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