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WHAT'S HOT:

The 12/10/32S is the internal SCSI version of the PlexWriter 12/10/32A and the first SCSI drive to offer Sanyo's Burn-Proof buffer-underrun compensation technology. Burn-Proof helps prevent burning bad discs due to interrupted data flow. Plextor's exclusive AudioFS drivers let you copy audio tracks using the standard Windows interface. As with Plextor's other SCSI models (but not IDE models), the company's CD Res-Q disaster-recovery program is included.

WHAT'S NOT: The 12/10/32S's performance, while fast, was at the bottom of the 12X/10X/32X range. However, note that the Adaptec 2940 SCSI adapter we used for testing didn't support the faster Ultra SCSI standard that the 12/10/32S uses. We were unable to complete testing with the Adaptec 2906 adapter (a non-Ultra SCSI model device) that we normally use, due to crashes that we experienced when we tried to install the Adaptec software. Plextor says that if you don't use an Ultra SCSI connection with the 12/10/32S, the drive may be unable to achieve its top read speed.

WHAT ELSE: The software bundle includes Adaptec's Easy CD Creator 4.02 and DirectCD 3.01 for mastering and packet writing. The accompanying documentation is concise and comprehensive. The 12/10/32S is backed by a one-year warranty and tech support for 11 hours on weekdays.

BEST USE: As the fastest, most reliable SCSI drive we've tested to date, this expensive drive will be most desirable for those who already have a SCSI interface on their PC.

SUMMARY

Plextor PlexWriter 12/10/32S SCSI, internal, 12X/10X/32X, 4MB buffer, CD-mastering and packet-writing software, multimedia software; one-year warranty, toll-free support for 11 hours on weekdays. $379 800/886-3935 www.plextor.com