The TDK 8x Indi's solid performance and ultra-quiet 45dB noise levels are by themselves more than enough to earn it praise. But when you factor in TDK's liberal 24/7 technical support policies, flashy animated installation aids, robust software bundle, and outstanding documentation, the Indi begins to look like a truly formidable contender. If you're looking for an internal burner, you won't find better.

Like the Plextor PX-708UF, the Indi ships with an array of Roxio applications that include the entire Easy CD & DVD Creator 6.1 suite, Drag-to-Disc, the PhotoSuite Lite image editor, and the DVDMax video player, all of which can be accessed through an integrated one-click TDK Launcher utility.

In addition to an Easy Install poster, the 8X Indi ships with a clever 64-page flipbook-style manual that contains a pair of well-written hardware and software guides printed back to back. The drive's bundled software CD adds Adobe Acrobat transcriptions of each guide, full hardware specifications, and a multimedia version of the Easy Install poster that features a computerized voice reading instructions over Flash animations of each illustration.

If all this isn't enough, TDK also provides registered users with 24/7 toll-free live telephone support (a rarity in the industry) and a well-stocked Web site filled with software downloads, FAQs, firmware upgrades, skins, product documentation, and a terrific live chat facility hosted by TDK support personnel.

Despite grueling competition, TDK has done a fine job of creating a product that distinguishes itself from the crowd. The 8X Indi gave us a lot to like.