If you need a small and light external DVD-ROM drive you may want to take a look at the eTDU108 from Lite-On.
If you have a netbook then you probably don’t have any media drive with it (unless you have already purchased one). Lite-On have released a very small and lightweight DVD-Rom drive that connects via USB to your netbook, or any other computer, such as your Windows Home Server if you need to read disks.
SPECIFICATIONS
DVD Family
Read
DVD+R : 8X maximum by CAV
DVD-R : 8X maximum by CAV
DVD+R9 : 6X maximum by CAV
DVD-R9 : 6X maximum by CAV
DVD+RW : 6X maximum by CAV
DVD-RW : 6X maximum by CAV
Access time
1/3 Stroke: 170ms
Full Stroke: 300ms
Random Access 160ms
CD Family
Read
CD-ROM : 24X maximum by CAV
CD-R : 24X maximum by CAV
CD-RW : 24x maximum by CAV
Access time
1/3 stroke: 150ms
Full stroke: 300ms
Random Access: 150ms
Data Buffer / Burst Data Transfer Rate
200KB (Max) /
USB 1.1 123Mb/s
USB 2.0 480Mb/s
S / N Ration : > 60dB
MTBF (Life) : 60,000 POH
General
Environment
Operating : 5°C to 35°C; Relative Humidity: 10% to 80%
Non-Operating : -40°C to 65°C; Relative Humidity: 10% to 90%
Dimension : 141.8(W) x
WHATS IN THE BOX?
The only thing in the box is the drive itself – the USB cable is actually fitted underneath the drive (which you can see in the picture near the start of the review).
USING THE eTDU108 AND FINAL THOUGHTS
The eTDU108 is very light, so carrying it around in bag won’t be a problem, and it is small. A really nice addition is the USB cable fitted under the drive, all you have to do is pull it off and connect it up. This ensures that you don’t leave home without a cable (unless you didn’t put it back after the last time you used it).
I had no problems using it on several different machines and with several different types of media.
My only two negative comments on the eTDU108 is the noise it can generate when media is spinning and the speed. 8x is the fastest it will do, and that seems almost like the dark ages these days!
Price wise it is quite cheap – under £30 in the UK now and under $50 in the US, although you can probably find it cheaper by looking around.
The eTDU108 is available in both white and black.
Is this right for you? Only you can decide, but given that external writers are not that much more expensive, and are faster, you may want to look at one of those if you want that extra capability.
It looks like they should reconsider the finish on the outside of the case. It doesn't look to be too rugged for the constant handling a portable drive will be subjected to (appears to get smudged and scratched fairly easily).
Yep, I agree!
And that was AFTER I cleaned it up for the picture 🙂
Andrew