OFF: CD-R media: testing for quality - Hardware Reviews - CNET.com

[Karen Kusic]

Good info!  Link below.

So you thought picking up some CD-R media on the way home from work was
going to be
easy. Dreamer! Instead, you're standing in the store, confronted by a
dizzying array of choices:
discs that are gold, silver, red, blue, or even purple; speed ratings;
pricier certified discs and
less expensive noncertified ones; and brands ranging from household
names to house labels.
Are any of these differences worth worrying about, or can you just grab
the color that suits your
fancy and get on with your life? CNET asked the experts--and tested the
actual media from four
common brands: CompUSA, Imation, Sony, and Yamaha. We found that while
CD-R media in
general are pretty reliable, there are definite differences in quality
and some easy ways to avoid
bad experiences.

http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/0-1091-8-8020643-1.html