External Blu-ray

HI, I hope I'm posting this in the correct place, I just got an HP dv7t. Awesome laptop just no blu-ray so I started looking at external blu-ray drives and I'm really stumped. So many people have helped me on this site so hopefully someone can help me on this. I just want to be able to watch blu-ray on my laptop NOT burn it. I would prefer an external so I don't have to take out my internal drive. This is a laptop by the way. Thanks

 

I didn't get this, why don't you want to take out? :s you just get a better drive.
but... if you want an external blue ray drive... just buy it :/
I don't see what your problem is...

 

Well the thing is I would prefer NOT to open up my new notebook, as I've had bad experiences opening up computers up in the past yet alone laptops.

And I posted on here because I don't know which blu-ray drive to go with. If someone could point me in the right direction. Like which brands are good. Does HP even sell internal blu-ray drives. I mean if I absolutely had to open it up I guess I could as I'm sure it just pops in.

 

oh ok.
but changing the drive is really really easy thing to do... there's no mistake... you should really consider it. almost as easy as changing ram. take off some screws, pull the drive, put the new drive, put the screws, done.
As for internal, you need to see what interface your drive is to buy a blue ray drive with the same interface, probably will be slim sata.

As for external anything will work... :\ it's usb and/or esata, just plug it...
some may require an AC adapter in order to work, some use the power from USB. Anyway I would avoid buying it directly from HP or something like that because probably you will get a very overpriced product.
and HP doesn't make drives, usually they use lite-on ones.
just check ebay.
you have a wide choice, its hard to tell what is good or bad. imo just pick the cheapest one. something like this http://cgi.ebay.com/Blu-Ray-Externa...C_Drives_Storage_Internal?hash=item3a54cfd75c
but you have a wide choice...

 

Thanks, now lets just say I was looking for internal, what kind of drive would I need to look for?

 

I'd assume you have a 12.7mm SATA ODD (you'd have to check the manual to confirm) but if that is true, then you can consider Sony/NEC SATA Slot BD-ROM BC-5600S or the Panasonic SATA Slot BD-RE UJ-235A. You can probably find them with an external enclosure on eBay too (or the bare drive itself).

 

There are 2 sizes of optical drives for notebooks 9.7mm and 12.5mm. There are also several interfaces, usually slim sata is used. You need to see your notebook specifications or to remove your optical drive to check what is the size of your optical drive is and what interface it uses.
Or you could just try to post in the HP subforum and ask around if someone knowns it.
After you known those 2 things just search the web for some deals. imo above 100$ is expensive (for a blue ray reader, not writer).

 

Any idea on what size and type HP uses for their pavilion line. I'm sure they're all the same.

 

Check the support manual.

 

Hey, which Blu Ray drive do you recommend for the DV4, I really want to make that modification.

Will really appreciate your help.