Someone please settle an argument for me. Is a cd-writer the same as a cd burner? I always thought they were the same thing but maybe I am wrong. And what is the difference between burning a disc and ripping a disc? I am really confused. Help!!!

To my knowledge you are correct and absolutely no difference for rip and burn. Sounds like an argument wanting settled? We can fix this, but you're gonna need a butter knife, a roll of duct tape, and a car battery

Guess I should have read the first part (where you said an argument needs to be settled) Boy I feel stupid now!!! We can fix this, but you're gonna need a butter knife, a roll of duct tape, and a car battery

Ripping and burning are the complete opposite, burning means putting files onto a cd, whereas ripping means taking them off...

Marty's right. Ripping is taking tracks off a CD/DVD. Burning is writing them TO a CD/DVD.