I'm not sure which one is more 'user friendly' Chances are, you've used a compact disk before. A compact disk can be used to store data or music. A CD-Rom drive is what most of you have in your computer and use to play CDs. A CD burner, on the other hand, can not only play CDs but can also make them from CD-R media. Store bought CDs are made by stamping Aluminum disks.
Different media work differently with different burners.
Some CD-manufacturers offer rebates which let you get them for even cheaper than this. Maxell in the rebate section of Best Buy usually has a really nice rebate going. The original maker of CD-Rs patened the process. Maxell's CDR-74 work wonderfully as music CDs in our burner and do moderatly well as data disks for Macs. Get all the files that you want to burn onto one computer.