Choosing an external CD and DVD burner may be a confusing task, especially for people who are not familiar with computers and their add-ons. However, by knowing the basics of external CD and DVD burners, you can easily buy the best hardware for sharing or storage to match you laptop or desktop computer.
External CD and DVD burners are portable, lightweight burners that could read, write and rewrite both CDs and DVDs. Compared to internal burners, external CD and DVD burners can be easily moved from one computer to the next and even be used as an external power source for your PC.
Depending on the brand and type of software you use, both external CD and DVD burners can produce photo discs, home movies, read-only audio CDs, and other music. They could also create storage copies of your media library, convert different kinds of formats, back-up data files, share slideshows, utilize any re-writable discs, play movies on CDs and DVDs, print any kind of disc labels, produce karaoke discs and play RAM or DVD-ROM discs.
What To Look For In An External CD And DVD Burner
When choosing an external CD and DVD burner, the most important factor to consider is the ports. Check to see if your laptop or desktop computer has a USB 1.1, 2.0 or FireWire. After determining the type of port you have, match the external CD and DVD burner that will work with that particular port.
Another factor in choosing the external CD and DVD burner is to check if the burner has all the necessary features, such as the capability of copying a dual layer disc or the inclusion of a compatible CD or DVD copying software.
When looking for an external CD and DVD burner, ask about its burning speed. This is important to store or share files easily. However, be aware that the type of media you use to read, write or rewrite will also be a factor of the burner s speed.
The last and important thing to look for in an external CD and DVD burner is the manufacturer s help and product support. This is important because even computer experts can experience hardware malfunction that they cannot fix themselves. Check to see if the manufacturer offers telephone assistance, live chat, troubleshooting manuals or guides, and other support information and contact methods.