| When did you last spend a weekend taping music for | | | | application CDs with members of the family or taking |
| a special occasion or your daily commute? | | | | discs from place to place. |
| Chances are you haven't done this since the turn of | | | | A CD emulator converts an application disc into a |
| the century, because you've been using MP3s. | | | | "virtual CD," or a file that you store on a laptop |
| With their play lists, search functions, and high-quality | | | | computer or a USB device and play just like a physical |
| portable music, MP3 players are the superior | | | | CD. There's no need to load the physical disc -- simply |
| technology. Few of us wax nostalgic for the days of | | | | click on desktop icon to launch a favorite application. If |
| muffled audio tapes, which offered limited play time, | | | | you're so inclined, you can have several virtual CDs |
| took up space, and wore out quickly. | | | | running simultaneously. |
| For mobile music lovers, the times have never been | | | | Although it emulates, or "acts like" a physical CD, a |
| better. But video gamers and parents of small children, | | | | virtual CD operates directly on the hard drive, |
| still dealing with the physical media of application CDs | | | | improving playback times by up to 200% and |
| and DVDs, may struggle to manage the | | | | eliminating wear and tear on the CD-ROM drive. It can |
| ever-expanding disc collections they share with other | | | | be shared over a network, customized to contain |
| people. | | | | multi-disc sets and expansion packs, and organized |
| More often than not, shared discs are treated badly. | | | | with other virtual CDs in a searchable library. |
| Left out their cases and exposed to kids and pets, | | | | CHOOSING THE RIGHT CD EMULATOR |
| game and application CDs are soon turned into | | | | Most commercial CD emulators cost between $30 |
| expensive coasters, damaged beyond all other | | | | and $60 -- a bargain compared to many game titles, |
| usefulness. Traveling with disc collections can create all | | | | and a sound investment if you're able to spare just a |
| kinds of logistical nightmares -- for instance, volume 4 | | | | few of your application discs from abuse. But while |
| of an educational set may simply disappear when the | | | | nearly all CD emulators have certain basic features in |
| family goes on vacation. | | | | common, not all offer the same usability and disc |
| MP3-LIKE CONVENIENCE FOR DISC-BASED | | | | support. |
| APPLICATIONS | | | | If you're interested in purchasing an emulator, you might |
| A CD/DVD emulator brings MP3-like ease use and | | | | want to download some evaluation software first to |
| portability to video games, CD-ROM clip art collections, | | | | determine which product works best with the discs in |
| educational software, and other disc-based | | | | you collection, and decide which brand gives you the |
| applications. It's the perfect solution for anyone sharing | | | | best value for your money. |