ext usb powered dvd-r writer...advice

hi all after purchasing my formac 160gb slimline usb powered drive i was well impressed with the speed and size and am now looking for an external dvd writer also usb powered tho i wouldnt use both drives together at the same time .

i was gonna replace the dvdwriter thats in my laptop but fuji have informed me that it is non removable on this model unless i literally stripped it apart which of course voids the warranty an anyway i wouldnt know where to start should i do that

anyway i looked around and found this drive any adice on this and please feel free to list other usb powered ones. thanks.

Samsung DVD±RW burner, SE-T084L, USB, External Slim Line
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.aspx?sku=329232

 

DVD writers are rarely able to get enough power from one usb port to write successfully and often not even read properly (well my old one wouldn't!) The only drives that can power off usb successfully are 2.5" external hard disks, and even then not always.


It's unusual to have a non-removable DVD writer. Most laptops removing it involves removing 1-3 screws on the bottom underneath where the DVD drive is and it'll just slide out. I would at least try removing it incase fuji are telling porkies.

 

thanks for the info but i have to agree with them as there are no screw anywhere near the dvdwriter only on the plates for the hardrive and memory oh and the corners for holding the base together.

and sorry i thought i mentioned it was a 2.5 or maybe 3.5 but its a very slim and small ext dvd writer i was after and the formac 5400rpm usb powered drive i have transfers data very fast averaging 10-30mb/s highest i seen it was at 37mb/s , very simular speeds to my western 5400rpm in my laptop. and all off one usb2 socket.

 

fuji informed me it was not modular capable.

 

I myself had a lite-on slim type usb external dvd writer which claimed to run off the computer's usb power - basically a laptop dvd writer in a box with a usb interface and cable. In reality it never realibly read any discs on usb power and could only really read and definitelty only write on mains power.

You might be able to find one that uses one usb port for data and another for power as my external 2.5" hard disk does. It also depends on the laptop as my Toshiba needs the power usb cable as well to power said external hard disk while my other more beefy Mitac does not and can power it just using the data cable.

 

doesnt matter forget i started this thread
just read an article about 8x being the fastest available which i already have
i was looking towards 16x.

oh well never mind.