Rating: 
Summary: It works OK, but I've had numerous problems.
Review: I bought this as a gift for my girlfriend, she has an HP laptop. I am a techie and I have much experience with installing things like this. The initial install was problematic, after installing the drivers, the 8230 and the internal laptop cd stopped working. HP tech support tried to get it working but I ended up re-installing Win 2000. That really sucked.The HP "MyCD" software is not that great. I haven't tried Adaptec yet, but I'm planning on it. Tried to use the newer 80 min / 700MB CDR media, and all I got were coasters galore! oh well, back to 74 min, no big deal, but that sucks too. Next, we try to burn an audio CD using MP3's ripped using Real Jbox, and HP doesn't recognize them as being the right quality. So we convert the songs to different formats (WAV), build the track listing, and when we start recording, windows reports that we have unplugged the CD writer. We did no such thing! So then MyCD is crashed, we reboot and it doesn't remember the track listing! We must re-create the entire track list, and then it finally works. I have 4x Yamaha SCSI cd writers at home and at work, and this should have taken 1 hour. Instead it took 4-5 hours just to burn one CD! I wouldn't recommend this, If you want to seriously burn CDs get a regular burner using IDE or SCSI. If you need portability or laptop compatibility, then look into pc card burners, or firewire.. explore all of your options. Overall this hasn't been a pleasant product to work/play with.
Rating: 
Summary: An Intel Technician / Computer Junkie
Review: I agree with some of the earlier editorial reviews about the software they bundled with their CD-RW's. BUT to my supprise and pleasure HP released a VERY RELIABLE update to this software bundle. I run Windows 2000 Pro. and after loading the original bundled software, my system would re-boot automatically when I started it and it came up to loading the "Adaptec Direct CD" software. I of course would then remove the "Adaptec Direct CD" software and my system would work fine, but my burner wouldn't work. I continued to live without my burner for a few months, but consistantly looked for updates. Finally HP came out with the Burner software v.2.6(I think), I loaded this version and have not had a coaster since. Good comeback HP!! And DARN GOOD BURNER!!
Rating: 
Summary: What a Waste!!
Review: I look and try to figure out if the good opinions outweigh the bad. After only 3 hours of owning this product, I should have listened to the negative comments. They are all true. I bought the Cd-writer and was unable to install the driver needed for the USB port. I went through the instructions, read through the troubleshooting guide, and then, when all of that failed, I called Customer Support. This was even more disastrous. First of all, its a number in Montana that isn't listed in the booklets (you need to search the web). What they tell me is that they find that this specific CD-Writer is often not compatible with my type of laptop (and they don't know why) -- they basically told me to return it, since it will be no good. Now, according to the box and instructions, my computer should be perfectly equipped for this...but NO!!! To add, the competence level at HP's customer support is extremely low. Now I am off to find another one.... (not HP) Do yourself a favor and stay away from HP -- don't waste valuable time with them.
Rating: 
Summary: Not too shabby
Review: I installed mine a few days ago, and it has been working wonderfully so far. I had it up and running, and burning my first CD within an hour. Granted, it's a bit slow (that's more due to the USB), and the HP software isn't the best, but it does what it's supposed to. I needed an external to attach to my laptop, and this seems to have been an excellent choice.
Rating:
Summary: VERY GOOD
Review: This Cd-Burner is so good. I burn about a cd every day. I never broke any. They are all fonctionnal. I burn music cd, data cd and psx cd. Everything is going so good. Because it is external, i can bring it to my friend's home. The software they offer may be a little bad, but who cares, download Nero Burning rom and envoy.
Rating:
Summary: Reliability of HP product just getting worse.
Review: HP just use the same rebadged 3rd party drive which offers no function/performance improvemente since debut of 8200e series(that was 2+ years ago), only things that changed are the shell/cover & added more crappy burning software, basically 8230e is the same drive as now obsolete 8200e model. Upon install the HP burner, I experienced windows shut down problem for my Dell Win98 system, the tech support people at HP are just clueless & couldn't solve the problem. after less then 20 cd burning, now the drive just refuse to read any cd that I inserted. I then searched usnet newsgroup & found out that many people also experiencing various problems with HP burner, should have know better by checking newsgroup or cnet user opinion forum. This is my 2nd HP product (the other is a printer) that went south after light usage. I'll just steer away from HP product (especially burner) in the future & is now shopping for a plextor burner.
Rating:
Summary: Returned It
Review: This was a frustrating experience for me. I have other HP products and I like HP, but even several hours with their (non 800 number) tech support could not get this product to burn CD's. HP's final analysis-----the CD's I was using were inferior. Well, I just bought the Plextor PlexWriter 12/10/32A CD-RW and burned every one of those "inferior" cd's in less than 7 minutes per cd. I would stay away from this product and just go with Plextor. Study the reviews for the Plextor PlexWriter 12/10/32A CD-RW at cnet.com and save yourself time and hassle. Stay with "burnproof" technology. Your time should be spent burning CD's, not on the phone with long-distance tech support (who cares that it's a nickel a minute, it's still your money that's being spent, not to mention the phone time and the time it takes to return this product).
Rating:
Summary: pretty good burner...software a little weak
Review: I just got this burner today, and I already burned two cds coaster free. These cds weren't even of high quality, so i'm pretty surprised it burned as well as it did. The software is admittedly pretty weak, but i've used it, and it gets the job done. the burner itself seems pretty sturdy, good for moving it around and such as it is an external burner. i would give it 5 stars, but the software takes away just enough to push it to 4 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Hewlett Packard Customer "Service"???
Review: If you are thinking about buying this produce, chose Sony or some other brand. Not only does their software not work as advertised, but they have no customer service to speak of. You have to dial a long distance number, sit on hold for at least 30 minutes, only to be told: the problem is your computer, your ISP, etc., anyone but them. When they finally admitted to a software loading problem, and confessed that it does not come with the software to make the product work the way they advertise it should, their answer was: buy RW discs and keep trying! It takes 8 tries to make a disc, and forget about music discs - it cuts the last few seconds from most tracks. DON'T BUY THIS. In fact, steer clear of HP altogether and you will be much happier. If I could have rated it a ZERO, I would.
Rating:
Summary: Good for a USB Burner, but problematic
Review: Well I have had one for 2 months now and I have had mixed results. While there are small bugs (it is USB), my recording success has been 100% so far!!! I haven't made one coaster yet. Like other reviewers, I agree that the MY HP software is awful. I have switched over to Adaptec Easy CD Creator and it has worked like a charm ever since. I have had Windows 98 compatability issues as well at times, but for the most part, everything has worked well considering it is a USB connection. My reasoning in giving it 4 stars was that it is a solid burner for a USB connection. You can do a lot worst with other brands.
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