Lacie d2 External 16x Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW Drive with FireWire/USB2.0 (Model 300920)

Rating:
Summary: A reliable solid performer from LaCie
Review: One of the finest electronic device made and a must have for laptop owners. Not very portable, but is a faster option then an internal DVD-r for a laptop. LaCie is really giving you a lot for this quality DVD-burner. I have burn over 30 DVDs since August 2004 for backing up files, making home movies and there haven't been any problems yet.

The software that comes with this burner is for Mac and PC. I use the PC's software, which include Roxio's Easy Media 7.0; that can burn movie, CD and DVD, and do some simple editing. Converting a file to a video on a slow laptop is kind of long though. There is a DVD player software included also, but there are a dime a dozen out there. I burned at 16X, 8X, 4X speed on DVD-R and DVD+R on Sony, Verbatim, Memorex, Fuji, TDK media and they all work fine. This drive is one of the faster external DVD-r options available. I have yet to use the expensive Double Layer DVD media option.

The drive has a nice metallic silver exterior that is very robust and sturdy, with a blue ON/OFF button, connection to a firewire or USB2 output. I have a Dell 8200 PIV laptop with 1gigs of ram, with an 80gigs external firewire hard-drive that connect straight to the external D2 burner. It is somewhat smooth and quiet NEC's drive. Hopefully it will last a long time.

LaCie is a French company that is trying to break into the America's market with a balance of great quality components at a reasonable price.