Have CDs and DVDs to Burn? Try the Xerox Disc Duplicator

I often have to duplicate 50 or more training CDs or DVDs for a local nature organization where I volunteer. In the past, I'd use my PC and my test system, and swap out discs for an afternoon.

I've dreamed of using a stand-alone disc duplicator, but the cost -- $1000 or more -- stopped me cold. That changed recently when I tried a reasonably priced Xerox DVD, CD, and Blu-ray duplicator.

For under $300, the two-disc model (one reader, one burner) can burn 700MB CDs in 3 minutes at 52X and 4.7GB DVDs in 6 minutes at 20X. The duplicator has 256MB of buffer memory that reduces buffer under-run errors.

There are two ways to create a master image: I can burn a disc's contents directly onto the duplicator's 160GB hard drive, or drag and drop image files directly from a PC to the duplicator using a USB 2.0 connection. Once you've transferred the files, the PC doesn't need to stay connected.

If you have the bucks, you can get more writeable drives, all the way from one reader and three burners for about $520 up to a model with one reader and 15 burners (about $1700).

Xerox's one-reader-and-three-burner model.

The one thing missing from Xerox's disc duplicators is the ability to label the discs. For that, you'll need to wait for Xerox to release its just-announced models with LightScribe disc labeling. Unfortunately, it's too new, so I can't provide pricing, availability, or even a link.

Comments

The Aleratec 1:15 DVD/CD Tower Publisher SLS part # 260178 LightScribe Duplicator is available now at leading resellers, the link is as follows:

http://www.aleratec.com/al1dvtopusls.html

Technowiz

August 06, 2008

9:10 AM PT