CD-RW, or rewriteable diskettes, are great for those who need to back up their data constantly, but do not wish to keep buying new diskettes. CD-RW is also great for adding more data until you fill the free space on the diskette. But, if you no longer need the data on the diskette, you can overwrite it with more useful data. This means you can reuse the diskette as many times without compromising the safety or integrity of your data.
This reusable feature is not available on all CD Rom diskettes. In fact, if you do not buy diskettes that state the RW, once you copy information onto the diskette that is all you can do. You cannot add more or even reuse it to store new or extra data later.
However, some people prefer this feature because they know it is a safety valve for accidental or careless overwriting of important data. A good example is your ten-year-old writing his favorite music over the budget for the modern languages group.
It is easy on your budget to buy both CDs, and a CD Burner used for writing data on the diskette. In fact, anyone who needs either will be able to afford them. When they first came out, they were expensive, now years later, they are a cheap solution for backing up data. It is likely that if you have just bought a newer model, your computer comes with a CD burner in the package. For those that own older computers, you can run out and buy a burner and a few diskettes without breaking the bank.
Floppy diskettes were once the choice for backing up data, however, CDs have proven to be more reliable, accessible, and have a longer lifespan. If you need to back up important information, storing them on CDs is a good choice.