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    External Optical Drive

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by JrDave2304, Nov 18, 2004.

  1. JrDave2304

    JrDave2304 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I am getting the Toshiba Portege R100 which has no optical drives built into it. I am looking for a nice, slim external DVD-ROM drive to carry along with me. Any suggestions on particular drives or brands? Also, I was wondering which would be better to go with; a USB or a PC Card Bus type and what the power situations with each of these options are (i.e, do they require power supply)?

    Thanks!
     
    JrDave2304, Nov 18, 2004
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  2. JrDave2304

    JrDave2304 Notebook Enthusiast

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    anyone?
     
    JrDave2304, Nov 21, 2004
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  3. mathlete2001

    mathlete2001 Notebook Deity

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    Try asking around the hardware section. Sorry I can't help.

    * Inspiron 8600c * 1.8ghz Pentium M * 128 MB Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo * 2x512 MB DDR2700 SDRAM * 60GB 7200RPM HDD *
     
    mathlete2001, Nov 21, 2004
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  4. AdvidG

    AdvidG Notebook Consultant

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    Hello... JrDave2304

    Please consider a combo drive. I beilive a Cd-R is almost a must have.
    Either way try these sites out:

    http://www.expnet.com/product.nsf/Portable?OpenView&Start=1&Count=250
    http://www.addonics.com/interface_solutions/cardbus.asp

    And also check out E-bay as well. Many bargins to be had there.

    PCMCIA would be your best bet for ease and power wise. Usb can supply power and function but, I've had strange 'issues' with both 98se and XP doing this. Sometimes they would not 'see' the drive or just not function right. Some will have you pull extra power from your keyboard or mouse port with an included cord. This can just get messy.

    Note: Optical drives are motors. Motors eat MAD power! If you really need to watch 4 hour movie epics on your laptop...consider encoding your DVD to the'Divx'format. Your laptop won't have to work hard and your battery will love you for it!

    And if your really bored, check out my little chat to myself on upgrading:

    http://www.notebookreview.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7723
     
    AdvidG, Nov 24, 2004
    #4