external dvd player

[MrFusion]

Reading any kind of disk on my MacBook is since a few months an exercise in futility. 90% of the time, it just spits the disk back out. With no apple care and having rung out of my 1 year warranty, I decided to buy an external dvd player. Heading over the Lacie website, I read somewhere that DVD player will not work with an external drive. Is that so? I know iDVD won't run. But playing back a dvd movie, what is the big deal? It's a freaking dvd.

I only watch dvd's. I have an external HD for backup. Can I safely buy an external dvd drive and expect dvd player to actually work?

 

[aaronw1986]

I have one, but haven't used it since I got my macs. Looks like I won't be able to tell. It's an IO Magic, and apparently there aren't mac drivers.

 

[logana]

You should not have any problem with an external dvd drive to watch dvd's - and yes dvd player works fine from an external. If you are contemplating a dvd burner then Firewire is better than USB2.

Why not change the existing dvd drive - if it is an internal combo it will only be $40/€25 for one than works from eBay.....

 

[MrFusion]

You should not have any problem with an external dvd drive to watch dvd's - and yes dvd player works fine from an external. If you are contemplating a dvd burner then Firewire is better than USB2.

Why not change the existing dvd drive - if it is an internal combo it will only be $40/€25 for one than works from eBay.....

How easy can it be replaced by myself?
And how much would a new one cost? Or are they not available through a third party brick store?

Thanks for the replies.