Since it’s usually slower to rip DVDs than the Pioneer Blu-ray drives we tested, it isn’t the best choice if you’re working with DVDs often. It supports Ultra HD (or UHD) Blu-ray discs and doesn’t cost more than non-UHD Blu-ray drives from other manufacturers. Quick access: This DVD-only drive is slow when ripping discs, but it’s quieter and less expensive than other options if you plan to watch, rip, or burn only DVDs, not Blu-rays. We break down the differences that matter and consider whether it’s worth the upgrade. In October 2015, the Library of Congress issued several exemptions to the DMCA (the mechanism by which publishers get material in violation of copyright taken down) related to DVD and Blu-ray footage, but as Gizmodo reports, those exemptions apply only to “documentary filmmakers, ‘noncommercial’ videos, multimedia e-books containing film analysis, college professors and students with educational purposes, and kindergarten through twelfth grade teachers with educational purposes,” and only if their usage meets certain conditions. As you read, through the article, you will understand some of the Top 10 Best external dvd drive and learn more about their features. If you’re a Mac owner, you’ll be able to play DVDs just fine, but you’ll need to look up third-party options for playing Blu-rays or for creating video discs in either format. The Best External Hard Drive Deals This Week* WD Elements 8TB Desktop External USB 3.0 Hard Drive — $144.99 (List Price $179.99) WD Elements 4TB USB 3.0 Portable Drive — $94.99 (List … The Pioneer BDR-XD07UHD is the same drive as the BDR-XD07B, but it supports UHD Blu-ray discs. View Product. 9.7. Wiki researchers have been writing reviews of the latest dvd drives since 2016. Wirecutter is reader-supported. Besides … It’s generally a few dollars more expensive than our budget pick, and it’s a little louder when ripping and burning, but those are small trade-offs. More and more laptops, and even desktops, have the optical drive eliminated entirely to save on space and expense. Valley of the Sun Portable External Blu-ray Drive (best budget-friendly pick) 8. Aside from that, its main draw is that it’s faster at ripping DVDs than the LG BP60NB10, which makes it a logical choice if you sometimes need a Blu-ray drive but will be working primarily with DVDs. 4 Best External CD DVD Drive for Windows 10 in 2020 [Updated] 4 Best 4K 60Hz HDMI 2.0 Switch with Audio Output in 2020 [Updated] 6 Best 4K@60Hz HDMI 2.0 Switch in 2020: HDR, HDCP 2.2, For Gaming PC, PS4 Pro Wiki researchers have been writing reviews of the latest external cd drives since 2015. Best External DVD Drives for Laptops, PCs, and Macs. An external optical drive is an imperative item for those goofballs who forgot to buy a computer, laptop or Mac book without an internal DVD drive. The drives are almost exactly the same size, but the ZenDrive is a bit heavier—not hefty enough that you’d notice it in a laptop bag, but substantial enough that it won’t slide around as much on a table or desk when you go to pop the tray open. The best external hard drive and SSD to buy for 2020: Mac, PC, PS4 and Xbox. But that's not all. Only a few of the best external DVD drives are hardcoded to play discs from any region of the world. We ended up with four new models to test: the Asus ZenDrive U9M, the LG BP60NB10, and the Pioneer BDR-XD07B and BDR-XD07UHD. Luckily, there are free and paid alternatives you can use to do all of that, and those options are usually better than the software that comes with these kinds of drives. A Bit About Multi-Region Disc Playback. The ZenDrive U9M uses detachable Mini-USB cables rather than the more common Micro-USB (which we prefer) or USB Type-C (which would be ideal but isn’t really used in external optical drives). As we tested, we took note of how easy it was to insert and retrieve discs from each drive, and we paid attention to the noise each drive produced. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links on this page. 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