Sunday, May 23, 2010

LiteOn eTAU208 External DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Review


When it comes to laptops, bigger isn’t always better. In fact, as is with netbooks, smaller is often better. This small size tends to come at a cost. To reduce the size, components such as the keyboard are reduced and some are even removed. One such component often removed is the DVD drive. If you want a DVD drive, you will need to look for an external drive.

To meet this need, LiteOn has realized the eTAUZ08 DVD/CD rewritable drive. It supports both + and – DVD formats, and even sports Lightscribe for disc labeling. The drive is a simple design with about the only thing special is its compact design. The case and top loading design and size remind me of a Sony Discman. And I do really like the well thought out cut-out on the bottom to hold the USB cable used to connect it to your laptop, or netbook.

Connecting the drive was simple, and my small laptop recognized it instantly. Windows was able to supply the drivers for it, so to use it as a DVD drive it was just a matter of plug and play. At an MSRP of approximately $50, it is a bargain, especially when you figure in the included Nero 8 software suite for DVD/CD burning. At 8 times burn speed the drive is not a speed demon, but it is fast enough for a laptop and any application without taxing your system.

The drive performed admirably with burning CD and DVD, and never gave me any plastic coasters. I can’t emphasize enough how much I liked the built in holder for the USB cable. Just throw the drive in your laptop bag, and you are always ready in case you need to use your drive. No external power is needed since it is powered thru the supplied USB cable. And if you are considering the purchase of a portable laptop without a DVD drive but are hesitant due to the lack of one, you can rest more assured. LiteOn has you covered. I would recommend you check out the LiteOn eTAUZ08 DVD/CD rewritable drive. And for more info and complete specs, check out their website at http://us.liteonit.com/us/.

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