Rating: 
Summary: Computer users and CD Writers
Review: I've been using my HP CD Writer for over a year now and have encountered no problems with it. The only problem I have is with people who think that they have to buy Dell or another big name computer. I have used Compaq ever since I started using computers and would never consider buying anything else. Compaq, in my opinion, is the best computer on the market. It is always low priced and can't be beat. When people forget about the other brands and use Compaq they will be better off. Thanks for letting me post this.
Rating: 
Summary: Won't write to high speed media.
Review: I ordered this machine for my daughter with great expectations of burning a bizillion audio CD's over Christmas. No such luck.
For starters, the software caused a fatal exception fault when I tried to load it on my Gateway 2000. Finally got it installed after 3 uninstall/install attempts. Then the (...) thing wouldn't write to the high speed HP CD-R provided with the component by HP. You'd think that the company would know what I ultimately found out - it will only write to 1x - 8x media. Try to find those in bulk quantity. The HP REcord Now program was also very slow when I tried to burn a music mix from 4 separate CD's, although I never got it to write to any CD-R.I fought my through the Troubleshooting Guide and finally got an autoreply from the "24/7" customer service department. (...) Good riddance.
Rating:
Summary: Buyer Beware
Review: Do not buy this CD writer ... you'd be much better off with anything else. I had a hell of a time setting it up, and after much talk with HP tech support (who were no help), I finally got it to work after barebooting my system, taking my laptop off the docking station, not passing through the USB hub, and without task manager and any startup items. What a ROYAL PAIN! Everytime I have to burn a CD it takes forever. Now, it's even refusing to work with my specialized setup and insists on making this noise I've never heard before. JUNK!!
Rating:
Summary: Reliably unreliable
Review: At first, I wondered if I was the only person who was having trouble with this burner, but after reading some other customer comments here at Amazon.com, I am much more comfortable with my opinion on this product. It has been a hassle and a nightmare. This is a product that is far below HP's oridinarily high product standard. While installation is simple enough, the drive has functioned as little more than in external CD-ROM drive! At first, it would burn CD's reasonably well, and then it just stopped. Specific problems include locking up while burning (and thus, ending the burn), as well as other more distressing problems, like unusual noises. I've had to power cycle the thing just to get it to eject CDs. The unit is already pretty loud, but on top of that, burning a CD successfully is much akin to flipping a coin 3 times and getting heads each time. I've gone back and forth with HP tech support on this, and they had sent two separate replacements that had the same problems as the original. Finally, I worked out a compromise with HP, whereby they sent me an internal 9600 SCSI burner. I installed it, and it is like a breath of fresh air in terms of making CDs. It's fast, setup was ridiculously easy, and I have yet to encounter a single error or mis-burn. The same cannot be said of a Sony internal IDE burner that I purchased for another machine; it refuses to operate correctly at it's maximum burn speed of 12X. Bottom line; If you want reliable CD burning, get a SCSI drive. I have used both external (6020e) and internal (9600i) HP SCSI CDRW's, and they are bulletproof; reliable, fast, confidence-inspiring. Stay clear of the 8230e USB, unless you like collecting CD drink coasters. As for internal IDE burners, I feel that these are, once again, imperfect solutions that can still cause headaches. Even with all the improvements in the world of drive interfaces, SCSI is still the best, and if you want a perfect burn every time, I cannot recommend the 9600 SCSI more strongly.
Rating:
Summary: TERRIBLE PRODUCT
Review: i am now on my THIRD drive of this model. I bought the original just 4 months ago, and it stopped working 3 months later (wouldn't burn a full CD). HP then sent me a second one, which quit working 1 month later (wouldn't read audio track information correctly.) The third product HP sent me has NEVER worked, unless you burn at an excruciatingly slow 1x speed. And this is using an HP computer, HP disks, and all HP software. According to HP tech support "these things just stop working after a couple of months." If you like software that crashes 1 out of every 3 times, and hardware that works less reliably than that, then this drive is for you! Or, purchase this if you really like talking to tech support people, 'cuz you'll be on the phone with them weekly (and it's a toll call.) Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: READ A Waste of time, and Money!
Review: READ: I rated the burner 1 star due to the fact of Amazon did not have a "Not worth a Star" listed,reason why it is so messed up, is due to the software used in running the burner is very bad, tends to freeze a lot, and cause you to SHUT Your computer down, several times in the process of installation. If you don't like complicated setups, and programs, you should not purchase this product, it is a horrific excuse for a burner, and it is slow, and not a good buy, for an external burner. If you want better capability with CDRW's, you should take the time to get a reliable internal burner, they are faster, and are overall better. Don't buy Hewlett Packard burners, they do not specialize in that field of computer expertise. Save your money for something else.
Rating: 
Summary: Marginably OK, but many glitches
Review: My main complain is using DirectCD with this drive. Copying a few files work, but when I tried copying hundreds of files, it just hangs. And that was the main reason I bought this drive, to consolidate hundreds of my digital photos into CD-Rs. What a disappointment. The drive frequently gets confused and loses track of whether the drive is in use, even when the CD has been ejected. The unelegant but easiest way of solving this problem is to unplug and replug the USB port.
Rating:
Summary: Poor Product, Marginal Tech Support
Review: Bought this to support my home desktop (older Pentium running Windows 98)and work laptop (PII Running Windows 2000). Could not get the burner to work consistently. Tech Support was marginal in advising me that I did not have enough system resources (shocker I know). However, even w/ all processes shut down and with plenty of resouces it still didn't work consistently. Finally got fed up and bought a Iomega Predator and have had nothing but success with that product. Well worth the extra 50 dollars.
Rating:
Summary: Very Poor Performer
Review: A low point for HP. Unit would read okay, but would not record CDs. Destroyed several. Had the same problems that many have mentioned above. Very weak software from HP especially since they dropped Adaptec. Tech support not existent - just a series of generic info to do on a trial and error basis. HP should not put out poor products like this or just admit that you should not try to burn cds with a usb connection. Returned to store for refund.
Rating:
Summary: Junk!
Review: I wish I had read the other reviews before wasting two days of my life trying to set up this piece of junk. My experience was with a Gateway desktop machine, not a laptop. As stated above, it cannot recognize CD-R disks properly during "write" process, spits them out, thinks they are high speed. It consistently hangs up during the read process. Most importantly--HP SUPPORT IS NONEXISTENT!! Hours on the (long distance) "help" line would have been better spent on the home shopping network, although the suggestion that I email them with the problem was novel and humorous. You may as well carve CDs out of stone tablets if this is the only other option.
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