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    External ODD Recommendations?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Commander Wolf, Jan 31, 2009.

  1. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    Hi folks, I'm looking for an external optical drive, preferably something that can burn up to DVDRW. The catch is that I want it to be able to run off a single USB port and, albeit much less of an issue, I want to be able to find it on Amazon as I recently got a gift card.

    I guess the big question here is whether or not such a thing exists. I've been browsing slim optical drives and all the power requirements I've seen exceed that of the USB spec, but maybe someone, somewhere has made something that doesn't?

    Sorry if someone already asked; I'm not totally sure what to search for here and the 40 second limit wasn't helping.
     
  2. Euquility

    Euquility Notebook Deity

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    Do you need it to be able to burn on one usb port or is it ok if it can read with one, burn with two.
     
  3. PhoenixFx

    PhoenixFx Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes, there are single USB port drives that require an external power adapter. But I don’t know if there are any single USB port bus powered writers. Most probably not, because a burner needs a fair amount of power, 5V at 500mA might not be enough (but I could be wrong).
     
  4. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    I mean, ideally, I'd want it to be able to burn with one, but if reading with one and burning with two is the best you can do, so be it.

    Well, I'm sorry I didn't make it clear, but the point is that I don't want to have to carry around an adapter. Else I'd just keep using the clunky desktop drive and adapter I've been using up until now.
     
  5. gengerald

    gengerald Technofile Extraordinaire

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    From what I have found, there is nothing like this available. Everything is a 2 USB port/1USB + AC adapter.
     
  6. goofball

    goofball Notebook Deity

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    The Lacie slim (Sam Hecht) works with only a single usb port.
    I know there is a samsung slim that does work with only one port as well
    I am pretty sure the LG slim does as well though I haven't used this one personally to know.
    I went and bought an external enclosure off ebay for $11 shipped, and just took an optical from my laptop and put it in since I wanted to upgrade, and it works off of one usb port also.
     
  7. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    Goofball, do you happen to have the model number for your laptop optical drive that's currently in an enclosure? Have you personally used the Lacie or the Samsung and verified that they run off a single USB port?
     
  8. goofball

    goofball Notebook Deity

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    It came from an Aspire 5570/5580. It's an LG for sure, just not 100% sure what the model number is.

    My brother uses the Lacie for his netbook (asus 1000H).
    My cousin bought the Samsung for use with the Aspire One.