Pioneer BDC-2202B5PK

All DVD burners play and burn CDs and DVDs, but the Pioneer BDC-2202B5PK adds the ability to play (but not burn) high-definition Blu-ray Discs. As with all Blu-ray drives, there are myriad system requirements, so buyers should be sure the rest of their hardware is up to the task before making the plunge for a Blu-ray drive. Like other drives of its type, the Pioneer BDC-2202B5PK is slow in writing and reading CDs and DVDs, but burn quality is first-rate, and the extra few minutes to burn a DVD probably aren't going to be a huge issue for most. Those who don't care about playing Blu-ray Discs can spend much less and still get a good standard DVD burner, such as the highly regarded Samsung SH-S223Q (*Est. $30), which is notably faster when burning DVDs and CDs, and considerably less expensive.

The Pioneer BDC-2202B5PK is available in several different configurations -- such as the BDC-202 and BDC-S02BK -- that vary slightly in packaging or included software, but are otherwise identical. The best reviews can be found at CDRInfo.com and CDFreaks.com, which deliver long and detailed reports that will especially appeal to the technically savvy. The review at ExtremeTech.com is also detailed, but perhaps a little easier to digest. A handful of owner reviews can be read at Newegg.com.