Define CD-ROM Drive
A CD-ROM drive, which stands for compact disc-read only memory, is a piece of computer hardware designed to read information stored on compact discs. CD-ROM drives come in a variety of speeds which determine how quickly the information on the disc can be read.
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Function
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CD-ROM drives act as a computer's compact disc player. The device is primarily used for playing audio CDs, or for allowing a user to install software contained on a compact disc. Data transfer speeds range from 1x, or normal speed, to 100x, or 100 times normal playing speed.
Benefits
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When CD-ROM drives first made their appearance in the majority of desktop computer systems, they were applauded for their ability to quickly read data stored on CDs. In the past, software installations had to be done via a floppy disk, which proved to be time consuming.
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Limitations
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Over the years, CD-ROM drives have been replaced by CD-R drives, which allow users to burn information from computer to disc---something a CD-ROM drive is incapable of doing. With the large-scale shift from CDs to higher-capacity digital versatile discs (DVDs), the CD-ROM drive has been rendered virtually obsolete among modern computers.
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References
- Photo Credit cd-rom image by Falk from Fotolia.com
