LightScribe offers nice alternative to stick-on CD and DVD labels

Q: I just bought a laptop that has a DVD burner with LightScribe. What is LightScribe and do I need special discs to use it?

A: LightScribe is a newer technology that allows your computer to etch an image on to your recordable CDs or DVDs using the laser in your CD or DVD drive. This is an alternative to adhering stick-on labels to the tops of your recordable CDs or DVDs which many times can cause problems with the computer reading the disc due to an imbalance when the CD or DVD is spinning in the drive.

Because LightScribe technology works only on discs with a special coating on them, you will definitely need to purchase special LightScribe CDs or DVDs in order to take advantage of the LightScribe features. These special discs will hit your pocketbook a little harder than normal recordable CDs or DVDs but the prices are falling rapidly.

One other thing to note. Just because you have a LightScribe drive doesn’t mean that you have to buy only LightScribe discs. Your LightScribe drive will still read and write normal recordable CDs and DVDs without any problems. You only need the special LightScribe CDs or DVDs if you want to create the laser etched image on the top of the disc.

This post was originally broadcast Friday, May 18, 2007 on Tech Talk with Noobie, a weekly radio show on WCBK 102.3 FM in Martinsville, Indiana. Tech Talk with Noobie airs every Friday between 11:30 a.m. and noon. If you have a question you would like Noobie to answer on the air, simply e-mail your question to .