| When was the last time you spent a weekend | | | | collections, educational software, and other |
| taping music? Music for a special occasion or | | | | disc-based applications. They're the perfect |
| maybe just a little something to help you | | | | solution for anyone sharing application CDs |
| through the daily grind of your commute? | | | | with members of the family or transporting |
| | | | discs from place to place. |
| Chances are you haven't done this in a while | | | | |
| -- maybe not since the turn of the century -- | | | | You'll need a "CD emulator" to convert an |
| because long ago you switched to MP3s. | | | | application disc into a virtual CD, or a file |
| | | | that you store on a laptop computer or a USB |
| With their play lists, search functions, and | | | | device and play just like a physical CD. |
| high-quality portable music, MP3 players are | | | | There's no need to load the physical disc -- |
| such a superior technology, that few of us | | | | simply click on desktop icon to launch a |
| wax nostalgic for the days of muffled audio | | | | favorite application. If you're so inclined, |
| tapes, which offered limited play time, took | | | | you can have several virtual CDs running |
| up physical space, and wore out quickly. | | | | simultaneously. It seems like a silly notion, |
| | | | but gamers in particular like to keep |
| For the mobile music lover, times have never | | | | multiple titles loaded so they can hot swap |
| been better. But video gamers and parents of | | | | between virtual CDs. |
| small children, still dealing with physical | | | | |
| CDs and DVDs for games and disc-based | | | | Although it emulates, or "acts like" a |
| applications, may struggle to manage -- and | | | | physical CD, a virtual CD operates directly |
| protect -- the ever-expanding disc | | | | on the hard drive, improving playback times |
| collections they share with others. | | | | by up to 200% and eliminating wear and tear |
| | | | on the CD-ROM drive. It can be shared over a |
| Often, shared discs are treated badly. Left | | | | network, customized to contain multi-disc |
| out their cases and exposed to kids and pets, | | | | sets and expansion packs, and organized with |
| game discs are soon turned into expensive | | | | other virtual CDs in a searchable library |
| coasters, damaged beyond any real usefulness. | | | | with a Windows Explorer-like directory tree. |
| Traveling with disc collections can create | | | | |
| all kinds of logistical horrors -- for | | | | CHOOSING THE RIGHT CD EMULATOR |
| instance, volume 4 of an educational set may | | | | |
| simply disappear when the family goes on | | | | Most commercial CD emulators cost between $30 |
| vacation. | | | | and $60 -- a bargain compared to many game |
| | | | titles, and well worth the price of admission |
| MP3-LIKE CONVENIENCE FOR DISC-BASED | | | | if you're able to spare just a few of your |
| APPLICATIONS | | | | discs from abuse. But while nearly all CD |
| | | | emulators have certain basic features in |
| Virtual CDs bring MP3-like ease use and | | | | common, not all offer the same usability and |
| portability to video games, CD-ROM clip art | | | | disc support. |