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Recommend external DVD writer?

5304 Views 10 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  chas_m
Hi,

What is a good external DVD writer to go with a white MacBook? I'm looking for around $80 or less if possible. It would be used for burning home video movies and data.

Thanks,

s.
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Hi,

I've used a Lacie external burner for the last couple of years. Has always worked great for me. The case is very sturdy and well put together, IMHO. I just picked up an external Lacie with lightscribe on ebay for about $70 cdn.
I have had a good experience with an LG burner (Firewire), that is triple mode. If you are burning DVDs, make sure it will burn DVD-R because that format is compatible with more players. With a triple mode, you can burn any disk.

Pioneer is an excellent make, and their drives are readily available. I would have bought one but the LG was such a good deal. (At the time I wanted a CD burner, the DVD ability was a bonus for the $75 I paid two years ago.)

I have had pretty bad luck with the more recent HP stuff. Good for making frisbees, but not so good on data. And I'd stay away from Sony unless you find one that again, is triple mode. I recommend Firewire just because it is a quicker interface, with less chance of ruining a disk write because data is not sent to the drive quick enough to keep the burn going steady...
Hi,

What is a good external DVD writer to go with a white MacBook? I'm looking for around $80 or less if possible. It would be used for burning home video movies and data.

Thanks,

s.
I have a Pioneer 107D in an external case (Firewire 400) that I can sell you. It's basically unused, and has been collecting dust for over a year. Although if you're out east, It's likely not worth the shipping bother.

Oh, by the way, fill out your location in your User CP steevo. ;)
external dvd drive

HI, I realize this post is rather old but am wondering if you sold your external drive already or actually do want to sell it. I live near Vancouver in Langley and am looking for one. If not could you please tell me where you got it? Thank you very much.
Linda
Build your own.

Get a Macally external enclosure, and an internal LG or Pioneer DVD+/-RW. Much less expensive, 4 screws and a 2 minute install.

Local to you, or not far, try NCIX.com or directcanada.com (they're the same company).


HI, I realize this post is rather old but am wondering if you sold your external drive already or actually do want to sell it. I live near Vancouver in Langley and am looking for one. If not could you please tell me where you got it? Thank you very much.
Linda
HI and thanks for the info. I am a mac noobie. I've always built my own pcs and have done many external enclosures but had no idea what will work with a mac. It seems like most burners will work with a mac in an external enclosure?
Thanks again.
I think the selection of an external is somewhat even more confusing now that Patchburn will not work with Leopard. So they work fine with Panther and Tiger, but your mileage will vary when it comes to Leopard.
Hmm well this little old macbook I bought came with Tiger. I was going to put on Leopard but perhaps I should just leave it the way that it is? Is patchburn the native burning program in OSx?
Leopard works fine with external DVD burners. You don't need Patchburn. It was an interim solution to get previous (pre-Leopard) operating systems to recognize external DVD drives.
I think the selection of an external is somewhat even more confusing now that Patchburn will not work with Leopard. So they work fine with Panther and Tiger, but your mileage will vary when it comes to Leopard.
The reason Patchburn does not work with Leopard is because it's no longer needed. Leopard works with every DVD burner under the sun.

I wish you would stop speculating about Leopard when it's clear you know nothing about it. Your mileage WON'T "vary" with Leopard. ALL external dvd drives work with it, PERIOD.
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