WHAT'S HOT: Number one in our CD-R mastering tests, the 48X/12X/48X Pacific Digital Mach 48 posted stellar numbers. The drive took just 2 minutes, 36 seconds to write 650MB on the fly, which ties the time posted by the Universal Buslink CD-RW 48x12x48. It also logged 1 minute, 6 seconds for packet writing 100MB to a CD-RW disc, tying with four other drives.

Pacific Digital offers a generous 12 hours of daily toll-free technical support.

WHAT'S NOT: The company has pared its formerly generous software bundle. In addition, the drive's CD-ROM read speed is slow. All of the drives currently vying for our charts report 40X or 48X CD-ROM read speeds. However, though the Mach 48 carries a 48X read rating, it took 3 minutes, 21 seconds to install the first disc of Microsoft Office 2000 Small Business Edition--21 seconds behind the top drive, the 40X-rated Benq 3210P. But it tied for second in our digital audio extraction test--just 1 second behind the number one model, the Sony CRX195A1.

WHAT ELSE: The software bundle still covers the basics, with Ahead Nero Burning ROM 5.5 for CD mastering tasks, and InCD 3.2 for packet writing. Pacific Digital says this drive supports the Mount Rainier specification. According to the Mount Rainier site, this standard is supposed to enable "native [operating system] support of data storage on CD-RW," thus eliminating the need to install hardware drivers and CD-burning programs, like those from Roxio and Nero, for you to be able to drag and drop files. However, Windows XP doesn't support the standard, though Microsoft does plan to add it to the next full upgrade of Windows.

UPSHOT: An inexpensive price and fast write speeds make the Mach 48 CD-RW an excellent value.

SUMMARY

Pacific Digital Mach 48 CD-RW 48X/12X/48X, IDE, internal, 2MB buffer, buffer underrun protection, Mount Rainier support, Ahead Nero Burning ROM 5.5 and InCD 3.2, one-year warranty, 12-hour daily tech support. $100 888/333-6732 www.1pdc.com