Recommend A DVD Drive for Mac Mini Please

[asimmd]

HI All

I understand that I don't have to buy the Apple External DVD Drive,so could you recommend one that is compatible with the Mac Mini.

Which one do you use?

Thanks

Alan

[maflynn]

I'd say any one you find on amazon or microcenter. DVD drive are for the most part just generic components.

[asimmd]

Thanks for the reply

As this is my very first Mac,I am not sure which components are Mac specific.

Off to Amazon to have a look.

Alan

[rshock]

I just picked up the 'Blu-Ray USB External Player' from Amazon this week. Reads Blu-Ray, reads and burns DVDs for about $50 with free shipping. I plugged it into my Mini, and it worked right out of the box. It's powered off the USB bus, so that's one less cord that I have to worry about. Very pleased so far.

[poloponies]

Originally Posted by asimmd

Thanks for the reply

As this is my very first Mac,I am not sure which components are Mac specific.

Off to Amazon to have a look.

Alan

$30, good to go:

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SE-208...rds=dvd+burner

[Kaloman]

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/VLU2SD24XS/


These specs are pretty sweet. OWC throws in some good software also.

[motrek]

Originally Posted by Kaloman

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/VLU2SD24XS/


These specs are pretty sweet. OWC throws in some good software also.

Thumbs down from me. You can get slimline, USB-powered drives for half as much from Amazon and Newegg. Smaller, lighter, cheaper, and fewer cables.

[Kaloman]

Originally Posted by motrek

Thumbs down from me. You can get slimline, USB-powered drives for half as much from Amazon and Newegg. Smaller, lighter, cheaper, and fewer cables.

It's not that big, it is only about $20 more, has some nice software, and it's faster. People use their drives only a very small fraction of the time that they are on the computer, so having it's own power supply that you can turn off is a good thing. Opposed to having it bus powered and on at all times.

[Sean869]

I have one of these ..... Samsung SE-208AB/TSBS 8 x DVD+/-RW Slim Portable External DVD Writer - Black. Currently £21.74 on Amazon including the postage. Works a treat, Im very happy with it.

[asimmd]

Thanks Sean

Just ordered the Samsung,it's always nice to hear from someone
who actualy has one.

Alan

[gregorsamsa]

Originally Posted by Sean869

I have one of these ..... Samsung SE-208AB/TSBS 8 x DVD+/-RW Slim Portable External DVD Writer - Black. Currently £21.74 on Amazon including the postage. Works a treat, Im very happy with it.

Same here. IMO, this Samsung DVD Writer is to be highly recommended, even without the relatively low price. I've had no issues with it since buying my Mac Mini over a year ago.

[asimmd]

Thanks gregorsamsa

Nice to know it gets a seal of approval from 2 users.

It's always difficuly buying something priced as well as this,it's not
possible to know if it is a good buy until you actually get it.

Alan

[gregorsamsa]

Originally Posted by asimmd

Thanks gregorsamsa

Nice to know it gets a seal of approval from 2 users.

It's always difficuly buying something priced as well as this,it's not
possible to know if it is a good buy until you actually get it.

Alan

Thanks, but you're welcome!

By the by, as much as some people resented Apple getting rid of the previous Mini's internal optical drive, from what I've read, they tended to be one of the first parts to develop a fault in an otherwise highly reliable computer.

Also, the repairs were hardly worth the money if falling outside of Apple Care warranty.

These Samsung drives seem reliable enough + the extra space any external DVD drive takes up is fairly negligible. I've no complaints.

[mwhities]

My manager gave me one he had laying around the office (no telling how long) to use with my Mac mini work station. It's Dell branded and works well. Just sucks as it takes up two USB ports.