The PlexWriter 16/10/40A comes with everything any user would need to set up the product in their computer. It includes an IDE cable, screws, two manuals, a software CD and even a spare jumper just in case you loose the original. Also included are Verbatim CD-R and CD-RW discs rated for a maximum recording speed of 16X and 10X, respectively--perfect for this drive. If you've ever had a case where a product requires an accessory that isn't included, you won't have that same case with the PlexWriter 16/10/40A.

The drive is of standard CD-ROM size and fits into any 5 1/2" bay on your computer. There are labels that are clearly printed on the top for cable orientation and jumper settings, which is pretty much expected out of any CD-ROM drive these days. Something that you might not expect to see on a CD-ROM drive is the tiny exhaust fan at the rear; this is a clear sign of Plextor's commitment to quality, since it ensures that the innards are adequately cooled to prevent hardware failures.

Powering Up
Installation of the drive was a snap, especially when Plextor included everything needed for the procedure. Windows detected the drive without a hitch and I was on my way to installing the included software.

Plextor includes a copy of Adaptec's Easy CD Creator 4 CD mastering software along with DirectCD. Easy CD Creator 4 is my personal favourite for copying personal files onto a CD because of how easy it is to use--anyone from beginners to advanced users can make their own data and audio CD's from their own files with simple drag and drop simplicity. The PlexWriter 16/10/40A also comes with LiquidAudio, a program for organizing your music and to either play or write them onto a CD--a waste of space, in my opinion--and Plextor Manager 2000, a collection of utilities such as DiscDupe 2000, which allows the user to make identical copies of their own CD's-perfect for backing up software. Plextor Manager 2000 also allows for tweaking your Plextor drives however you wish, a welcome feature for advanced users.

The 16/10/40A had no problems reading any of my CD's and did great when I used it to burn a few of my CD's; not once did I receive any problems--especially not the buffer under-run error. When I used CDRWIN and enabled BURN-Proof, I managed to burn from a network drive without a hitch-something that I find to be very convenient, especially when I know that I should have no problems clogging up the network when I'm burning.

My only complaint with the 16/10/40A's functionality is the fact that it takes a very long time, at least 10 seconds in my mind, for the disc to be ready after it is inserted into the drive. This is very slow and very annoying, especially when compared to the 3 or so seconds that my Pioneer DVD-106S takes!

By the way, the components of Plextor Manager 2000, mentioned above, also supports BURN-Proof.

On to: The Tests