Since I've replaced my SuperDrive with an SSD, I no longer have the ability to burn disks. I'm looking for a solution to bring this functionality back, whether it's through a enclosure or a new external optical drive. The only enclosures I can seem to find are the ones on eBay from China. I haven't yet searched for USB and FireWire burners. Anyone have some suggestions for either?

See the two OWC enclosures for optical drive, here (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/VLSSTOPTU2/) and here (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/VLSS9TOPTU2/).

Not very easy finding OWC parts in Canada. I just ordered an OWC 2.5 drive enclosure from MacDoc. Should've checked on this optical drive enclosure.
External Blueray burners aren't that much more than this enclosure by the way. I ended up ordering it directly from OWC. Being sent US Postal so there won't be any brokerage fees. Thanks.

It seems odd that the OWC enclosures cost more + shipping than a complete drive I picked up on sale last fall to replace a fellows kaput optical drive in his original MB.

Samsung 8X DVDRW External Slim
Buy the Samsung SE-208AB/TSLS Slim External 8X DVD Drive at TigerDirect.ca (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1896539&CatId=483)

Cost me:
Net Product: $29.97
Sales Tax: $4.31
P & H: $5.93
Total Shipment: $40.21

Edit: or todays Buy the Lite-On External Slim DVD ROM at TigerDirect.ca (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4951747&CatId=481)

$29.99

Since burning tends to be limited by the medium speed, USB-2, FireWire 400 or FW 800 should all be up to the task. In the bygone single processor era you would have wanted to avoid the extra load on the processor created by USB, however with modern multi core units that should not be an issue.

Saw some USB 2 units in the $40 range at memory express. Did not really look closely enough to see if any had an external power supply. Not at all sure if USB bus power would be sufficient to keep even a slim line burner from making the odd coaster.

Should have ordered one of the kits with the 2.5 enclosure and optical drive external enclosure, like the OptiBay kit.

you can find usb enclosures on ebay for cheap. This one is nice because it matches the macbook pro finish :

Super External USB enclosure caddy case for MacBook 9.5mm 12.7mm SATA superdrive | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-External-USB-enclosure-caddy-case-MacBook-9-5mm-12-7mm-SATA-superdrive-/310377378753?_trksid=p4340.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC.NPJS%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3D UA%26otn%3D5%26pmod%3D220849027439%26ps%3D63%26clk id%3D7078594569466921528#ht_2203wt_1249)

I have one of the cheap chinese superdrive clone cases for my superdrive and it looks nice...but it isn't the highest quality and the drive makes a lot of noise in it...plus I'm not sure USB power is really enough for these to run well. That said I hardly ever use it so its really not an issue.