HEWLETT-PACKARD (HP) CD-Writer Plus 8200E

Circa 1999

Use Case:

Designed to add CD reading and writing capabilities to desktop computers via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

• Primary Uses: Users could permanently save files, back up data from their hard drives, create music CDs, and share data with others using standard CD-ROM drives.

• Software Features: It came bundled with software like Adaptec DirectCD and Easy CD Creator, which allowed for simple drag-and-drop file transfers, treating a CD-RW disc much like a large, erasable floppy diskette.

Historical Significance:

Holds historical significance as a key consumer-level external drive that helped popularize CD-RW technology during the transition period from floppy disks and purely read-only CD-ROMs.

• Mass Market Adoption: HP was the market leader in CD-RW drives at the time and aggressively priced products like the 8200 series to make writable storage accessible to a broader range of home and business users.

• USB Connectivity: It was an early example of an external peripheral leveraging the then-emerging USB standard for easy connectivity, allowing users to share the drive across multiple PCs without complex internal installation.

• All-in-One Solution: By bundling comprehensive software for data, music, and backup (like HP Simple Trax and Easy CD Creator), HP offered a complete solution that simplified the process of managing digital media for consumers.

NOTE: Original documentation available upon request.

(H-cm x W-17.5cm x D-28cm)