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- Compatible with PCs, Macs
- Easy to use and install
- Expensive
- Noisy fan
- Decrease in write quality for multi-layer DVDs
If your computer doesn't have an available drive bay for an internal DVD/CD burner, an external DVD burner is an option. These simply plug into a free USB or FireWire port. Reviews are less common for these, but the Plextor PX-810UF gets the best ratings in this class. It's compatible with PCs and Macs, but the software is Windows-only. While many internal DVD burners now copy at 20x or 22x, the Plextor PX-810UF is a bit slower at 18x, and reviews say you'll need about five minutes to burn a DVD -- not a huge issue in real-world home use. Reviews note a decrease in write quality on multilayer DVDs, but that's a common gripe for DVD burners. Reviews also say that it's expensive and that the fan is noisy.
We found the best coverage of the Plextor PX-810UF at CDRLabs.com and BCCHardware.com. Both produce long, technical reviews based on extensive testing. The only brief mainstream coverage is in Britain's Which? magazine, which is similar to Consumer Reports' style of unbiased testing and short plain-language reviews. But a subscription is required to read it. We found just a smattering of owner reviews at Amazon.com.
Our Sources
1. CDRLabs.com
Computer professionals write the reviews here, and the Plextor PX-810UF scores a nine out of 10 for features and installation and a seven for performance. The reviewer says it's fast enough, versatile enough and good enough, except on "DVD+R and DVD-R DL discs, the PI/PIF rates were higher than we'd like to see."
Review: Plextor PX-810UF 18x FireWire/USB 2.0 DVD±RW/RAM, Oct. 29, 2007
This very detailed review says the Plextor PX-810UF offers mediocre performance, is noisy and "instead of getting high-end Plextor hardware, you're paying for a rebranded LG GSA-H44N drive that can be picked up online for under $40."
Review: Plextor PX-810UF 18x External DVDRW, Benjamin "Zeus" Heide, Sept. 19, 2007
3. Amazon.com
Just a few owner reviews at Amazon.com give the Plextor PX-810UF generally high grades, but a couple of them note some software-compatibility issues.
Review: Plextor PX-810UFSWBL, Contributors to Amazon.com
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