backpack triple play CD-rewriter (Retail $190) from MicroSolutions, comes in two models, both supporting three interfaces: parallel port, PC Card, and USB. The only real difference in the two models is the rewrite speed. Model 193200 provides write, rewrite, read speeds of 8x4x32, while model 193250 provides 8x8x32.

 The backpack triple play CD-rewriter has a smart pass-through port (for your printer) so you never lose your printer when connected to the parallel port. To the best of our knowledge, it is the only parallel port cd-rewriter that creates a full CD in just 20 minutes with the added versatility of PC Card and USB connections, all in one convenient package. You will find all the software you need to create your own CDs right in the box.

In our opinion, MicroSolutions is the premier developer of external CD-ROM drives. We have been reviewing their products for several years and they just keep getting better. This latest offering from MicroSolutions has our highest recommendation as an Editor's Choice BEST Buy.

The backpack triple play CD-rewriter is great for:

• Publishing information on CDs
• Creating audio CDs
• Sharing spreadsheets, presentations and reports
• Downloading Internet files
• Saving and editing graphic images and photographs
• Disaster recovery
• Hard drive imaging

• Attach to USB port, PC Card slot and Parallel Port - perfect for desktop and notebook PCs
• Hot Pluggable with USB, PC Card and Parallel Port - attach and detach the drive without restarting your PC under Windows 95†, 98, Me and 2000
• Rewrite CD-RW, write CD-R and read CD-ROM discs
• Create your own custom CDs - both audio and data
• Works with disaster recovery and disk imaging software through the parallel port in DOS
• Includes CD creation tools software for both audio and data CDs
• Use CD-RW discs for up to 700MB of rewritable storage per disc
• Use CD-R discs for archiving or distributing up to 700MB of data
• Use CD-RW discs to update and rewrite data like a diskette
• MPC 2 compliant with USB, PC Card and EPP/ECP
• Device drivers for Windows 95†, 98, Me, 2000 and NT 4†) included
• Includes uninstall utility to remove software drivers from Windows
• Plays both CD-ROM program and audio CDs
• Can be daisy-chained with other backpack drives
• Smart pass-through port (for your printer) (for your printer) allows you to print without disconnecting the drive when attached to the parallel port
• Uses industry standard Universal Serial Bus (USB), PC Card and Micro Solutions' patentedparallel port interface technology
• Supports LPT1 - LPT3
• Also available: backpack CD-ROM, hard and diskette drives

• IBM compatible Pentium, or Pentium equivalent
• USB port, PC Card slot or standard EPP/ECP parallel port
• Microsoft Windows 95†, 98, Me, 2000 or NT 4†
• 16MB RAM min., 32MB RAM recommended
• 10MB free hard drive space per minute of music to be recorded

*Max. transfer speeds. Transfer speeds are dependent on the host PC.

**Recording speeds are not guaranteed. Records at 4x, 2x or 1x speeds on slower Pentiums.

†USB not supported under Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.

• USB Type I - 4X write, 4X rewrite, 6X read (max.)
• PC Card Type II -8X write, 4X-8X rewrite, 24X read (max.)
• EPP/ECP - 4X write, 4X rewrite, 8X read (max.)

2MB

Typical Access Time

350 milliseconds 12cm disc 1/3 stroke

High Sierra, ISO 9660, CD-ROM XA, Photo CD, MultiRead CD-RW, CD-R and CD-audio format

CD-RW, CD-R

CD authoring and CD editing tools software

• 1X, 2X, 4X, 8X** (193200)
• 1X, 2X, 4X, 8X** (193250)

• 2X, 4X** (193200)
• 2X 4X, 8X** (193250)

• 32X - 1.0MB/s max. with USB Type I
• 2.5MB/s max. with PC Card Type II
• 1.2MB/s max. with EPP/ECP

14 watts, universal power supply included

100 - 240 VAC

41°F - 95°F (5°C - 35°C)

120,000 POH @ 20% utilization

UL, CSA, FCC class B, CE, TÜV, SEMKO

• 2 3/16"(h) x 7 1/16"(w) x 11 3/4"(l)
• 5.6cm (h) x 17.9cm (w) x 29.8cm (l)

• 4lbs, 8oz. (2067g);
• power supply - 8oz. (227g);
• parallel port cable - 5oz. (142g);
• PC Card and cable - 3.3oz. (95g);
• USB cable - 2.5oz. (69g)

Warranty 1 year

To find great prices on hardware and software we recommend you start with Office Depot. Just click on the Office Depot ad below and you will be connected directly with Office Depot on the Internet.

Go to top of page