sony drx-s70u review: Sony's slimline DRX-S70U drive is quite appealing for travellers or those with dud notebook drives -- as long as you've got space for the AC adaptor.

Slim design, Solid construction, Included Nero utilities

AC cable bulks it out considerably, No Mac software provided

Sony's slimline DRX-S70U drive is quite appealing for travellers or those with dud notebook drives -- as long as you've got space for the AC adaptor.

plextor px-810sa dvd±rw review: The Plextor PX-810SA internal CD/DVD burner is quick for both ripping and burning. We like it.

Fast rip/burn speeds, Comes with Roxio software

Vastly expensive, No support for Macs

The Plextor PX-810SA internal CD/DVD burner is quick for both ripping and burning. We like it.

The Sony BWU-830A is a high-performance internal DVD/CD rewritable burner that offers the latest speeds, interchangeable faceplates and a full complement of software. Unfortunately it's on the expensive side for an IDE drive.

Fast task speeds., Interchangeable faceplates for different color systems.

A bit finicky with different brands of media., Pricey for an internal drive.

The Sony DRU-830A is a fast drive, but it's on the expensive side.

The LaCie d2 Quadra is a capacious and speedy drive, with lots of connection options.

Fast performer, Per-gigabyte price is good, Lots of connection options, Comes with backup software for Windows and Mac

sony bwu-100a review: Early adopters will see the BWU-100A as forging new ground, but most others will regard it as an unjustifiable expense, for now.

Can read/write Blu-ray discs, Backwards compatible with DVD and CD

Unjustifiably expensive, Blu-ray could lose the format war, Current dearth of commercial Blu-ray movies, Only truly effective when coupled with a 1080i/p display

Early adopters will see the BWU-100A as forging new ground, but most others will regard it as an unjustifiable expense, for now.

sony dvdirect vrdmc3 review: A very useful product for amateur movie makers, as long as you're happy to pay a premium for computer-free recording.

If you're a real design junkie, you'll love the slim LaCie DVD±RW, but everyone else would be better served with many other cheaper drives.

Supports LightScribe, Low carrying weight, Stylish design, USB or AC powered

High asking price

The DRX810UL is a bulky and mostly reliable external DVD burner with the same irritating software flaws as its predecessors.

Dual Firewire/USB ports, 8x Dual Layer Burning

Restrictive Nero package for Windows users, Bulky

The no-frills WriteMaster SE-W164C isn't the fastest DVD burner around, but its decent overall performance and reasonable price make it a solid choice for casual users.

Impressive 5X double-layer write rating, Fast single- and double-layer burning, Useful software bundle, Handy drive stand

Slow double-layer ripping

The LaCie d2 USB/FireWire drive is an average product offering only adequate features and performance, though the LightScribe feature could be useful.

Good performance overall, LightScribe feature allows permanent labeling on specially coated disc surfaces

Poor choice for video-editing software