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

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.

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

>>> 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?

Because the device stops working properly when it cant get the power it needs.

> Aren't most USB devices like that like mice, wireless network, etc.?

They dont take enough to matter.

> >Why is pulling power bad? Aren't most USB devices like that like mice,
> >wireless network, etc.?

Pulling power risk blowing the USB fuse and they are hard to source
and replace, so for most users and laptops that port is a write off.
Also some USB chipsets may be a bit picky about working with
some external USB HD's.
Because of this I gave up and went for eSATA.

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
> > >
> > > 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 just feel with this kind of gear a nice steadypower supply is better
and less likely to cause problems. With that usb hub things just
worked when they wanted. It could be an age thing of course, I am
talking quite a while ago. I think if you want to connect this HD to
an older system you have to use a special lead which has two usb
connectors

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

cjt wrote:
>

> 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.

yeah, that is how this little HD would work. as is it plugs into a
port on this computer as the two are built for each other. I am still
not happy about it.

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

On 9/29/2009 12:19 PM PT, Rod Speed typed:

>>>>>> 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, especially for a netbook!
>
>>> 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?
>
> Because the device stops working properly when it cant get the power it needs.
>
>> Aren't most USB devices like that like mice, wireless network, etc.?
>
> They dont take enough to matter.

Interesting and thanks (and everyone else who replied). I wasn't aware
of drives using that much power. I thought by now, USB can handle well.

Does USB3 fix these power issues?
--
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/\___/\
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| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
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Ant wrote:
> On 9/29/2009 12:19 PM PT, Rod Speed typed:
>
>>>>>>> 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, especially for a netbook!
>>
>>>> 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?
>>
>> Because the device stops working properly when it cant get the power
>> it needs.
>>> Aren't most USB devices like that like mice, wireless network, etc.?
>>
>> They dont take enough to matter.
>
> Interesting and thanks (and everyone else who replied). I wasn't aware
> of drives using that much power. I thought by now, USB can handle
> well.
> Does USB3 fix these power issues?

Doesnt fix them, but the detail has changed, particularly on max power the device can take.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usb3#USB_3.0

On 10/1/2009 12:10 AM PT, Rod Speed typed:

>>>>>>>> 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, especially for a netbook!
>>>>> 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?
>>> Because the device stops working properly when it cant get the power
>>> it needs.
>>>> Aren't most USB devices like that like mice, wireless network, etc.?
>>> They dont take enough to matter.
>> Interesting and thanks (and everyone else who replied). I wasn't aware
>> of drives using that much power. I thought by now, USB can handle
>> well.
>> Does USB3 fix these power issues?
>
> Doesnt fix them, but the detail has changed, particularly on max power the device can take.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usb3#USB_3.0

Thanks again. I guess I will avoid using these portable USB external
non-Flash drives, without power cables, then.
--
"Bother," said Winnie the Pooh, as he stepped on an ant.
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: philpi@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANTant@zimage.com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

Ant wrote:
> On 10/1/2009 12:10 AM PT, Rod Speed typed:
>
>>>>>>>>> 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, especially for a netbook!
>>>>>> 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?
>>>> Because the device stops working properly when it cant get the
>>>> power it needs.
>>>>> Aren't most USB devices like that like mice, wireless network,
>>>>> etc.?
>>>> They dont take enough to matter.
>>> Interesting and thanks (and everyone else who replied). I wasn't
>>> aware of drives using that much power. I thought by now, USB can
>>> handle well.
>>> Does USB3 fix these power issues?
>>
>> Doesnt fix them, but the detail has changed, particularly on max
>> power the device can take. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usb3#USB_3.0
>
> Thanks again. I guess I will avoid using these portable USB external
> non-Flash drives, without power cables, then.

It does work pretty well with the 2.5" portable USD external hard drives
that have two USB cables. The extra one is just used for the extra power.

Rod Speed wrote:

> Ant wrote:
>
>>On 10/1/2009 12:10 AM PT, Rod Speed typed:
>>
>>
>>>>>>>>>>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, especially for a netbook!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>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?
>>>>>
>>>>>Because the device stops working properly when it cant get the
>>>>>power it needs.
>>>>>
>>>>>>Aren't most USB devices like that like mice, wireless network,
>>>>>>etc.?
>>>>>
>>>>>They dont take enough to matter.
>>>>
>>>>Interesting and thanks (and everyone else who replied). I wasn't
>>>>aware of drives using that much power. I thought by now, USB can
>>>>handle well.
>>>>Does USB3 fix these power issues?
>>>
>>>Doesnt fix them, but the detail has changed, particularly on max
>>>power the device can take. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usb3#USB_3.0
>>
>>Thanks again. I guess I will avoid using these portable USB external
>>non-Flash drives, without power cables, then.
>
>
> It does work pretty well with the 2.5" portable USD external hard drives
> that have two USB cables. The extra one is just used for the extra power.
>
>


Hi,

Sorry that this is just a little off-topic, but I have a question
related to this that I've been curious about.

I have a number of 2.5" USB2 drive enclosures. Most of have been for
IDE drives, but I've gotten a couple of newer ones lately for 2.5" SATA
drives more recently.

As far as I can remember, in all cases, I've not had problems running
with a single USB cable with the 2.5" IDE enclosures, but, in contrast,
I've had problems running every one of the 2.5" SATA enclosures
(=enclosures that take 2.5" SATA drives instead of 2.5" IDE drives) with
just a single USB cable.

I've been wondering, for awhile now: Have I just been unlucky with the
2.5" SATA enclosures (I've tried several)? Or, is there something about
the USB2-to-SATA interfaces, in general, that requires more power than
the USB2-to-IDE interfaces?

Thanks,
Jim