What's the best external USB disc reader and writer to get?

Ant wrote
> Paul Heslop wrote

>>>>> My client would like to know what's the best portable external USB
>>>>> disc (both CD and DVD) reader and writer/burner for PCs (mainly
>>>>> netbooks) from http://cdw.com/.

>>>> I prefer LG drives myself, less picky about the media.

>>> Any specific ones from
>>> http://www.cdw.com/shop/search/resul...=0&Find+it.y=0
>>> search results? I don't care about Lightscribe feature. I will read
>>> and burn a lot of discs.

>> The black and silver one in the middle is mine and it is great.
>> However looks may come into this as my system is black and silver
>> too, so it matches in looks.

>> The DVD RAM capabilities of these drives is weird and I gave up
>> trying to use it pretty quickly as I didn't really need it, I just
>> had some discs lying around. It really is a nice solid drive which I
>> have had for some time.

> I doubt I will use DVD RAM.

Yeah, I dont, basically because of the cost of the media.

> I read it is not even popular.

Correct.

> I just need to handle all discs for CDs (R and RWs), DVD (-,+,RWs), opeen for multiple sessions, closed sessions, etc.

They'll all do that fine.

Not clear what you are writing so many disks for. I used to do that
with the overflow from the PVR, essentially because I record quite
a bit more than I get around to watching. Makes more sense to buy
1.5TB drives and write those files to those instead of to DVDs.

I put the drives in a USB/eSATA hard drive docking station. Much better
than writing DVDs and very easy to change the drive as one fills up etc.

Rod Speed wrote:
>
> Ant wrote
> > Rod Speed wrote
> >> Ant wrote
>
> >>> My client would like to know what's the best portable external USB
> >>> disc (both CD and DVD) reader and writer/burner for PCs (mainly
> >>> netbooks) from http://cdw.com/.
>
> >> I prefer LG drives myself, less picky about the media.
>
> > Any specific ones from
> > http://www.cdw.com/shop/search/resul...=0&Find+it.y=0
> > search results?
>
> I'd check the reviews on newegg for any that appear in that cdw list and buy the one that looks best from cdw.
>
> > I don't care about Lightscribe feature.
>
> Yeah, its pretty useless IMO, but then I have a printer that will print on CDs and DVDs.

one feature I have never even tried to use. I suppose if somehow I got
some compatible discs I would try just for fun.


--
Paul (we break easy)
-------------------------------------------------------
Stop and Look
http://www.geocities.com/dreamst8me/

> > I just need to handle all discs for CDs (R and RWs), DVD (-,+,RWs), opeen for multiple sessions, closed sessions, etc.

> They'll all do that fine.

> Not clear what you are writing so many disks for. I used to do that
> with the overflow from the PVR, essentially because I record quite
> a bit more than I get around to watching. Makes more sense to buy
> 1.5TB drives and write those files to those instead of to DVDs.

Mainly computer datas like ISOs, etc. to install, copy, etc.
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> > > My client would like to know what's the best portable external USB
> > > disc (both CD and DVD) reader and writer/burner for PCs (mainly
> > > netbooks) fromhttp://cdw.com/.
>
> > I prefer LG drives myself, less picky about the media.
>
> me too

Just curious. Can these drives only require USB cables for power and
usage?

Ant wrote:

>>>> My client would like to know what's the best portable external USB
>>>> disc (both CD and DVD) reader and writer/burner for PCs (mainly
>>>> netbooks) fromhttp://cdw.com/.

>>> I prefer LG drives myself, less picky about the media.

>> me too

> Just curious.

Dont forget what that did to the cat.

> Can these drives only require USB cables for power and usage?

Nope.

Ant wrote:
>
> > > > My client would like to know what's the best portable external USB
> > > > disc (both CD and DVD) reader and writer/burner for PCs (mainly
> > > > netbooks) fromhttp://cdw.com/.
> >
> > > I prefer LG drives myself, less picky about the media.
> >
> > me too
>
> Just curious. Can these drives only require USB cables for power and
> usage?

no, probably not a good idea anyway due to the power strain. they have
a power pack and a usb connector

--
Paul (we break easy)
-------------------------------------------------------
Stop and Look
http://www.geocities.com/dreamst8me/

Mike S. wrote:
> In article <EbqdnTS9-aB0xV_XnZ2dnUVZ_r9i4p2d@earthlink.com>,
> Ant <ANTant@zimage.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> My client would like to know what's the best portable external USB
>>>>>>>>> disc (both CD and DVD) reader and writer/burner for PCs (mainly
>>>>>>>>> netbooks) fromhttp://cdw.com/.
>>>>>>>> I prefer LG drives myself, less picky about the media.
>>>>>>> me too
>>>>>> Just curious. Can these drives only require USB cables for power and
>>>>>> usage?
>>>>> no, probably not a good idea anyway due to the power strain. they have
>>>>> a power pack and a usb connector
>>>> Thanks. I borrowed a Lenovo portable DVD burner (doesn't read medias
>>>> well though) and it only had a USB cable (no power AC cable). Very nice
>>>> for portability!
>>> wow, I would be concerned about it pulling power from the machine. I
>>> have a small hard drive which uses usb power but it was designed that
>>> way. still not happy with it though. Even an old usb hub I had which
>>> worked solely by usb power sucked compared to using a powered one.
>> Why is pulling power bad? Aren't most USB devices like that like mice,
>> wireless network, etc.?
>
> Check the specs of some of the drive mechanisms used in these external USB
> thingies. They may use an ampere or more when writing - yet the USB port
> is spec'ed only to provide half that amount of current.
>
>
FWIW, I recently bought an ASUS drive at Best Buy that I'm quite pleased
with (so far); it plugs into _two_ USB ports to get the requisite power.

On 9/29/2009 12:21 AM PT, Paul Heslop typed:

>>>>> My client would like to know what's the best portable external USB
>>>>> disc (both CD and DVD) reader and writer/burner for PCs (mainly
>>>>> netbooks) fromhttp://cdw.com/.
>>>> I prefer LG drives myself, less picky about the media.
>>> me too
>> Just curious. Can these drives only require USB cables for power and
>> usage?
>
> no, probably not a good idea anyway due to the power strain. they have
> a power pack and a usb connector

Thanks. I borrowed a Lenovo portable DVD burner (doesn't read medias
well though) and it only had a USB cable (no power AC cable). Very nice
for portability!
--
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Ant wrote:
>
> On 9/29/2009 12:21 AM PT, Paul Heslop typed:
>
> >>>>> My client would like to know what's the best portable external USB
> >>>>> disc (both CD and DVD) reader and writer/burner for PCs (mainly
> >>>>> netbooks) fromhttp://cdw.com/.
> >>>> I prefer LG drives myself, less picky about the media.
> >>> me too
> >> Just curious. Can these drives only require USB cables for power and
> >> usage?
> >
> > no, probably not a good idea anyway due to the power strain. they have
> > a power pack and a usb connector
>
> Thanks. I borrowed a Lenovo portable DVD burner (doesn't read medias
> well though) and it only had a USB cable (no power AC cable). Very nice
> for portability!

wow, I would be concerned about it pulling power from the machine. I
have a small hard drive which uses usb power but it was designed that
way. still not happy with it though. Even an old usb hub I had which
worked solely by usb power sucked compared to using a powered one.

--
Paul (we break easy)
-------------------------------------------------------
Stop and Look
http://www.geocities.com/dreamst8me/

> > >>>>> My client would like to know what's the best portable external USB
> > >>>>> disc (both CD and DVD) reader and writer/burner for PCs (mainly
> > >>>>> netbooks) fromhttp://cdw.com/.
> > >>>> I prefer LG drives myself, less picky about the media.
> > >>> me too
> > >> Just curious. Can these drives only require USB cables for power and
> > >> usage?
> > >
> > > no, probably not a good idea anyway due to the power strain. they have
> > > a power pack and a usb connector
> >
> > Thanks. I borrowed a Lenovo portable DVD burner (doesn't read medias
> > well though) and it only had a USB cable (no power AC cable). Very nice
> > for portability!

> wow, I would be concerned about it pulling power from the machine. I
> have a small hard drive which uses usb power but it was designed that
> way. still not happy with it though. Even an old usb hub I had which
> worked solely by usb power sucked compared to using a powered one.

Why is pulling power bad? Aren't most USB devices like that like mice,
wireless network, etc.?
--
"I'm not afraid of insects taking over the world, and you know why? It
would take about a million ants just to aim a gun at me, let alone fire
it. And you know what I'm doing while they're aiming it at me? I just
sort of slip off to the side, and then suddenly run up and kick the gun
out of their hands." --Jack Handy from Saturday Night Live
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )