External Optical Drive

[The DRis]

What is everyone using? I browsed Newegg and Macsales and nothing really jumped out at me, they are all pretty ugly.

I definitely want Blu-Ray reading capability so I can convert my library to digital, but I don't know if I should get Blu-Ray writing capability as well. The only thing I think I would use the writing for would be hard copy backups. And I don't know if I can justify the increase in price.

[designs216]

I really don't care so much what it looks like but I would like it to be dependable. Here's the drive I'm considering:

OWC Value Line 6X BlueRay/DVD Drive OWCMRSSBD6X

[smoge]

I didnt know osx supports blu-ray

[garrize]

I got this one:

Samsung SE-506AB/TSWD External USB Blu Ray Re-Writer on Amazon.

It's here on my desk, waiting to be connected to my 27" 2012 iMac...

[MightyWhite]

I have got a cheap and blinking ugly plextar bluray drive it only reads and does not write anything but was only £40.

It will only come out the drawer each time I buy a bluray.

I will get a Samsung DVD writer for, well, writing. But again it will live in a drawer till needed but the do look sleek and are about £30.

I did buy the bluray reader before I found out the new mac has no drive. Maybe I would have chose different... Probably the Samsung in the post above...

[beatledud]

What about USB 3.0? Lacie has one. Is there any real benefit? It appears write speeds can't increase from the 6x found in USB 2.0 due to the slim factor of the drives, but I'd think read speeds would increase.

[CWallace]

Originally Posted by smoge

I didnt know osx supports blu-ray

OS X cannot natively support playback of commercial Blu-ray movie discs, but it does allow you to burn Blu-ray discs and I would guess can play consumer Blu-ray discs (that do not have the commercial Blu-ray DRM schema).

[phoenixsan]

LaCie makes decent Blu-ray drives and no too ugly But I know LiteOn, Pioneer and Sony also make good drives to read/burn/backup

[digitalfailure]

I'm waiting for the samsung se 506 to be delivered

[TouchMint.com]

Just ordered this from amazon.

Asus 8X External Slim DVD+/-RW Drive SDRW-08D2S-U - Retail (Black)

cost is only $31 and reviews look good and it stands up so it wont take up too much toom.

[DeafRaiders]

I've ordered the Panasonic UJ-260. The reviews on amazon is 4.5 stars which is a good thing based on 40+ reviews most mac owners

[mihai.ile]

Originally Posted by beatledud

What about USB 3.0? Lacie has one. Is there any real benefit? It appears write speeds can't increase from the 6x found in USB 2.0 due to the slim factor of the drives, but I'd think read speeds would increase.

There is no benefit in having usb3 cd/dvd drive over usb2 in terms of speed. USB2 is faster than any CD/DVD drive so the only thing I can think of that will probably benefit from having certain usb3 cd/dvd drives is that usb3 supports doulbe the energy the usb2 does so it may be that you would not need 2 usb cables (or one usb other from outlet) connected to the drive, and one usb3 would be just enough.