Primary MicroBoards GX-1 Disc Publisher

Advantages: "works" with Mac and Windows
Disadvantages: Too many to list.

...To put it simply, this is a horrible bit of kit. Now, going into more detail: - The software (Discribe) is glitchy at best (running under OsX 10.4). - The drivers (should you decide not to use Discribe) refuse to work with other programs (again, under OsX). Even though the manual says that you can install the drivers and print from any application (I tried Photoshop CS3) the printer will tell you "out of discs" even though you've fed it with discs. -The hardware is terrible. >Build quality is very low (bits will come unglued, yes, it is GLUED together!) >The CD holder has some weird design whereby you need to load 5-discs flat and then the rest at some angle (no mention of this in the manual - contact their support after days of frustration to find this out) >Speed!!! It is ludicrously slow! If you're burning, you'de be better off... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Looks nice, software is well appointed.
Disadvantages: Unreliable, expensive re-badged cartridges, noisy

...Very poor experience over the last 12 months with the DX-1. Never reached 48 speed CD burn, usually between 16-24x speed. The printer typically lost register on every other disc and in order to use the MB branded rather than HP ink cartridges there's a barcode on each cartridge that increases the cost from £30 to £50. Not once did this unit burn 100 discs unattended, it typically varied from 4 to 15 discs, requiring manual intervention due to: a) 'invalid ink cartridge' even though I religiously (stupidly?) stuck with the branded carts. b) sync cache error very frequent burn fault. c) discs misfed in the drive tray, requiring the stack to be removed. d) print transport jumping requiring a restart of the unit. In spite of running this unit on many different workstations, and with many different media types it never failed... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Inexpensive, looks great, relatively lightweight and easy to travel with
Disadvantages: Poor ventilation, dim display, audible fan noise, not suitable for video gamers

...I had been searching for a fast, lightweight laptop for a couple of months, and came across the Acer Aspire 5000 not long after giving up when my funds were running rather low. FIRST IMPRESSION Upon booting, you are required to create 4 backup discs, which is a really good idea considering the reliabilty of EVERY machine out there. (Even the best are prone to failure at some point. I felt this was a good start, and when I started to properly use it, i realised this was a very fast, efficient machine. BASIC SPECS What first attracted me to this laptop, effectively the entire Aspire series, was their specs: 64bit CPU, 1GB RAM, 100GB HDD, Dual DVD Burner were standard with all of them. NON-GAMING MACHINE The first, of few, disappointments I had with this machine is its incapability to run computer games. Sure, it can run some... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful