Andget (TM) USB 3.0 External DVD-RW Recorder Burner Black

As you know, most compact notebooks (advertised as "slim, trim. and light") have to sacrifice something to remain 5lbs or under. The sacrifice: a DVD drive. So what to do if you have a library of DVD movies, or "old" software that came on CDs or DVDs, the answer is an external DVD drive like this Andget brand.As computer tech goes these are now fairly simple in concept, inexpensive, and in 2015 considered outdated technology (since most software is now available via download from the Internet). This is good news for us who need these drives because the prices are now way down for them. (Generally, I would NOT pay more than $40 for one of these and even that's borderline too much.)Trivia: In 1998 I paid $450 for a Sony INTERNAL DVD-RW 8X drive. Back then few manufacturers had such drives available. (8X was the speed at which the recording process took place, 8X meaning the drive operated 8 times faster than the first recorder drive available, which was 1X. Every six months the speeds available increased. 1X, 2x, 4x, 6x, etc.)Bottom Line First: I went with this brand because I checked around the Net and found a few positive reviews, albeit I never heard of the name before. I found the brand names were a bit too much ($50, $60) so I went with this.Additionally, it is USB 3.0 which is 10X faster than USB 2.0. I don't think 3.0 improves the speed but it came with it, so whatever.(Note: In regards to any USB 3.0 device, USB 3.0 is "backward compatible" with USB 2.0 which means if your computer ports are 2.0 a 3.0 device will work on USB 2.0 ports, and vice versa, 2.0 devices will work on a USB 3.0 port. Note: If either device or port does not match, the device will perform at 2.0 speeds.)Warning: Don't buy a CD player by accident. If you see these devices for $10 or $15 odds are it is either a DVD-ROM drive (meaning you can't record to disks) or it could be a CD player that someone is trying to unload on an unsuspecting buyer.You want the DVD-RW drive (which is an acronym for "digital versatile disc - rewritable" Trivia: The "V" in "DVD" is NOT an acronym for "video" - it is the abbreviation for "versatile."Finally, I bought this because it operates with a USB cable. You do NOT need an external power adapter. (The reason this powers up with a USB cable is because your USB ports have 5.5 volts and low level amps running to the ports. Devices like mice, keyboards, and even this DVD-RW drive all work because they require 5 volts or less power.Bonus Tip: I would NOT buy a DVD drive that requires an external power adapter. That's one more thing that can get lost, burn out, have to lug around, or make room for in your computer case. I have suffered all these things with a really nice Pioneer DVD-RW drive I bought in 2004. A great drive, but the power adapter is huge and the drive will not work without it.DETAILSFirst, some terms:Blu Ray: A later-developed format after DVD, I only mention this because Blu-Ray discs do NOT play on DVD players (such as this drive), however, DVD discs can play on some Blu Ray players, if the Blu Ray player is so designated..DVD - Digital Versatile DiscCD - Compact Disc (the original disc, that replaced music cassettes, and then in the 90s could be used on computers).ROM - "Read Only Memory" (means that the drive is "read only," you cannot write to discs).DVD-R Disc - "Recordable" - but can only be recorded once to the disc.DVD-RAM - "Random Access Memory" (such as "DVD-RAM drive) is a technology that competes with the DVD-RW format. Supposedly a better technology, DVD-RAM drives are used to record video, for example.RW: "Rewritable" (a disc that says "DVD-RW" means you can record information to the disc, up to about 1000 times. Who is counting, eh.)Disc: (CD, DVD, DVD Dual Layer) - Can be blank, or may have various kinds of data prerecorded on it, such as music, movie, game, or program (aka "software").CD: While looking the same as a DVD disc, can only hold 600 MB of info, Tip: If not marked, look at fine print near the center of the disc. Shouldsay if it is a CD or DVD.DVD Disc: Standard disc for home or small office use. Holds 4.3 GB of information or data.DVD Dual Layer: (Dual layer discs can hold 8.5 GB of data.)Burn or Burning: A term that came about years ago by geeks and nerds. It simply means one is transferring or copying information on to a disc.Compression: A technique where software can compress (make more compact) the information transferred to a disc, to where the disc can hold lots more data. But this slows down transfer of data to the disc. Backup software typically has a compression feature.Driver: This is the small app or program that tells your computer how to interact with the device you are installing. Nowadays driver software is installed on the devices ROM chip or MBR (master boot record) also on the device's motherboard. If you need a driver you can go to the manufacturer's support page to get it. (Printers that are older sometimes need drivers available online, such as HP).Note: DVD drives are now a generic device so even Windows OS will have the necessary drivers to make the drive truly plug n' play. Drive makers design hardware so the devices speak the same language as Windows and will work "out of the box." Your devices still need drivers to work, but installation of drivers is now "seamless."Plug n' Play: If you are using a computer with XP or newer you know what plug and play is. You connect the USB cable, the drivers are automatically installed.USB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0: Acronym for "Universal Serial Bus". A USB cable connection from the device to a USB port. The original was USB 1.0, then years ago we went to 2.0. And the latest is 3.0. A 3.0 connection is appx. 10 X faster than a 2.0 setup. Note: everything works with the other. 2.0 works with 3.0, and 3.0 works with 2.0Review of ProductOverall feel - I was very pleased with the quality of manufacture. The housing encasing the drive is solid plastic and quite sturdy. The disc drawer opens and closes smoothly on the rails. The bottom has four rubber bumpers, a nice touch to keep the drive from sliding around.Form factor - This is described as a "slim" drive and it is indeed as advertised. The device measures slim, has a small footprint, is light, and can sit just about anywhere and not take up much space. So much nicer than the old days when these drives were the size of a book.FunctionI connected the drive to my notebook using ONLY the USB 3.0 cable, to my Acer's 3.0 port. In 20 seconds my notebook with Windows 8.1 recognized the drive and it was ready to go.I have a 32" flat panel HD TV as a desktop PC monitor, connecting the Acer notebook to the TV/monitor with an HDMI cable. I have the notebook's 16" monitor running and the JVC as a second monitor. This is called a dual monitor setup.My first test was inserting a movie DVD (Independence Day) to see how a movie disc performed. It worked fantastic. No skipping or jittering.The drive is quite quiet, a plus when the movie has silent scenes.Commands were quick, for example "fast forward" and "next scene" were instant.The only physical button worked fine (the "eject - open tray" button. The indicator light worked great.Bonus Tip: The front of the tray has the small hole the size of a paper clip. This is where you insert a paper clip to physically open a stuck tray. If for whatever reason the tray is jammed, insert a paper clip, gently push, and the tray will open.You also may want to manually open the tray if, for example, you don't want to connect the device to remove a disc that's in the tray.Bonus Tip: Always make sure you gently insert a disc and make sure it is fully seated on the spindle.Warning: don't place anything heavy on top of the drive case. That can bend or warp the tray, or cause the spindle to malfunction.Other tests:I then placed an audio music CD inside. My music player opened and played the music fine.Finally, I tried out an 8X DVD-RW disc to copy some files. This performed fast and without flaw.You can't go wrong with this purchase. If you are like me, someone who still needs a DVD-RW drive, $33 for a DVD-RW is a great deal.I would NOT bother trying to get this for a lesser price. That will probably be a cheaply made unit and will malfunction and/or break soon after you get it. This one retails for $45 to $65, so $33 is a good deal.Bonus Tip: So this lasts a long time, do NOT leave it connected to your computer. That will wear out the motor inside the device. If you connect it only when needed this drive should last a lifetime. I bought it only because I wanted a drive for each of my notebooks and needed one for my GF.P.S.This came with two cables, a USB power cable that plugs into the power adapter hole on the drive, the other end into a PC USB port.The other cable is a USB 3.0 cable, that is different than a USB 2.0 cable. (3.0 cable is wider). That connects to the back of the drive and the other end to your computer's USB port.Note: The power cable only powers the drive. The USB 3.0 cable has a dual function. It not only powers the drive, but it also connects the device to the computer. You do NOT need to use the power cable and USB 3.0 cable.Bonus Tip: I used a USB cable from the a cell phone to connect to the computer. This worked. The cable fitting that plugs into the drive is a "micro USB" tip, the same that you use to charge your cell phone. Look at the port on the drive and you will see where the plug connects.

Purchased it in mid-September, and it failed in mid-December. It received only light use. It would have been fine if it had kept working but it didn't.Update: After doing some research, I tried unplugging my computer (NOT just turning it off) and then plugging the drive back in. This did the trick and Windows now sees the drive as a functioning device again. I don't know if it was the drive or something else that made Windows report a malfunction, but it is now working again. So if you have a problem with Windows reporting that the drive has malfunctioned, try removing the drive, shutting down and UNPLUGGING your computer, then attaching the drive again after the computer has been plugged in again and turned on.

This is NOT a USB 3.0 device. It is a USB 2 device with a USB 3 "COMPATIBLE" port, meaning you can plug one cable into a USB 3 port for power instead of plugging 2 cables into USB 2 ports -- but the TRANSFER SPEED IS USB 2.0. The i-Ever "brand" devices are identical and they too are USB 2.0 speed -- not 3.0.I bought two of these Andgets for my new systems and one failed, so I replaced it with an i-Ever device. After extensive troubleshooting of both devices when not receiving the transfer speeds I was expecting I was finally able to locate some software that allowd me to peek at the device'+-s setup -- it is a 2.0 device. These devices all need an external or extra power source, which is why they ship woth a power supply or a branched USB 2 cable. By putting a USB 3 receptacle on the device they are able to draw the needed power directly off one port with one cable -- but make no mistake -- they are NOT USB 3.0, they are USB 2.0 devices that can use a USB 3.0 port for power instead of using a branched cable and 2-USB 2.0 ports.

Drive works good. I purchased it to use with my Surface Pro 3, and was disappointed to see that it requires 2 USB ports (1 USB 3.0 for data, and 1 USB port for power), and my Surface Pro 3 only has 1 USB 3.0 port. I can make it work for how I am using it, but beware that it will require 2 USB ports to work properly.

Pros:- Records perfectly every time.- Simple- Small form factorCons:- A bit slow- Requires two USB ports

Did not work at all. Tried on three separate machines, and two operating systems. Seller refunded my money, and didn't even ask for the device returned. Good. that means someone else won't get stuck with it, too. So, device: not so good. Seller:very good after some initial prodding.

Buy a real brand name because when you need warranty you have some to contact.

Product was packaged well, and delivered well, and priced well. It is not recognized by my Windows 8.1 Lenovo computer that I bought it for. Got another external DVD-RW and computer recognized it right away and that worked fine. Should return this unit, but haven't the time.