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Strengths: Versatile (covers virtually all writable compact disc media)
USB / Firewire Compatible (both 4- and 6-pin fire wire cables provided)
Relatively economical ($99)
Decent software bundle
Weaknesses: noise emission while performing certain functions (such as audio CD playing).
a bit bulkier than more expensive portable models
Summary: 2004-12-19 01:11:48 + This external DVD writer is very versatile -- it can read, write, and rewrite on pretty all of the compact disc formats out there: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+R Double Layer. No one's ever going to use all of those formats, but having the flexibility definitely helps.
+ It offers both USB2.0 and Firewire connection capabilities.
+ connection and installation is very easy.
+ The Nero/InCD/PowerDVD software bundle is pretty easy to use and covers most of the chores well.
+ external design elegant. The box has rubber pads on the side that allow the unit to be tilted on the side for a smaller footprint on the desk top.
- Speed for formatting and writing not the fastest, but reasonable (writing 4.6GB to DVD+RW (4x disc) took 20 minutes to write and another 25 minutes to verify. At the same time, faster DVD writing media is more expensive and less readily available than the 1-4x variety.
- noise while performing certain tasks. For example, when playing audio CDs, the unit throttles like an airplane engine, generating a high-pitch hum that's hard to drown out even with headphones. The noise level is lower for CD-ROM applications and CD-ripping. When playing DVDs and writing DVD-RWs, the noise is very low. And while burning CD-RW, the unit is virtually silent.
- the unit is a solid brick; not very portable for laptop users on the run.
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