What Can External DVD Burners Do?

External DVD Burners are portable burners that can read, write or rewrite CDs and DVDs for storage or sharing. Unlike internal drives, they can be moved from computer to computer and use an external power source.

Depending on the software used, a burner will:

  • Make Photo Discs
  • Make Read-Only Music or Audio CDs
  • Burn Home Movies
  • Create Back-up Copies of Media Library
  • Utilize Re-Writable Discs
  • Play DVD Movies or CDs
  • Convert Formats
  • Back-up Data Files
  • Create Karaoke Discs
  • Share Slideshows
  • Print Unique Disc Labels
  • Play DVD-ROM or RAM discs

In this site, you'll find articles related to DVD Burners, as well as comprehensive reviews and a side-by-side comparison to help you make an informed decision on which External DVD Burner is right for you.

 

At TopTenREVIEWS - We do the research so you don't have to.™

What to Look for in an External DVD Burner.

When choosing a DVD burner, ports are important aspects to consider. Look to see whether your computer has a USB 2.0 or 1.1 or FireWire port then choose a DVD player that will work with that port. Keep in mind that a USB 1.1 is extremely slow and that ports can be added at a reasonable price. If you use a unique disc type, such as DVD-RAM, CD-Text or CD+G look to see that these formats are supported.

Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate external DVD Burners:

 

  • Feature Set – We evaluated all of the features available with the DVD burner such as whether they have the ability to copy to dual layer discs and if they are compatible with popular DVD copying software. We also looked at what kind of software package comes with the hardware and noted the types of ports they require.
  • Burner Speed – Burning speed is especially significant when choosing a DVD burner. However, the type of blank media used to read/write/rewrite also impact speed.
  • Help & Support – This ranking depends on how quick the product manufacturer responded to our email inquiries about their product. We sent an email to the technical support team of every product we reviewed. This criterion also considers some of the other help/support contact methods available such as live chat, telephone, FAQs, a searchable knowledge base, troubleshooting guides, easy driver downloads, etc.

 

 
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External DVD Burners Review

Smokin' Burners

Save your original DVDs and CDs, create music mixes or author your own video. Make fast portable disc copies of anything - music, movies or data - with an External DVD Burner.

What Can External DVD Burners Do?

2010 External DVD Burners Product Comparisons

TopTenREVIEWS  |  Electronics  |  Computers  |  External DVD Burners
Rank #1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#10
Excellent score   Excellent
Very good score   Very Good
Good score   Good
Fair score   Fair
Poor score   Poor
Plextor PX-88OU HP DVD556s Samsung SE-T048M/RS LG GP08NU20 iomega SuperSlim DVD Samsung SE-S048B Lite-On eSAU208 LG GE20LU11 Buslink DBW-1647-U2 LaCie d2 DVD
Plextor PX-88OU HP DVD556s Samsung SE-T048M/RS LG GP08NU20 iomega SuperSlim DVD Samsung SE-S048B Lite-On eSAU208 LG GE20LU11 Buslink DBW-1647-U2 LaCie d2 DVD
Reviewer Comments Read Review
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Lowest Purchase Price (*After Rebate) Buy Plextor PX-88OU
$84.99 		Buy HP DVD556s
$89.99 		Buy Samsung SE-T048M/RS
$71.65 		Buy LG GP08NU20
$79.99 		Buy iomega SuperSlim DVD
$58.79 		Buy Samsung SE-S048B
$56.99 		Buy Lite-On eSAU208
$64.99 		Buy LG GE20LU11
$89.95 		Buy Buslink DBW-1647-U2
$97.24 		Buy LaCie d2 DVD
$99.00
 
Overall Rating Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good
Ratings
Feature Set Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Excellent
Burner Speed Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Help/Support Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Excellent Very Good
View Specifications Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
Features
Buffer Size 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2MB
Prevents Buffer Underrun Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Burns to Dual Layer Media Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Included Software
Media Suite Software Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
DVD Playing Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Disc Labeling Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Hardware Connection
Firewire (IEEE 1394) Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
USB 2.0 Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
USB 1.1 Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Read/Write/ReWrite Speeds
DVD-RAM 12x 5x 5x 5x 5x 5x 5x 12x NA NA
DVD-ROM 16x 8x 8x 8x 8x 8x 8x 16x 16x 16x
DVD+RW 8x 8x 8x 8x 8x 8x 8x 8x 4x 8x
DVD-RW 6x 6x 6x 6x 6x 6x 6x 6x 4x 6x
DVD+R DL 12x 8x 6x 6x 6x 6x 6x 16x 4x 8x
DVD-R DL 12x 6x 6x 6x 6x 6x 6x 12x 4x 4x
DVD+R 24x 8x 8x 8x 8x 8x 8x 20x 16x 16x
DVD-R 24x 8x 8x 8x 8x 8x 8x 20x 16x 16x
CD-ROM 48x 24x 24x 24x 24x 24x 24x 48x 48x 48x
CD-RW 32x 24x 24x 24x 24x 24x 24x 32x 32x 32x
CD-R 48x 24x 24x 24x 24x 24x 24x 48x 48x 48x
Compatible Formats
DVD-RAM Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   
DVD-ROM Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
DVD+RW Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
DVD-RW Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
DVD+R DL Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
DVD-R DL Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
DVD+R Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
DVD-R Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
CD-ROM XA Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
CD-ROM Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
CD-RW Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
CD-R Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
CD-TEXT Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark Check Mark
CD+G Check Mark   Check Mark    Check Mark    Check Mark Check Mark
CD-I Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   Check Mark  
CD-DA Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
CD-Extra Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
Photo-CD Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
Video-CD Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark  
Dimensions
Height (Inches) 2 in 0.5 in 0.8 in 0.8 in 0.7 in 0.7 in 0.8 in 2 in 2.3 in 1.7
Width (Inches) 6.4 in 5.2 in 5.6 in 6.1 in 5.3 in 5.6 in 5.7 in 6.3 in 7.3 in 6.3
Length (Inches) 8.9 in 5.4 in 6.2 in 6.5 in 6.0 in 6.2 in 6.1 in 9.1 in 10.3 in 10.6
Weight (Pounds) 2.43 lbs 5.0 lbs 0.9 lbs 0.8 lbs 0.6 lbs 0.9 lbs 0.8 lbs 3.3 lbs 5.75 lbs 3.31
Technical Support
Instructions/User Manual Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
FAQs Check Mark   Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Downloads (Drivers, etc.) Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Troubleshooting Guide   Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark    Check Mark Check Mark
Support Email/Form Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Support Phone Number Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Live Chat Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   
Manufacturer Warranty 2 Years 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year
Supported Configurations
Windows 7 Check Mark   Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   
XP Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Vista Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   
2000   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
98          Check Mark Check Mark
ME          Check Mark Check Mark
Macintosh          Check Mark Check Mark
 
Reviewer Comments Read Review
Read Review
Read Review
Read Review
Read Review
Read Review
Read Review
Read Review
Read Review
Read Review
Lowest Purchase Price (*After Rebate) Buy Plextor PX-88OU
$84.99 		Buy HP DVD556s
$89.99 		Buy Samsung SE-T048M/RS
$71.65 		Buy LG GP08NU20
$79.99 		Buy iomega SuperSlim DVD
$58.79 		Buy Samsung SE-S048B
$56.99 		Buy Lite-On eSAU208
$64.99 		Buy LG GE20LU11
$89.95 		Buy Buslink DBW-1647-U2
$97.24 		Buy LaCie d2 DVD
$99.00
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